Heart to Heart

Chapter 62: A Group Date?

Ruby's mind had been split all day, she kept half on her mind, but she kept wondering back to when she and Oscar had been alone. It had been something she had never done before and it was both thrilling and yet she seemed also to have some anxiety about it. Mainly this all stemmed to the fact that she had no idea what she was doing. This was her first time she felt any of these kinds of emotions and it was throwing her off.

Even Weiss had started to notice things as halfway through the day she had stopped them.

"Okay, Ruby, what is going on with you?" Weiss demanded on their patrol of their section of the city.

"What? What do you mean?"

"You've been spacing out all day," Weiss pointed out.

"It's nothing really," Ruby tried to brush it off.

"Seriously? You nearly let that last Grimm get on top of you." Weiss crossed her arms and giving her a stern look. Ruby hated that look, it was like when Glynda had looked at her back in Beacon when she had been caught doing something wrong.

"It's just…stupid personal stuff," She muttered looking away embarrassed.

Weiss raised an eyebrow but had a feeling she might know of what it was. Not like she was an expert in this field but there was one thing she could offer, the same advice she had taken for years. "Maybe you should talk to Yang then, I bet she could help out."

Weiss had gone to Winter when she was younger for advice or when she needed something. That is, before she had left for the academy and then joined the military after. It was one of the reasons she had looked up to her big sister for years. So, since Yang was Ruby's big sister then Yang would be in a better place to offer advice.

So that's what lead to Ruby to where she was now, they all had gotten back from their missions and were in the process of showering, changing or maybe even joining in on some training if they felt like it. Ruby was outside of the room Yang and Jaune started to share. It was strange how originally Yang wanted a room for her and Jaune to explore their relationship without having to use their team rooms and slowly both just moved in together.

It happened to gradually that it took them all time to realize that Jaune and Yang were now basically living together.

Ruby knocked on the door as she really hoped she wasn't interrupting anything.

The door opened to see Yang with her coat off and Jaun in the back taking off his armor.

"Hey sis, what's up?" Yang smiled.

"Yang can we talk? I need advice on…boys." She leaned in to whisper that last part. Yang's eyes widened as she grinned.

"I never thought I would live to see the day," Yang sighed. "And here I thought you would only have Cresent Rose in your life."

"Yang!" Ruby pouted.

"Okay let's go for a walk," Yang looked over her shoulder. "Going for some sister time with Ruby."

"Sure thing, I was going to see what we got to make dinner with Ren in a bit." He replied.

Yang smiled at him as she could see him one day in a kitchen with a chef's apron on cooking for a family. It gave her a warm sensation in her chest, maybe she should learn to cook more in order to help out? An idea for another time plus if they were going to go out on missions she needed to learn. That drive to find Raven had her eating nothing but ration packs the entire time. Not the best of meals, especially when she found Ruby again and she told them about how they ate by campfire as the boy's cooked up what they had.

It made her a little jealous she didn't experience it but maybe after Atlas, she could get herself a new bike and she and Jaune could just go out together alone and do some missions together.

As the two sisters started walking they got to one of the empty balconies that the tower was littered with.

"So, sis, what's going on?"

"I just don't know what to do," Ruby signed as she rested on the railing letting her arms hang over the edge. "I mean everything is going nicely but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do now. I have so many questions and I don't know where to start."

Yang gently placed her hand on her sister's back. "Yeah, it's scary at first, I mean there were times I had trouble opening up fully to Jaune. I kept having doubts and it was really messing with me. Eventually I worked through it with him, so anything you need to ask your big sister just let me know."

Ruby gave a small smile. "Thanks Yang."

"So…you're not pregnant are you?"

"YANG!" Ruby yelled out blushing. "We haven't even gone that far!"

That got Yang to raise and eyebrow. "Oh? And just how far is far?"

Ruby's eyes darted around, technically they had some touching along with their first make out session after that, but she wasn't sure what to tell Yang. Yang however knew something was up as she scanned her little sister. She checked the usual places first and that's when she caught a glimpse of something. She quickly pulled down her hood by her neck and saw two little marks.

"Yang, what the hell?" Ruby pulled back.

"Since when did you get hickies?"

"I got what now?" Ruby blinked.

"Love bites?" Yang asked again using a different word, but then still seeing the blank look on her sister. Yang sighed and looked around and saw a reflective piece of metal and pulled her sister to it and pointed to the marks. "Those."

"What the-when did I get those?" Ruby looked at the marks.

"Most likely when Oscar was sucking on your neck," Yang said dryly as she crossed her arms as Ruby blushed.

"Oh…I didn't know that could happen," Remembering how good it felt when his lips had been on her neck flashed back. She also remembered she did the same and she might have left similar marks on him too.

"So, I see necking is at least as far as you two got," Yang smirked. It was a good thing her sister was finally coming out of her shell. She had been an introvert for so long that Yang was getting a bit worried. That was why she left her little sister on the first day of Beacon, it was a sink or swim moment and it kind of worked out in the end. Now that Ruby was starting to date, well it put her a little at ease for her sister's future.

She didn't care if her sister ended up with a guy or girl, only that she opened up to someone other than her weapon. Thankfully the young man she was with was a good one, Oscar was a bit on the shy side like her sister, in fact the two of them were just adorable to watch them fumble about. Although apparently while she wasn't looking her little sister was no longer so little.

Ruby placed a hand over the marks on her neck as her faced warmed up both at being caught and the memories of that moment. "Yeah, that's pretty much as far as we got."

There was no way she was telling her sister that while asleep she had pulled Oscar face first into her chest and his accidental groping of her butt, no matter how it made her feel things she never felt before, she wanted to keep that private moment just that, private.

Yang tilted her head at that 'pretty much' part but didn't push things. She didn't think that Ruby and Oscar were in danger of anything, but she had not only been the big sister but also a kind of pseudo-mom for Ruby growing up at times.

She mentally sighed, 'I guess it's time for the talk but at least dad isn't here, god that was awkward.'

"Okay sis I'm going to level with you, how far do you want to take this with him?" She leaned on the rail as she looked at her sister.

"How far?" Ruby blinked.

"You see yourselves with the whole white picket fence and two point five kids ending or just as things are or somewhere in between?" Yang asked.

Ruby blinked not sure how to answer that, "I…haven't really thought that far. This is all new and everything, am I supposed to be thinking about that?"

Yang shook her head, "No, not always but I wanted to make sure. So…about how far, I know you're young but he's a bit younger so are you going to wait for him to catch up a bit before you two take things further?"

Now Ruby was blushing even more but for other reasons. "Yang! I mean, I don't know, I hadn't even thought about that kind of…stuff." She was getting embarrassed even thinking about it. How could her own sister ask her questions about her and Oscar doing…that.

Yang held up her hands. "Hey, I have to ask but if you're not there yet then good. I will say that you two if things are going that way, you two should talk things out so you both are on the right page. Also, if you're unsure you can come to me, but we'll drop it for now."

Personally, having her younger sister coming to her for sex advice was something she wanted to push off for awhile more. Yes, Ruby was growing up but she didn't want her sister to grow up too fast, they all had grown up too fast lately.

"Okay," Ruby still blushing a bit nodded even though it was an embarrassing conversation it was nice to know she had her sister to go to whenever she did have those kinds of questions. "But backing up, what should we do now? I mean, do we go on dates or something right?"

"That's usually how things go, yeah." Yang nodded.

"Well, I mean, I'm not sure what we should do." Ruby moaned, the only thing she could think of were stuff she had seen on TV and movies.

"Well, there was that time you guys took off to be alone while we were all at the club," Yang brought up their time when Oscar won her that little bear she still had.

"We weren't a thing then." Ruby replied.

"What about when you took him to the gun range?" Yang heard all about that from Ruby after she had done it. The girl loved weapon's talk and had gone over in detail the kinds of weapons they had tried out for Oscar.

"Okay but isn't there other things too?" Ruby wouldn't mind it, she loved target practice but she wasn't sure Oscar would like to do just that and if she were honest she wanted to experience more as well. "I'm just worried I'll mess things up, say something stupid or something like that."

Ruby was very self-conscious of her social abilities or in her mind, her lack of them.

Yang thought about it and then an idea hit her. "Oh, I know. How about a group date?"

"A what?"

"You know, you two hang out with me and Jaune, we can also see if Nora and Ren want to join in and maybe even Weiss and Flint. That way you won't be alone and it's a bit more relaxing that way with friends with you." She had a couple of those back in her Signal days with her friends. They were chill times and maybe they could use something nice to relax with.

"We can make a big movie night we all cuddle up in the common room watching a movie or two together."

Ruby thought about it and Ruby kind of liked the idea, at least she wouldn't be alone with Oscar, and she might end up feeling less pressure that way. She just needed to get used to the feeling of being with someone and this might just help.

"Okay, that sounds nice." Ruby told her sister.

"Awesome," Yang pulled out her scroll. "One movie night coming up."

-Elsewhere-

Winter found herself standing at what looked like a bar near the tower. It was held a large window out front where she could clearly see many Atlas soldiers in uniform. Most likely they were all here after hours like she was. Although her distaste for alcohol from her own mother's fall into alcoholism, she didn't berate anyone that did it in moderation. Only those that let their urges control them.

Walking in she could clearly see many people in uniform in tables or at the bar, drinks in hand but most of them talking. She saw everyone from privates to officers, which was rare, but this establishment was known to be a hang out for soldiers since its location was near the tower.

She could see a few familiar faces, a few other specialists were at a table. She noticed the duo of Robyn Greenwood and Wōdan Grau sitting together with a few others she knew about. Either in passing or having worked with them in the past.

"Oh, hey Winter, over here!" Elm saw her first and waved her over.

The Ace Ops were all in a large circular table as Winder closed in and sat down in an open seat. The only seat available to her it seemed was between Clover and of all people, and Marrow. She felt a little awkward sitting next to him given she hadn't been able to convey fully what she had wanted to say earlier to him. Marrow tried to keep any nervous energy down, but it was hard for someone like him to keep his body collected. His tail alone always betrayed his thoughts when he wasn't aware of it.

He didn't know why the only seat that was empty had been left next to him, of course that was because the rest of the team had set it up that way. There was a bit of an interests in what possibly might be going on between the two Specialists, so Harriet and Elm had convinced the other members without his knowledge to give the spare seat next to him to Schnee. If only to see if anything happened.

"Thank you for the invitation," Winter stated as she sat up properly.

"We work closely together," Clover stated as he waved over one of the servers. "It might do some good to moral to relax together since we can't exactly talk about our work."

"True," Vine nodded. "The life we lead is a very enclosed one."

"Eh, not like I got someone waiting at home for me that I can't not talk to," Elm shrugged her massive shoulders.

A serving girl showed up at that point. "Can I take your orders?"

"Do you have anything non-alcoholic?" Winter asked.

"You don't drink?" Harriet raised an eyebrow at that.

"No, I don't." Winter said simply not wanting to get into the reason why she didn't drink. She had seen what it had done to her mother, and she would not allow that the chance to do to her what it had done to her mother.

"Then maybe a ginger and juice?" Marrow suggested.

"Of course, the light weight knows his non-alcoholic drinks," Elm laughed out loud which was a very loud and powerful laugh from the large woman.

Marrow slunk in his seat, he hated how just because he didn't have much of an alcohol tolerance that the others had they made fun of it. He didn't even drink until he after he graduated for crying out loud.

"You don't drink?" Winter asked now interested.

He shrugged feeling embarrassed, "Only a little, I prefer other stuff. The last time I tried to match them it…didn't go so well."

"If you mean puking in the men's bathroom then yeah," Harriet nodded.

"I never want to go through that again," Marrow slunk even lower, that had been a low point for him. Of course, the Ace Ops didn't think any less o him but some of them did like to tease him with it now and again. "I've been kind of looking into alternatives to just be social."

Winter nodded as she remembered he had barely touched the champagne at her father's gathering, she only touched it lightly and had nursed a single drink for the evening. Just because she hated to drink didn't mean she wouldn't if only the situation called for it.

"Then I'll have what he suggested." Winter told the serving girl who took down their drink orders. It didn't take too long for them to get them back as Winter tested it out. The drink had a lemon slice in the glass. She took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by the taste of it. "This is very nice."

"Glad you liked it," Marrow stated as he had a different drink but this one was non-alcoholic like her own.

"I might ask you for more information about other kinds of drinks like this," Winter honestly stated as she took another drink. She didn't frequent these types of establishments so she had no idea of the list of drinks she could actually enjoy in situations like this.

At one point Harriet spoke up. "Alright I got to get going, I like to get in a run in before bed."

As everyone said her goodbyes, she bumped into a short serving girl. "Oh, sorry about that."

The girl merely smiled and waved it off as Harriet left, the girl however took her tray and placed it on the bar. Another of the employees took it but then paused as she suddenly looked around for the short girl that just placed it.

"Wait…did we get a new hire today?" The woman asked but couldn't see the short girl.

Said girl was already moving into the kitchen and out the back door, her long black hair changing into its pink, brown, and white coloring as her brown eyes turned back into their mismatched set. Neo looked at the palmed security pass she had just taken from Harriet. She smiled as she put it back into her pocket and then looked at the tower nearby as her appearance changed again this time into Harriet.

At the same time in the lounge area for their teams in this section of the tower mostly everyone was gathering up for their little 'group date'. Movies were selected as popcorn and drinks were being set up or made. Yang and Juane were getting the popcorn ready in the small kitchen area.

"You know, this might be just what we need to really relax a bit," Jaune signed and then gave a look to his girlfriend. "Also, it's nice to finally have a date night."

Yang grinned and nodded. "Oh, hell yeah, I mean sure this is helping out Ruby and all, and we're not exactly alone, but it's still nice to have moments like this."

Jaune reached around her waist and pulled her against him as she giggles grinning up at him. "Well, I promise, next time we can get a date night it will be just us."

"I'll hold you to that," she kissed his cheek. "I'm thinking either find a nice club for some dancing or a romantic dinner for the two of us."

"Well…in a month we'll have been together to six months." Jaune thought about it out loud.

"Wow, half a year already," Yang thought about it. "Doesn't seem that long and yet also seems even longer."

"Might be because we've known each other for nearly two years now." He offered.

"Not to mention everything we all have been through," Yang nodded. "I guess it really messes with your sense of time, plus the weeks of regular missions hasn't helped. Oh well, our time here has been pretty good overall. Found out Penny was alive, met her dad, became official license carrying huntresses and huntsmen."

"Gotten a lot more experience and upgrades to our gear," Jaune continued on. "The training we've been getting has been great too, not to mention what it's been for us."

Yang smiled as she pulled him close. "Yeah, we pretty much moved in and have been living together for nearly a month and a half now. God, I can only imagine how my dad would react to that."

Jaune paused thinking about it, he had only met the man a little before Ruby and them had gone off together. Then he thought of his own parents, he wasn't sure how they would react to it, it wasn't like he was a young boy anymore. He had grown up a lot since leaving for Beacon, he had experienced some hard times, been through a lot of pain and growing up because of it. He also now had a very beautiful girlfriend.

"Well maybe not tell your dad everything the next time we see him," Jaune told her.

Yang rolled her eyes and pushed off gently. "Oh, please he might get a little protective but I'm my own woman now. I mean as long as I don't show up pregnant, he'll understand."

Jaune slumped his shoulders at that. "Yes, let's not do that. I think my own parents would have mixed feelings."

"Oh really?"

Jaune nodded. "I think my mom would love you but would pull me aside and yell at me for being irresponsible and getting a girl pregnant before marriage. She's a bit old school like that. She told all of use that she doesn't care what happens as long as you're married, she doesn't want to become a grandmother."

"So Saphron and Terra didn't have to deal with any of that?"

"Why do you think they got married at such a young age?" Jaune told her. While his oldest sister was only twenty-five, she had gotten married and the first of his siblings to be a mother. It was a dream of her sister for a long time to start her own family. It was also part of their 'deal', Terra could get the artificial insemination and give birth, while Saphron would be the homemaker while, Terra was the bread winner.

"Well, while I might be open to the one day starting my own family, I think any of those plans should be put on hold for a little bit." Yang saw that the popcorn was finished as she went to open the bag. One good thing about her metal arm, she didn't feel heat with it so the steam coming out of the bag didn't bother her.

She put it all into two bowls they had set aside just for this as she threw away the bag.

"Yeah, family is important to me, and I want one too, but things have been so crazy lately." Jaune sighed. Everything since Beacon's fall had just been getting more and more complicated and dangerous. Ever since 'Ozpin' came back into their lives in the body of a young boy, it just seemed everything had changed with every earth-shattering revelation.

Maybe that was why he was looking forward to tonight. It was just them having a nice relaxing moment, there were no evil plans, no end of the world scenarios, no Grimm fights to the death or well, anything else. They could put it all aside and just enjoy the moment. Taking one of the bowls he and Yang went in and already saw people pairing off.

He noticed that Nora was already cuddled up to Ren, which was odd to him. Normally they had been close but keeping a respectful space between them. Ever since after that party when they got back, he had noticed that Nora was being more affectionate with Ren, who while looking a little embarrassed by the it, wasn't fighting it off or trying to keep the distance.

'Huh, maybe something did happen between them that night,' He thought to himself. 'Good for them.'

He was happy to see them, well, happy. They all have been through a lot, they had lost one key member of their team with Beacon and Pyrrha's absence made a hole that would never be filled with their team. Jaune also had learned more about the past of his teammates, how they had on their way had on accident visited their childhood home, or what was left of it.

Jaune knew they were orphans, but he never had thought about why they were orphans until he saw the ruins of their village. It really brought home just how dangerous and how much pain and misery the Grimm brought to their world. So, seeing them like this made him feel like despite how painful the world could be, there were moments like this that made it worth it.

Oscar was sitting the lamp down on the table facing the screen. Ruby came up to him and tilted her head.

"You brought the lamp?"

"Oh, yeah," he adjusted it not sure if it had a direction, it could 'face' given how it was designed. "I don't know what goes on in there. I mean is she aware of things or just sleeping the entire time when she's not out."

Ruby hadn't thought of what life was like for Jinn, the spirit of the Relic. "So, you wanted her to join movie night?"

"Well part of it, it's got to be boring being stuck in a lamp all the time," Oscar shrugged. "I know it's stupid but the thought hit me so I figured it couldn't hurt. Also, with everyone off doing their own thing we shouldn't just leave it unguarded in a room like this."

"Okay now that's a good reason," Ruby nodded. Although things were relatively quiet they couldn't take any chances with losing the Relic. They still needed to come up with a last question since they had used up two already and after this it would take a hundred years so be able to use again.

Part of her wanted to just ask one random question so in case it was stolen, at least Salem or her people couldn't use it for a full one hundred years, but that was a waste, and they might need that last question when they most needed it.

With the lamp settled both of them sat on the couch together as everyone else started to take their seats. As they were sitting down, Yang noticed how Ruby and Oscar were awkwardly sitting a little apart from each other. The older sister couldn't help but roll her eyes.

'Really, you two were necking and now you act all shy?' Yang thought to herself. She grinned as with her hip she knocked Ruby over a little.

"Hey! Yang!" Ruby complained.

"I needed some space," Yang stuck her tongue out as she pulled in her legs and snuggled up to Jaune.

Ruby pouted at her but then suddenly realized she was nearly pressing up against Oscar. The two shared a look as both shyly blushed and got silent. As the movie played Jaune signed as he sat back with Yang by his side. As they got caught up in the film he shifted and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Yang smirked as she leaned into him enjoying the sensation.

Jaune felt a sense of peace as they were just enjoying their time together. He could smell Yang's hair as it was a pleasant reminder of her presence. He couldn't believe just how far the two of them came, from friends all the way to lovers. It was hard to believe from that day on the bullhead flying to Beacon and throwing up on her shoe it would set off a chain of events that led up to them here, cuddled up together watching a movie.

Yang picked up some popcorn and put some of it in her mouth and saw Jaune had that lost in thought look. "What's up?" She asked softly not trying to bother the others.

He smiled and shook his head. "Nothing to worry about, just thinking about how lucky I am."

"Got that right," she put some of the popcorn in her hand to his mouth as she fed him. "But so am I."

Yang looked over to see that while Ruby and Oscar were into the film they still hadn't done much. Yang resisted the urge to huff in irritation, her sister still had a lot to learn. She tapped Ruby's foot with her own getting her little sister's attention.

Ruby gave her a questioning look as Yang nodded her head to Oscar. Ruby cast a look at the boy before looking back at Yang.

Go-For-It, Yang mouthed to her.

Ruby felt her heart rate rising as she slipped a little close and gently place her hand on his. The boy was surprised by the contact as they locked eyes. Both silently not saying anything but the look they shared said volumes. Oscar gently linked his fingers with hers as Ruby snuggled up against his shoulder. The boy's mouth suddenly went dry but he was enjoying the contact.

Yang smiled on as her attention went back to the film, she was proud that Ruby was getting out of her shell and getting more comfortable. The feelings she had been experiencing with Jaune lately, well they were things that both scared her and yet also wanted to drown herself in. She wanted her sister to open her own heart up to the possibilities.

Because what Yang had found out recently was, that it was wroth it to open yourself up to someone else.

It wasn't just this group that had plans this night, not far away was a limo being driven in the streets of Atlas. It smoothly traveled the lanes as the lone driver silently did as he was told and driving to the location his boss gave him. In the back seat behind the black patrician unseen by the driver was Willow Schnee.

The woman was in a white dress and long coat, a large brim hat and sunglasses were in the seat next to her. She couldn't believe she was doing this but the excitement she felt was, well it was the most excitement she had felt in years. She couldn't believe when Qrow had called her up, how he had gotten her number she wasn't sure. She guessed he might have looked at her scroll when she wasn't looking, the man seemed to have an unending number of talents.

Certain talents made her blush as she remembered him using them on her in the more intimate moments.

Apparently, he convinced her to meet with him, out in public. The scandal that would make if she was recognized, it was why she had the hat and glasses. Of course, it wasn't like her husband had his own indiscretions over the years. He at least kept everything private and behind closed doors. The car stopped as the driver hit the intercom.

"We're here ma'am."

"Good, I'll call you if I need you to pick me up." She got on her glasses and hat putting her scroll into her purse as she got out of the vehicle. As soon as the door was closed the car slowly made its way off. Willow looked around and saw she was in one of the commercial districts but not one she was familiar with. It was close to Atlas Academy, that much she could see with the tall tower not too far away. The streets were a little busy with nighttime activities.

"Sunglasses at night?" Qrow's familiar raspy voice spoke up as he silently came up behind her. "People are going to notice that."

"Will you stop startling me like that," she slapper his arm. "I swear if my hair wasn't white, I would have white streaks in it from how you keep scaring me, coming out of the shadows like that."

"Sorry," he smiled at her as he wrapped his arm around her lower back. "Force of habit in my line of work. Still the glasses do make you stand out, plus I can't see your pretty eyes."

How can simple compliments like that make her heart flip she had no idea, then again it had been ages since she had gotten compliments about her look. She pulled them down just for him to see. "Better?"

"Much," he smiled wider at them. "If you're worried someone will know you don't worry. I got a nice little place where no one will ever expect to see Willow Schnee sitting down."

"Oh? Well now you have my interest," She had no idea what to expect and it was that quality that she was enjoying. Her days were an unending cycle or the same thing, of unending loneliness and pain. Qrow took that away and for the first time in over a decade she was starting to feel alive again.

Qrow smiled as he led her to this nice little restaurant he knew about, it was a little off the beaten path but it was nice and quiet and no one would bother them there. He got the feeling she didn't get to go out much these days. Most likely she was stuck in that mansion drinking her life away, he knew it because if might have done the same in her shoes.

TBC…