Chapter 8: Recuperation
Yang settled back into bed, finally relaxed enough to try to get back to sleep after her nightmare. A cup of tea and Kali's comforting presence had helped, even if it wasn't a patch on having Blake with her. She closed her eyes and let herself drift off, hugging Blake's pillow close.
The distinctive tearing of Raven's portal ripping through the air jerked Yang out of her doze. She could barely see the dim red glow of it in the dark. Yang grabbed her prosthetic and rolled out of bed, gun mode activating even before she'd got it socketed. She lunged for the light switch, blinking furiously to try to adjust to the light.
Yang aimed at the portal. Adrenaline coursed through her, driving away the drowsiness inflicted by her pregnancy. She could never be sure what would come through one of her mother's portals. It should be Raven, but it could be anything, considering how her mother used portals to escape trouble.
However, Yang should be the last port in a storm while she was pregnant… What had happened? Why was Raven taking so long to come through? It must have been at least ten seconds, and Raven normally came through immediately. Was Yang supposed to trust it was safe and go through herself? She couldn't risk it, not with her unborn baby to protect.
Rapid footsteps approached, and Kali burst in, the largest kitchen knife in her hand. She skidded to a halt, staring at the portal, the fur on her cat ears bristling. "What is that?!"
"My mother's Semblance."
Kali lowered the knife a little. "Ah, a portal, I hadn't seen…"
Kali's words trailed off as someone finally emerged from the portal. Not just someone, but three people: Blake supported by Ruby and Weiss, each with an arm around her waist and Blake's arms around their shoulders. Ruby held Gambol Shroud in her other hand.
For a moment Yang stood frozen. She retracted her prosthetic's gun, and darted over to cup Blake's face in her hands. She gently lifted Blake's head until half open hazy gold eyes met hers. Blake's skin felt cooler than it should be; another clue falling into place. More followed: Blake couldn't walk unaided, she wasn't in her own clothes—Wait a second, those were Yang's own clothes, last worn on Patch before she left to find Raven many years ago. Back to the clues, and the most critical one: Blake had come through Raven's portal. Conclusion: Raven must have given Blake her save, but not before Blake was badly injured.
"Blake! What happened?" Kali asked.
Blake shook her head, flopping slightly from side to side in the process.
"Too many Grimm," Ruby said. "We got separated—"
"An explanation has to wait, Raven's coming through at any moment. We need to move." Weiss nodded towards the bed. "Let's get Blake sitting down."
Yang wanted to carry Blake to bed herself, but knew Ruby and Weiss would question whether she should be doing it. There wasn't time to argue before her mother would be coming through the portal. Yang stood aside for Ruby and Weiss to help Blake over to the bed. Once Blake was sitting down, Yang perched beside her and wrapped an arm around her. Kali did the same on the other side. Blake was awake enough to rest her head against Yang's neck, nuzzling into her, although worryingly floppy. How much blood had she lost? That had to be why she'd changed clothes, and why she was like… this.
They'd moved not a moment too soon: Raven stepped through the portal and closed it behind her, sheathing her sword, weariness in every move. Ruby set Gambol Shroud down against the bedside table, and darted over to Raven and hovered by her side, poised to catch her if she collapsed.
Raven gave Ruby a sidelong glare. "I'm fine," she snapped.
"Mom," Yang called.
Raven looked at her. She always looked a little taken aback whenever Yang called her that.
"Thank you. For bringing Blake back to me, and you saved her life too, didn't you?" Yang was vaguely aware Blake was saying something to Kali, feeling her voice as a vibration more than she could hear it. She kept her eyes on Raven. Her mother deserved her undivided attention, even if it was kind of distracting with Blake's head pressed against her.
Raven's face tightened. "Don't mention it," she said stiffly. "Just give me a bed for the rest of the night, and some lien in the morning so I don't have to fly myself home." She clicked her tongue. "Should've made a bond with my neighbour…"
"Breakfast too?"
"I don't want to impose. Or linger. I'm not really fit to be around others. I'm this close to biting someone's head off." Raven held up a hand, forefinger and thumb almost touching. "Lack of sleep and a headache makes me a bit of a monster." She glanced at Blake. "More of a monster."
"Then let me show you where you'll be sleeping." Kali stood up. "Blake told me we'll be sharing a room, but don't worry. I won't bother you. We both need our sleep."
"Just… Whatever you do, don't thank me. I've had my fill of being thanked." Raven's words came between clenched teeth.
Kali blinked. She must've had her attention on Blake and missed what Yang said to Raven.
"She saved me, Mom," Blake said, voice as weakened as the rest of her.
Kali's eyes widened. She opened her mouth.
Raven held up a finger. "Don't. Just show me where I can sleep, and I'll take that as thanks."
Kali nodded.
"Kali, could you get Raven something for her headache? I would, but I'm kinda busy." Yang glanced pointedly at Blake.
"Of course." Kali led Raven away, the kitchen knife held carefully, point downwards. She paused only to wish everyone else good night. Raven didn't bother.
Ruby dropped to her knees, resting a hand on Yang's knee. "I'm sorry. I was supposed to be watching Blake's back."
"Not just you. I failed too. I'm sorry." Weiss wiped at her eyes, sniffling.
Yang sighed. She patted the back of Ruby's hand. "I'm just glad you're both okay. You said there were too many Grimm."
Ruby blinked back tears of her own. "But—"
Yang lifted the hand not holding Blake, palm held outwards. "Nope. I'm not blaming either of you, unless you really want me to lose my temper and scream at you? It's been a rough night, and blowing off some steam that way is an option. I'd just feel bad about it. You're both almost crying already."
"We should feel bad!" Weiss helped Ruby back to her feet and kept an arm wrapped around her. "It was our responsibility to make sure Blake made it home."
"Come off it, Weiss. You did, you both helped her through the portal and back to me. Just tell me, are Nora, Ren and Jaune okay? Qrow?"
Ruby nodded after one last swipe at her eyes. "They're fine. We left them back at Dad's."
"Dad's?" Yang glowered towards the door, where she'd last seen Raven. It must have been Raven's choice to go there; no one else would have been able to persuade her to go to her ex.
"She didn't think you should see a bloodstained Blake," Weiss said. "I know it's not easy for Tai to see her, but I think Raven made the right call."
Ruby nodded. "She did." She spared an apologetic look for Blake. "Sorry, but you really really needed a shower and change of clothes."
Blake sighed. She didn't argue or try to downplay it. "I need a new combat outfit."
Yang winced. Yeah, that mission had gone badly wrong. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the gory details, but what she could imagine was perhaps even worse. It didn't feel right to press any of them about it, not with how Blake couldn't even sit up without leaning on Yang, and Ruby and Weiss clearly felt guilty enough already. She should change the subject. Hmm, change…
"Do you know if Raven might need a change of clothes?" Yang asked. Her mother was already in pyjamas, but they could well have been stained with blood and Jinn only knew what else.
Weiss hummed thoughtfully. "Quite possibly, it was muddy out there even without… other… substances."
Yang glanced at the closet. Yang's own clothes should fit Raven, they were a similar size and shape. Or at least they were when Yang's belly wasn't swelling with a growing baby. But if Yang moved to get a set of pyjamas, she'd have to lay Blake down or something first.
"I'll get Raven some clothes, just tell me where to look," Ruby said.
Yang pointed to the closet. "My spare sets of pyjamas are at the back, go for the ones lower down, I haven't been able to wear those for a month or so now."
Ruby emerged within a few seconds with the pyjamas Yang had in mind. It was at least obvious from the colours that they weren't Blake's. "Be right back," she chirped.
Yang watched Ruby go, troubled by the false cheer in that chirp. Maybe she needed to remind Ruby that it was okay not to be okay; she didn't need to pretend to be happy when she wasn't. Although it'd be a bit rich coming from Yang. Ruby had unfortunately learned it from her example, and maybe from Tai on his better days. Even when grinning widely, sadness lurked in her father's eyes. He'd lost too much, too many loved ones. Yang had tried and failed to help with that. She could only hope she'd have more luck with Ruby.
Ruby came back, standing in the doorway. She rubbed the back of her head, a sheepish look on her face. "Raven took them, but she didn't like the colours."
Yang shrugged. "Too bad, I don't wear red. It's not like she has to look at them for long if orange is so offensive to her."
Ruby beckoned to Weiss. "C'mon, let's go to bed. G'night sis, feel better Blake. We'll see you in the morning. I'll make pancakes!"
"Wait a minute, there aren't enough eggs for that, I didn't exactly expect so many guests!" Yang protested.
Ruby shrugged. "I'll get more. And some chocolate chips, you never have enough."
Yang kneaded the bridge of her nose. "That's because you raid them whenever you're here, and don't tell me when I'm running out."
"That just means you need to check them more often."
Weiss sighed, walking over to Ruby, slipping around her. "That's enough of that. Stop bickering, and leave Blake to recover in peace." She grabbed her partner by the cloak, only pausing to wish Yang and Blake a good night before dragging Ruby away.
"Night," Yang called belatedly.
"Mmm, night," Blake mumbled.
"Let's get you to bed."
"Mmm?" Blake yawned. "I'm sitting on it."
Yang kissed her between her cat ears. "Into bed."
Blake sighed. "Don't think I can do more than fall back."
Yang kissed her again. "I've got you." She helped Blake lie down, slipped her pillow back where it was supposed to be, and got the blanket ready to pull over her. That done, she stripped Blake off.
Blake's ears pinned back a bit. "I don't think I can do sex—"
"Shh, I don't expect it." Yang pulled the blanket over Blake to keep her warm while she undressed and took her prosthetic off. "You're colder than you should be, and skin contact is the best way to warm you up. Besides, do you really not want naked snuggles?"
"Oh." Blake looked a little dazed, eyes lingering on Yang's naked body. "That's different. Yes. Please." She attempted to lift the blanket to welcome Yang in. Her arm shook.
Yang took over, slipping into bed beside Blake and pulled her into the curve of Yang's body, lying nested like spoons. She had to grit her teeth and project her Aura over her boobs when they reminded her exactly why they'd switched to Yang being the little spoon. She didn't make a sound; this was better for warming Blake up, and Blake would only insist they roll over if she remembered Yang's sore boobs. Yang wasn't sure how she'd manage to sleep like this, but that was a problem for future Yang. Very near future, but… Blake needed her.
How close had she come to Blake never needing her again for the worst possible reason?
Yang buried her face against Blake's hair, tears burning in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Blake murmured. "I broke my promise."
It took a while for Yang to be able to speak, and even then she croaked. "I shouldn't have asked you to make that promise. It did jinx you."
"It's not your fault. I'm the one who opened my big mouth and couldn't keep my word."
Yang wrapped her arm tighter around Blake. "How's that your fault? I know you did everything you could."
"I haven't told you what happened. You just know it was Grimm."
Yang shook her head, her nose nuzzling Blake's hair. "I don't need to know. I know you."
"I did everything I could out there. It wasn't enough. If not for Raven…" Blake's hands found Yang's remaining hand and gripped tight. "I'd be dead."
Yang's breath caught. The thought almost broke through her fragile control, and she struggled against dissolving into a sobbing mess. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears overflowing despite her efforts.
Blake wriggled free of Yang's arm enough to roll over. She cupped Yang's cheeks and stroked away her tears with her thumbs. "She saved me. I'm still here." Her lips found Yang's in a lingering kiss.
Yang took a shuddering breath once they parted. "I know, I just…" She swallowed hard. "I can't lose you."
Blake glanced down, one of her hands trailing down to Yang's belly, and their unborn child within.
Yang didn't need to say another word. Blake already knew their child would need her too.
Troubled golden eyes met hers, darkened with exhaustion and worry. "I think…" Blake bit her lip. "I need to bench myself. We—"
Yang kissed her, gently cutting her off. "Not now. We'll talk in the morning. You need to sleep anyway, and that's the sort of decision to sleep on."
Blake yawned widely. She didn't manage to stifle it, turning her head at the last moment to avoid doing it right in Yang's face. "You're right." She glowered at the light. Blake never could sleep with it on, but then Yang imagined she would be more sensitive to light levels, what with her night vision.
"Give me a mo." Yang disentangled herself from Blake and stumbled across the room to switch the light off. She turned back to the bed, resigning herself to blundering back to it in the dark, when she found the way lit by a scroll held by Blake.
Blake chuckled. "One of these days you'll let the one with night vision turn off the light."
"Maybe. Just not right now, I think you'd end up on the floor."
"You may have a point," Blake admitted. She beckoned to Yang with her free hand.
Yang slipped into bed again. She gave Blake another kiss. "Roll over. Let's spoon."
Blake sighed, a decidedly exasperated look on her face. "No, you roll over. You're the one with sore breasts. I know you, you've been using your Aura to snuggle so far tonight. We both know you can't do that in your sleep."
"Isn't being face to face the best way to warm you up?" Yang needed to look it up, survival training had been back at Signal, and her recollections were foggy. Maybe Beacon would have gone into more detail, if it hadn't fallen.
"I'm fine. You'll feel it if I start shivering anyway. Roll over. And use the pregnancy pillow." Blake fixed her with a knowing look. "You have been using it, right?" Going by her expression and tone of voice, Blake knew Yang had been hugging Blake's own pillow instead.
Yang looked away. "I felt the need to hold yours. It smells of you."
Blake stroked Yang's cheek until she looked back at her, eyes soft. "I missed you too," Blake murmured. "Nightmares?"
Yang nodded. "They're always worse when you're not here."
Blake winced.
"It's not your fault," Yang hastily added. "I'm fine now."
Blake raised an eyebrow.
"It was about you. Leaving. You're here, there isn't better proof it was just a stupid dream."
"When you say leaving, do you mean for a mission, or…?"
"A stupid dream," Yang repeated. "No secrets between us, love, but please don't ask me to talk about that." She didn't want to trouble Blake about the nightmare, but wasn't going to hide the fact she'd had one either. Bad enough that Ilia was asking her to keep a secret from Blake, even if that one wasn't Yang's to share.
Blake leaned forward a bit, resting her forehead against Yang's. "I may be tired, but I can read between the lines. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. Not of my own free will." She moved a little to kiss Yang. "Now roll over. With that pillow."
Yang heaved a sigh, but retrieved the pregnancy pillow and settled herself down with her back to Blake. Her fiancée snuggled up behind her, wrapping an arm around her. Blake's arm soon fell limp, sleep claiming her. It took Yang rather longer to fall asleep, gently gripping Blake's slack hand, a finger resting on the pulse point in Blake's wrist, and listening to her quiet breathing.
When Yang eventually drifted off, no more nightmares disturbed her sleep that night, Blake's presence keeping them at bay.
Blake yawned and stretched, blinking sleepily when one of her arms didn't move far, caught by something. It took a moment more for her to realise that Yang held the hand reaching around her. Hardly surprising after the scare they'd had.
"Yang?" Blake murmured.
The only response was a snore. Yang's breathing and heart rate sounded pretty consistent with being asleep too, the latter on the edge of Blake's hearing. Relaxing sounds. Even the snoring; it really wasn't as bad as Ruby's horror stories about it.
For a moment Blake was tempted to wake Yang to see if she was in the mood for what her fiancée called 'the best way to start the day.' But perhaps she should make Yang a cup of the tea provided by Raven, a precautionary measure at this point for any lingering morning sickness. Maybe after that they could—Oh. Wait. Blake's own mother was quite possibly within earshot. Definitely a turnoff.
Blake snuggled closer to Yang. She'd get up to make the tea in a minute. She dozed off, vaguely aware she shouldn't close her eyes…
The smell of pancakes roused her. Burning pancakes. Blake's eyes snapped open, and heard Ruby yelping an expletive, muffled by the bedroom door. Blake groaned, struggling to get up. She wasn't as recovered from blood loss as she'd thought, or maybe hoped. Still weak. She sighed, berating herself. It should've been obvious that it'd take longer to recover from that disastrous mission.
Yang stirred. Damn it, Blake had been intending to have that tea ready for her. Too late now; there was no way she could move fast enough. And one of them needed to rescue Ruby before their kitchen burned down. Blake didn't want it to be Yang if she was afflicted by morning sickness, but at this rate it might have to be. Blake flopped back against the bed, trying to find the energy to move.
Maybe Weiss was on hand? Wait, that was no good; Weiss was even more of a disaster in the kitchen than Ruby. The only thing Weiss could make without being a fire hazard was coffee.
Mercy came in the form of her mother's soothing voice, also muffled by the bedroom door, speaking to Ruby. Blake breathed a sigh of relief. Kali would save at least some pancakes, and Blake's kitchen would survive.
Beside her Yang rolled over and stretched, a stifled cross between a whine and a groan escaping her.
"Need a massage?" Blake asked.
Yang blinked, bleary eyes focusing on Blake. "Huh?"
"Massage?"
Yang shook her head. "I'm fine, just the normal stiffness. But what about you?" A worried frown crossed her face, the memory of what had happened to Blake must have penetrated the grogginess.
"I'm…" Blake gave up her efforts to move for the time being. She flopped against the bed and shrugged. "Tired. Do you need some of that tea? I can ask Mom to make it, she's good at making tea of all varieties." She fumbled for her scroll.
"I mean, I haven't needed to bolt for the bathroom yet. It doesn't always happen when you're not here to have a preemptive cup ready for me. I think it might be getting better on its own."
"Still worth having it. You did check with the Doctor, and they reckoned it was beneficial to have regardless."
"Mmm. Kali's supposed to be a guest," Yang grumbled. "She's already helped more than she should've had to."
Blake reached out, took Yang's hand and squeezed it. "She came because she wanted to help. Let her, you're doing her a favour as she sees it."
Yang grumbled incoherently for a moment, before lifting Blake's hand to kiss it. She jerked her head up, eyes roving around, wide in alarm. "What's burning?"
"Ruby's pancakes."
Yang yelped, rolling out of bed and grabbing her prosthetic.
"It's okay," Blake hastened to add. "I heard Mom, she's sorting it out."
"She shouldn't have to! I know, I know, she wants to help, but—"
Blake tried to get up again, struggling enough that Yang cut herself off, hurrying to steady Blake as she finally sat up.
"Maybe you should stay in bed."
Blake took a deep breath. "I'll be fine once I'm sitting down on the sofa or something."
Yang gave her a doubtful look.
"We have guests. I don't want to be stuck on bedrest if I can help it."
Yang sighed. "Okay. Let me get ready, and I'll help you."
Blake didn't pay much attention while Yang performed her morning ablutions, only taking notice when she got dressed. "They arrived! It looks great on you."
The special maternity outfits they'd ordered at Blake's insistence had come in her absence, and both fit Yang flatteringly and highlighted her enlarged bust and growing bump. Her old and tight clothes had a tendency to compress things, doubtless uncomfortably although Yang never said as much. No secrets between them, but Yang still had a tendency to omit things like when she was in pain. Typical Yang…
"Flatterer," Yang muttered, a slight blush on her cheeks and a little smile turning up her lips.
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Is it flattery when it's true?"
Yang rolled her eyes but didn't argue, instead helping Blake into her own clothes, and hauling her onto her feet. She kept a supportive arm around Blake, walking her over to the door and through into the sitting room.
Something bright yellow caught Blake's eyes in front of the sofa; a vase of sunflowers on the coffee table. The scent was far too subtle to pick up at this distance, especially over the lingering smell of burnt pancake. Her mother must have brought those, they hadn't been there before the mission.
"Morning dears, everything is under control," Kali called, a spatula in hand as she stood poised over the pancakes.
Ruby turned, nibbling from a bowl of chocolate chips in her hands. She almost dropped it, eyes widening. She pointed at Yang. "Baby! Bumblebaby bump!"
Blake saw her mother's cat ears pin back, and her own did much the same, an automatic response to the pitch and volume of Ruby's squeal.
"Inside voice!" Weiss hissed, swatting at Ruby's arm. Her eyes followed Ruby's pointing finger to Yang, eyebrows shooting up. "Are those new? That's a very flattering fit."
"Yeah, it's made to expand with the rest of me." Yang snorted. "I bet it won't look as flattering in just a couple of months or so."
"Bumblebaby bump!"
Blake winced as Ruby repeated herself, only slightly quieter and no less shrill. She felt sorry for her mother, standing right next to Ruby. Kali did at least look amused at the term 'Bumblebaby,' even if she looked equally bemused.
Yang heaved a sigh, standing with hands on her hips. "Get it out of your system, Rubes." She briefly gestured at her bump. "Yes. There's a Bumblebaby in there. You've seen the bump before."
"You said Bumblebaby!"
Kali cringed away from Ruby. That had been even shriller.
Yang groaned. "And now I'll never hear the end of it," she muttered.
"In Ruby's defence, we haven't seen you showing quite so clearly before, the new outfit really emphasises it." Weiss cleared her throat. "In a good way."
"So far," Yang grumbled.
"Always in a good way," Blake murmured, for Yang's ears alone, although chances were that her mother heard it too. The closer of Kali's cat ears certainly twitched towards her.
Yang side eyed Blake, a mixture of something like resignation and love in her eyes.
A door down the hallway opened, and Raven emerged, dressed in her own nightwear. Whether she'd put Yang's pyjamas on to sleep in was between her and Kali, and Blake doubted Kali would reveal anything. Her mother valued being someone to trust with a secret.
All eyes were on Raven as she came into the open plan sitting room-come-kitchen-come-dining area. Blake wondered if everyone else was as disturbed as she was with how much Raven looked like a very grumpy and groggy Yang. If one with tangled black hair.
Raven slumped into a seat at the table. "Coffee?" she croaked. A scowl deepened until she looked thunderous, giving Yang a sulky look. "Except you can't be doing with smelling coffee, can you."
"Not for a while yet, no." Yang pointedly stroked her Bumblebaby bump. Blake reminded herself never to call it that around Ruby.
Raven groaned, burying her face in her arms. "You did that to me too. Robbed me of coffee for most of a year." Deep red eyes glared up at Yang.
Blake bristled. She'd have stepped in front of Yang if not for having to hold on to her to stay upright. "You chose to have her. Don't blame her for things outside her control."
Raven pushed herself upright, apparently just so she could curl her lip at Blake without having her face largely hidden. "I did. And I blame Tai for—"
"Don't you dare blame him," Yang snapped.
Raven shot to her feet, the chair legs screeching on the floor. She braced her hands on the table, eyes angry slits of red. "I have every right to blame him when it's his fault the contraception—" She cut herself off, something that looked a lot like guilt flickering across her face.
Yang's arm went rigid around Blake. "Meaning I was a mistake."
Raven shook her head. "Don't put words in my mouth."
"I don't need to. It's why you left, isn't it?"
Raven closed her eyes, sighing deeply. Her eyes snapped open, face like stone. "I'm not getting into that here and now. Not with anyone else around. Either everyone else leaves, or we talk another time, just the two of us." She glanced at Yang's belly. "Actually, it would be best to wait until after the birth. You're supposed to avoid stress."
Yang bared her teeth, her own eyes red, and far brighter than Raven's. "Oh, sure, what's a few months more when it's already been twenty eight years!"
Raven wrapped her arms around herself. "Rest assured that I've never thought of you as a mistake. You're the best of Tai and I. Never doubt that, and despite being unplanned, I never wanted to abort you either. Even with all the morning sickness, the aversion to coffee, and all the rest you have yet to experience."
"Like what?" Yang asked, voice as wary as her face. At least her eyes were back to lilac.
"Childbirth, for one."
Yang blanched.
"Don't scare her," Kali said. She gave Yang a reassuring smile. "It varies. Some have it worse than others. With any luck you'll have a relatively short labour."
"And then we'll get to meet the Bumblebaby!" Ruby put in, mercifully not squealing this time.
"The what?" Raven asked, wide eyes on Ruby.
"Bumbleby baby. Bumblebaby."
Raven squinted. "Bumblebee?"
Yang sighed. "My motorcycle is called that. Ruby took the name for my team move with Blake, just to confuse me."
"I did not! It's from your combined hair colours, like the stripes on a bumblebee!" Ruby pointed an accusing finger at Yang, mouth set in a mulish line. "Besides, your bike is an imposter! It'd be like if I made a clone of Crescent Rose and called her the same thing!"
Yang groaned, dragging a hand through her hair. "Bumblebee Mark Two if you insist."
"What happened to Mark One?" Raven asked. "That was the bike you took through the portal I made at your insistence, wasn't it? Did Qrow's Semblance doom it?"
"No. I threw her at someone who really deserved a motorcycle to the face."
Blake was aware her own mother was staring at Yang just as much as Raven, at least until Kali had to pay attention to a cooking pancake.
"He really did," Blake said. She still wished it hadn't been necessary to kill him, but a bike to the face had been the least Adam deserved. Too bad it hadn't ended the fight and saved his life in the process, but he'd only have tracked them down again. No, Adam had doomed himself.
"Who?" Raven demanded.
Yang waved her prosthetic.
"Ah," Raven breathed, a murderous light in her eyes. "You said he's dead now?"
"He is," Yang confirmed, voice cold. Blake knew Yang didn't share her regrets, and honestly couldn't blame her. Yet Yang had still tried to give Adam a last chance to leave. He just hadn't taken it.
"Anyway," Ruby drew out the word, forcing a smile. "Back to a more breakfast friendly topic: that's why Bumblebee and Bumblebaby."
Raven blinked. She stared at Ruby for a moment, an unreadable look on her face. "Just like Summer," she mumbled.
"It's a cute term," Kali said, sparing a smile for Ruby.
Yang groaned. "Please don't encourage her. She's pressing to name the kid that."
Kali laughed.
"I'm not joking."
Kali's laughter died away, and she stared at Ruby, who grinned unapologetically back at her.
"What? Bumblebaby Belladonna sounds good to me!"
Blake could feel Yang's suspicious stare on her. "I swear I didn't say anything," she muttered, for Yang's ears alone.
"Hmm." Yang's grumbly hum also held a note of resignation, voice equally quiet. "Chances are it occurred to Ruby independently. Guess I won't be divorcing you."
"At least whatever name you come up with will be better than that," Raven said.
"Hey," Ruby protested.
"Raven's not wrong," Weiss admitted. Ruby gave her a very betrayed look. "Even a stopped clock is right sometimes, Ruby! You have to remember that babies grow up, and no one wants to have 'baby' as part of their name."
"Oh. I guess," Ruby said.
"Thank you." The words escaped Yang as a relieved sigh.
"But my niece or nephew can still be called that while a baby!"
Blake heard the slap of Yang's hand as she brought it over her eyes. She stroked Yang's back. "Small mercies," Blake murmured.
Yang's groan was more like a growl. Ruby gave her a wary look, perhaps realising the danger of a hungry and hormonal pregnant woman's displeasure.
"Good news! Breakfast is ready." Kali set up a row of plated pancakes, almost too fast to see.
Yang helped Blake over to the table and into a seat, then fetched their breakfasts. Blake suppressed a sigh. She couldn't help feeling that she should be the one taking care of Yang, although Yang didn't really need any help at the moment, while Blake had been at death's door the night before. She still felt like death warmed over, barely able to stay upright in her chair. If they had stools instead of dining chairs, chances were she'd have been on the floor by now.
"How are you?" Raven asked, her eyes on Blake.
"Oh my gosh… I can't believe she asked before we did!" Weiss muttered. "Sorry. Are you feeling any better?"
"You look rather pale, are you sure you shouldn't be in bed?" Ruby asked.
"We could make up a tray for you, breakfast in bed. You should be resting, dear," Kali said.
Blake dropped her head into her hands, propped up on her elbows. "I don't want to be in bed. But thanks for your concern, I'll be fine. Especially after I eat this, it smells great, Mom."
"I helped! Here, have some chocolate chips." Ruby offered the bowl. By some minor miracle there were still some left in it.
"You mean you almost burned down our kitchen, maybe even our house," Yang grumbled.
"Thank you for taking care of breakfast, Ruby and Mom." Blake hastily intervened before Ruby could do more than open her mouth to object. She sprinkled some chocolate chips on her pancake and tucked in.
Everyone else sat down and ate, except for Raven who ignored the plated pancake left for her. But then again Raven had said she didn't want breakfast. Oh well, Ruby would probably eat it.
Once Yang had finished her own breakfast and noticed her lurking mother, she stood and moved closer, having a quiet conversation that Blake struggled to catch over the chatter at the breakfast table. Ruby was quite capable of talking with her mouth full, and Kali indulged her while Weiss as usual looked resigned at her partner's lack of manners.
Blake watched Yang lead Raven into their bedroom. A few minutes later they emerged, Raven with a disgruntled look on her face, dressed in one of the outfits Yang had last worn months ago. It was truly bizarre to see her in Yang's chosen colours.
Raven carried a bag, presumably with her nightwear inside. She followed Yang to the front door, seemingly uninterested in saying goodbye to anyone at the table. Yang pulled some lien from her wallet and handed the money to Raven. With one last exchange of words Blake couldn't make out, Raven opened the door and left. Yang closed it after her.
For a moment Blake wondered why Raven didn't use her Semblance, then it occurred to her that Raven might not have someone she was bonded to at her home. Had she been going to Qrow every time she'd left them before? For whatever reason, she wasn't this time. Perhaps because chances were Qrow was still at Tai's.
Yang's sigh was on the edge of Blake's hearing, and only audible because of a gap in conversation as the others registered the door closing.
"Raven's gone?" Ruby asked.
"She didn't have her pancake," Kali murmured.
"Her loss." Ruby left a trail of petals and suddenly had another pancake in front of her, the one intended for Raven. The last chocolate chips scattered over it soon disappeared with the pancake.
Yang stood behind Blake's chair, hands gently resting on her shoulders. "You might be more comfy on the sofa."
Blake looked up and back at her. "You might be right," she managed to admit, much as she wanted to claim she was fine.
Yang got them settled on the sofa, pulling a soft blanket over her legs and wrapping an arm around her. Blake's eyes slid shut, relaxing, her cat ears perking up a bit from where they'd pinned back in discomfort. She leant back against the sofa and pressed against Yang's side, nuzzling her head on Yang's shoulder.
Blake heard the others cross the room and sit on the other comfy chairs. She didn't bother to open her eyes yet. Maybe if someone talked to her, but for now she'd rest her eyes.
"Perhaps I should do the washing up," Kali murmured.
Blake frowned. Beside her, Yang's breath hissed between her teeth.
Before either of them could protest, Ruby spoke up: "I'll do it, you already did most of the cooking."
Weiss tutted. "No, I will. We had a deal, Ruby. You cook, I clean."
"I did barely any cooking!"
"My house, my washing up," Yang snapped. "Leave it for me."
Blake opened her eyes and took in the stubborn set of Yang's jaw. She glanced at the others. Good, it seemed they knew better than to argue with her, exchanging resigned glances.
"So, uh, did Raven tell you anything while you were alone with her?" Ruby asked.
"You mean why she left all those years ago? No, she's still determined to save that for when I'm not in a 'delicate state.'" Yang rolled her eyes. "Why she couldn't have told me before I ended up pregnant, I don't know."
"Because it's Raven," Weiss stated.
"She did save Blake," Kali murmured, her eyes on Blake with such love in them it was almost painful to see.
Weiss cleared her throat. "We're all grateful about that, of course."
"Um, so…" Ruby winced. "We can't risk a mission going wrong like that again." She rubbed at the back of her head, eyes finding Blake's and flicking away again.
"You don't need to bench me," Blake stated. "I'm benching myself first."
There was a collective gasp, although of course not from Yang.
"I wasn't going to!" Ruby protested. "We can make sure you're not on the roster for missions known to be that dangerous. You don't need to be benched, we—"
"Ruby," Weiss murmured, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It's Blake's choice to make."
Yang grumbled something under her breath, crossing her arms.
Ruby slumped back. "I know. It's just…" She turned plaintive silver eyes on Blake. "It won't be the same without you. Going on missions without Yang already feels wrong."
"I could still be out there!" The words exploded out of Yang, her arms thrown up in exasperation.
"That's not up for discussion," Ruby snapped. "You're grounded."
Yang's jaw dropped, eyes wide in disbelief before they narrowed. "You can't ground me!"
"Benched! I meant benched. We're not risking the Bumblebaby, and that's final."
Yang's eyes narrowed, her body tense against Blake. "I wouldn't risk the Bumble—Oh, don't even start. Don't you dare." She waggled a finger at her sister.
Ruby grinned. "You said it again! Officially Bumblebaby." She pointed at Yang's belly.
Yang groaned. "I did not! I almost said it, that's all, and that's your fault."
Ruby's grin widened.
"Anyway, back to the matter at hand…" Blake said, making a valiant attempt to change the subject back to something safer. At this rate Ruby might provoke Yang into really losing her temper, and that was the last thing any of them wanted. Especially Yang herself once she calmed down enough to regret it. Blake was also all too aware of her mother's discomfort, Kali's cat ears angled back, wide eyes looking between the sisters. She wasn't used to witnessing this sort of thing between them.
"Sorry," Yang muttered, kissing Blake's cheek. She put her arm back around Blake. "I derailed that."
"No, it's a touchy subject for you," Blake murmured. She looked around at the others and raised her voice to include them in the conversation. "I can't risk not coming home. That was far too close, and if it happened again… Raven won't come for me again. She saves people once."
Blake glanced at Kali in time to catch her wincing.
"Then we take less risky missions," Ruby said.
Blake shook her head. "Sometimes things go wrong with no warning. Mission briefs aren't always accurate. I can't do it, not any more."
"What about us?" Ruby's voice was small. "I don't know what we'll do without you. We're already team RWB in the field, team RW sounds—Well, it actually doesn't sound bad, we could make Grimm rue the day they meet us…"
Kali's ears flicked. She opened her mouth, then closed it, as if she'd wanted to say something but changed her mind.
Blake gave Kali a moment in case she spoke up after all, then turned her attention back to Ruby. "Team up with Jaune, Ren and Nora, and maybe Qrow more often. I'm sorry, I don't think I have a choice. I almost died last night." Pressed against her, Yang went rigid. Blake nuzzled her head against her. "I'm not pregnant but I'm still going to be a mother."
Ruby sniffled. She swiped at her eyes, nodding. "You're right. It's not fair of me to say anything against you leaving the team field roster."
"Leaving for now, at least." Blake took Yang's free hand and intertwined their fingers. "We still need to figure out when or if we return to duty."
"I hate to raise it, but what will you do for lien?" Weiss asked. "Ruby and I will do everything we can to support you both, of course. It's just we can't do as much work with just two of us, especially if we need to work with Jaune's team. That just divides the money we earn more ways." She sighed heavily. "I wish I could fund you both myself, but the Schnee fortune is long gone."
Yang clicked her tongue. "We can't both do the paperwork for team RWBY, that's for sure. There isn't enough to justify paying me an equal share as it is."
Kali stirred, her upper ears perking up. Blake could guess what she was about to say, and hated the thought, much as it made sense.
Blake spoke quickly, stumbling over her words. "We'll, uh, come up with something. There's still time to think it over until the end of maternity leave, decide if we go back to working as huntresses or retrain as something else."
"But your reason to stop won't change after the Bumblebaby is born," Ruby pointed out. "Yang's reason for being benched will change, no Bumblebaby on board to risk, but you'll both be mothers. I really don't want my niece or nephew orphaned."
"That won't happen." Yang's arm tightened around Blake.
Ruby glanced away, before turning an earnest stare on Yang. "I know it's different from what happened to Mom, but after what almost happened to Blake… There's still dangerous Grimm out there."
"And it's our job to deal with them. We're huntresses." Yang sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
"It was," Weiss said gently. "But now being mothers has to come first. Maybe when the Bumblebaby—Damn it! You're infecting me too, Ruby!" She punched her partner's arm.
Ruby chuckled. She didn't even bother rubbing at where she'd been punched, but then Weiss wasn't known for hitting hard with her fists.
"Where was I?" Weiss asked. "Oh, right: maybe when the baby—"
A disappointed moan escaped Ruby, presumably because Weiss hadn't slipped up and called it the Bumblebaby again.
"—is old enough to not need you as much you can take missions again. Although by then it won't be a baby." Weiss frowned. "I'm not sure how long you'll need to put being mothers first. My own family really isn't the best example there."
"Let them decide that for themselves," Kali said. She looked between Blake and Yang. "As for funds until you can find an alternative source, I can help there, and I'm sure Ghira will agree. Take as long as you need. You don't need to worry about lien."
Blake cringed, and felt Yang do much the same beside her. "Mom, we can't accept—"
"It's only until you find alternate work," Weiss said. "Just accept the help. You'd take it from me if I could afford it, so why not from your parents?"
Blake exchanged an unhappy and resigned look with Yang. "I guess when you put it that way…" She heaved a sigh. "Thanks Mom. I do appreciate it, really."
"We both do," Yang said.
Kali smiled. "Don't worry about it, I know you both want to stand on your own feet, and you will. There's nothing you can't do when you put your minds to it."
"Nothing I can't do except fight too many Grimm, anyway," Blake muttered under her breath, too quietly for anyone else to hear.
"I guess that's sorted, then." Ruby still sounded subdued, even if she was trying to chirp again. "Maybe I should talk to Raven, see if she's interested in taking some missions with us. Although if she keeps taking the lion's share of the payment, there's not much point."
"Don't complain, she deserved that after taking care of that ancient Grimm," Weiss said. "But I'm not so sure she should be asked. You saw what happened."
"Oh, that's right." Ruby winced. She turned to Yang. "You need to talk to Raven. She's getting nosebleeds when she uses her Maiden magic, and she had to use those a lot last night. It's the only way we all survived. She wouldn't listen to me when I suggested she see a doctor about it."
"That headache she had last night… I bet that was caused by the same thing." Yang cursed softly. "I'll talk to her. By scroll message if all else fails."
"Speaking of messages… When you're fully recovered from the blood loss, Blake, get in touch with me." Weiss waved her scroll.
Blake blinked. "Why not now?"
"You're still too pale for my liking, and I don't want to put you under any stress right now, even if it's for a good cause."
Blake exchanged a puzzled look with Yang.
"What good cause could be stressful?" Yang asked. She scowled. "Not another remembrance ceremony at Beacon. You know we don't do those."
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Your elopement. Nearly everything is arranged now, we just need to finalise a few things. You'd better get your vows ready."
"Oh, we have," Blake said.
"You… have? Can I see?"
Blake exchanged another glance with Yang, and a wordless conversation with that single look.
"Sure." Blake fished out her scroll and brought up her copy of their vows. She passed it to Weiss.
Ruby vibrated where she sat, shedding a few petals, clearly wanting to see too but restraining herself.
"Look if you want," Yang said.
"No, I'll wait," Ruby moaned.
Kali's cat ears were angled forward, curiosity shining in her eyes.
Blake gestured towards her scroll. "Feel free, Mom."
"Oh, no, I'll wait too. It'll make hearing them at the wedding more special."
Weiss cleared her throat. "These are…" She shook her head. "Unusual. Are you…" She hesitated, biting her lip. "You're sure?"
Blake took Yang's hand. "Absolutely."
Weiss shrugged. "It's your wedding." It sounded a lot more like Weiss meant 'your funeral,' but then their vows weren't something anyone else would understand.
Ruby and Kali looked bemused, and still curious, but neither of them changed their minds when Weiss offered them Blake's scroll. She shrugged and returned it to Blake.
"Did Dad send or bring the sunflowers?" Ruby asked, pointing at the vase on the coffee table.
"No, Kali brought them." Yang smiled at Kali before returning her gaze to her sister. "Pretty, aren't they."
"They're lovely. I feel kinda bad that I didn't bring any. I could've snagged some from Dad's flowerbeds…"
Weiss poked Ruby. "That would be theft."
"Dad wouldn't mind! He'd probably have sent me with some if he hadn't been half asleep."
Yang held up her free hand, palm outward, a wordless signal for 'stop.' "I don't really need more sunflowers right now."
"Dad would tell you that you can never have too many."
"Much as I love sunflowers, I don't love them as much as he does. No more for now. If you insist on getting flowers, get Blake's favourite."
"Oh, right. Which I totally know." Ruby gave a nervous chuckle. "Um. I don't."
"Nightshade?" Weiss suggested. "It's in her family name and it's her emblem."
"Yellow marigolds, actually," Blake said.
Ruby threw her hands up. "You might as well have sunflowers, they're not that different—Ow, Weiss!" She rubbed at her side where Weiss had elbowed her. "Pointy," she grumbled.
"Forgive her, for she knows not of what she speaks," Weiss said. "Marigolds are much fluffier in appearance. I like them too, even if they're not my favourite. Which is myrtenaster, of course."
"Your sword's not a flower," Ruby muttered.
Weiss patted her partner. "It's named after a flower."
Ruby turned to Kali. "What's your favourite, Mrs Bella—"
Kali cleared her throat.
"Kali, I mean."
Kali waved her hands. "I couldn't possibly choose a favourite, I like far too many to pick just one. But much as I'd like to get into every flower I like, I really should be going. I dread to think what Ghira got up to in my absence, he always overworks himself if I don't remind him to take breaks." She stood.
"We should be going too, we need to collect our belongings from where we were staying. We'll get yours too, Blake, and I'll get the paperwork for that last mission to you both," Weiss got to her feet, pulling Ruby up with her.
For all that Ruby was team leader, Weiss handled most of the bureaucratic side, at least until Yang took over after being benched. Weiss still passed on most of that paperwork, as Yang needed to get it first before she could deal with it. There would be more red tape this time, as Blake had to be formally sidelined from field duty.
After making their fond farewells and the front door closed behind their guests, the house felt too quiet. At the same time Blake felt like she could truly relax, without trying to conceal how drained she felt. She didn't want to worry Yang, but she wouldn't try to hide it from her like she would from anyone else.
Yang's attention was currently held by her scroll, a scowl on her face. "Go to see a fucking doctor, damn it!" she snarled, stabbing her fingers at the screen. She wasn't on a call with Raven but messaging her. Blake made a mental note to massage the tension out of Yang's shoulders later. Maybe rather later than ideal; Blake was probably too floppy to manage a massage for a while.
Yang dropped her scroll onto the sofa with a disgusted sigh. "The best I could get from her was an 'I'll think about it.' I even told her I don't want to lose her again. Ugh! She's impossible."
Blake took her hand and stroked the back of it with her thumb. "You've done all you can. If she doesn't listen to you, she won't listen to anyone."
Yang rested her head against Blake's, nuzzling her with a nod. Her breath caught, free hand flying to her belly.
"What's wrong?" Blake almost yelped, a jolt of adrenaline laced with worry coursing through her.
"Nothing," Yang breathed. "The baby's moving. Again."
Blake drew away enough to stare at Yang. "Let's pretend I'm too tired and drained to understand why that made you gasp, when you've been feeling that for weeks with your Aura."
"No Aura involved, that's why. I felt it last night, a sort of fluttering."
"Oh," Blake gasped, eyes wide. "Can I…?" She reached towards Yang's belly.
Yang took her hand but didn't bring it to her stomach. "Even I can't feel it from the outside. Do you feel up to using your Aura to sense it?"
"Yes! Please." Blake hesitated, resisting Yang's gentle pull on her hand. "But it's far more overwhelming for you than for me. Are you sure?"
Yang lifted Blake's hand to kiss the back of it. "Do you have any idea how much I regretted turning you down when you asked before leaving for that mission? More than I can say. Yes, I'm sure."
Blake let Yang rest their joined hands on her bump. She waited for Yang to tug her clothing out of the way, and for verbal confirmation that Yang had dropped her Aura.
"Ready."
Blake focused her Aura, directing it inside Yang until it touched their baby. Their very active baby. She lost herself in the sensation of the thrumming heart and wriggling limbs until the extension of her Aura faded away.
It took a moment for Blake to find her voice. "Wow…"
"Yeah." Yang swiped at her eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Are you okay?"
Yang shot her a look of mingled exasperation and adoration. "Just overwhelmed."
Blake cupped her cheeks, stroking away the dampness of the tears with her thumbs. She leaned forward to kiss Yang, then bent to kiss the still exposed skin of her belly. "Me too. I love you both so much." Her voice cracked. She tried to straighten up to kiss Yang again, and almost fell.
Yang caught her. "Whoa there. I think we'd better get you back to bed for a while, and while you rest I'll call the doctor."
"I'm fine, Jaune boosted my Aura, I healed…"
"Did I miss Jaune getting his medical doctorate? He's got no formal medical training at all last I checked. You almost died. We're getting you checked out by our doctor, please don't argue."
Blake couldn't resist those pleading lilac eyes. She was also guiltily aware that if Yang had lost as much blood as she had, she'd be insisting much the same thing. "All right."
She let Yang support her through to their bed, and cooperated with being undressed and tucked in. Blake drifted off to the sound of Yang's voice, muffled by the closed bedroom door, talking with their doctor. The last thing she was aware of was hoping Yang would come and join her afterwards; Blake wanted snuggles.
She briefly awoke to find Yang giving her them. Blake smiled, pressed closer, and dozed back off.
AN: Coming up next: the Bees elope. They would've done that in this chapter if they could've stopped talking.
It's been over a month since the last chapter, I know. Burn out really doesn't help, despite it not being specifically writing burn out it still affected my ability to write.
Thanks for reading. Enjoyed? Please do tell me more in a comment.