Ch 11: Blessed By Light
When the glow faded, the bundle suddenly began to squirm weakly, a frail crying filling the air. Weiss could almost feel her heart stop. She looked down into the baby now moving in her arms. The sheer amount of joy that filled her was so intense she was overwhelmed. Bringing his face close to hers, she kissed at his head and choked on a light hearted laugh of relief as her lips curled into a smile and more tears left her eyes.
Quickly, the amazed medical staff swooped in. Weiss's knight tried to keep them away and so did her aggressive glare and defensive grip on her baby until Ozpin touched her shoulder, "I'll talk to them Weiss but if you don't let them take him for now he is at risk. Your son hasn't finished growing and needs to be placed in special conditions for now."
Weiss practically whimpered as her hands shook, the knight disappearing as she loosened her grip and let a very kind nurse take the baby. He was set into the chamber that had been in the room and it was sealed and instantly adapted to a proper environment for aiding the rest of his growth.
As the nurse wheeled it out to bring him down to the neonatal ICU. Yang noticed and shook Ruby, "Hey… look there."
Ruby turned her face, blank with pain and noticed the nurse with the baby and could hear his weak cries. As if energy was zapped back into the young woman she jumped off Yang and watched carefully before following the nurse for a moment, "Hey… hey! What happened? Is… is that…"
The nurse smiled softly at her, "This is your son. I'm not really sure what happened but whatever that young man did it gave life back to your son. I need to get him to neonatal care but I can think of someone who could use you right now."
She glanced back at the door. Most of the rest of the staff was leaving the room aside from the nurse getting Weiss set up for her stay. Ruby looked to the room then back at the woman, "I… have to see where he is going first. I can't imagine she is too happy to have let him go with you."
The nurse chuckled and nodded, letting Ruby follow. When they got to the NICU, she wheeled him back into the nursery area and Ruby was left outside of a big window watching. An echoing voice pulled her from her thoughts as Ozpin stepped next to her, "You should be proud. Wait until you see his eyes."
He gave her a friendly nudge to her shoulder. She glanced over at him before turning back as the cart and chamber were set into place near her past the window while they got him cleaned up. Ruby raised her hand up and cleaned up her face, giving him a smile, "Thank you. Whatever you did, thank you."
He raised a hand to stop her, "I simply was a vessel. You two earned that blessing from the Brother all on your own when you stopped Salem. Whatever happens now is out of the God's hands. He made it clear he wasn't promising anything and couldn't help any further. So you need to do your best, you and Weiss both to take good care of your son so that the blessing isn't wasted. Your boy still has a rough road ahead of him with how premature he is."
Ruby nodded, "Don't worry Professor, we will. No way are either of us going to let anything happen to him if we can help it."
He nodded and his eyes flashed and Oscar was back. Her friend smiled at her and gave her a light push, "You should go be with Weiss."
They shared a smile and Ruby nodded, the both of them walking back. Oscar hung around for a bit with the others before leaving while Ruby went into her wife's room. With all the high emotions wearing down, Weiss looked exhausted and drained. Ruby walked over and looked at the woman, leaning to kiss her wet cheek, listening to Weiss mumble as the woman reached and clung to Ruby, "H…he's alive…Ruby he's alive…"
She nodded, gently holding Weiss carefully, "I know Weiss. I saw him. He's beautiful, just like you."
Weiss gave a light smile and closed her eyes as she teared up happily, "He really is Ruby… I'm so glad he is breathing… I… just want him back in here… I.."
Ruby softly hushed her, "Weiss you need to rest. I know you're worried about relaxing yet but you are barely conscious… I'll be right here so get some sleep ok? You went through a lot too."
Her fingers ran through Weiss's sweaty disheveled hair and she used her foot to pull a chair close so she could sit by Weiss. The woman tried to argue but with the adrenaline gone, she couldn't stay awake any longer, easily passing out with Ruby's presence to give her a sense of security.
Ruby let herself relax and rested her head against Weiss's bed, wrapping Weiss's hand in hers while her wife got rest, letting her own eyes close and drifting off a bit herself worn down from all the stress.
—-
In the waiting room, Yang, Winter and Blake, having seen the baby wheeled out and at least aware he was alive, were able to relax a bit while they waited to be able to see Weiss. They all wanted to see the new addition to the family but refused to for now, believing Weiss and Ruby deserved to see him how they wanted until they were ready to introduce him to the rest. Blake was sitting next to Winter as Yang went to grab something for the three of them to eat.
Blake watched Dove who was whimpering and becoming a handful, the baby bored and frustrated from being forced to stay in place unentertained for so long. Winter was doing her best to keep her calm. Blake reached over, tickling the baby a bit to distract her, getting a few giggles out of her. Winter smiled, "Thank you."
Blake just shrugged, "Hospitals are tough for babies to be stuck in. There's not much you can do."
Winter dug around in the bag she brought and pulled out one of Dove's toys, handing it to her to hopefully tide her over for now, "I just rushed here for my sister so I didn't really have a chance to find someone to watch her. To be honest it's usually very difficult to get anyone to watch her. People always assume just because she's my daughter that she'll be a handful but she's a fairly well behaved baby."
Blake nodded, watching Dove with her toy, "Well, you are the winter maiden and a highly trained soldier. I imagine people are also just intimidated."
Before Winter could respond, Blake groaned, rubbing her stomach where her baby was deciding to march around again, "I wish she would stop moving so much in there… ugh…"
Winter chuckled, "Dove was super active too. It was miserable. She moved around so much she kept me nauseous and stuck in bed. Do you think your baby will also be a faunus? Sorry that was probably rude, I just was curious considering Yang is human."
Blake gave a weak smile trying to rub the fervent kicking in hopes to calm down the energetic baby inside, "Usually the babies are generally still faunus but in some occasions they are human so who knows. Haven't seen a tail or ears or anything in the imaging yet."
Yang returned with food for everyone, handing around some to go boxes. When she sat by Blake and tried to be sweet at the sight of her discomfort, the faunus hissed at her a bit and Yang pulled away, "Sorry! But I got you fish… so please don't be a cranky kitty!"
Oops, bad choice of words. Blake glared at her and Yang could tell she was very unamused. Blake was at least able to settle her baby by shifting some, the new angle seeming to appease the restless offspring within her.
—-
After several hours, Weiss was awake even if still tired and gently woke Ruby. There was a nurse there waiting to help get Weiss in a wheelchair so she could take them to their baby but Weiss refused to go without Ruby. The younger woman raised her head, rubbing her eyes, "H..huh? I'm up I'm up. Is everything ok Weiss?"
Weiss shook her head, hand holding Ruby's face, "No but I didn't want to go see him without you."
Ruby smiled sweetly and sat up, stretching before standing up and helping the nurse get Weiss in the wheelchair. When they came out of the room, the others saw them but Ruby just pointed and they didn't bother the couple as they went to see their son. The two entered the nursery, and were led to the baby's chamber that was helping keep him stable and producing an artificial environment he could finish developing the most necessary aspects in.
Weiss was a bit upset that she wasn't allowed to hold him but she accepted it knowing it was vital to getting him through. There were gloved inserts built into the chamber and she slid her hands into them so she could reach for him, touching his tiny hand with her fingers. Ruby just watched as the tiny baby squirmed and his eyes blinked open in a squint at the bright lights. Her breath caught as she saw his silver eyes roaming around.
She was leaning over Weiss to watch the two and Weiss pulled a single hand back to rub her wife's arm, "He has your eyes."
Ruby reached out, putting her own hand in the now empty glove and made contact with her son for the first time, gently touching his little toes watching his feet jerk a bit in response. Her heart was overwhelmed with a mix of love and joy and her other arm held Weiss around her shoulders, chin resting on her hair as she chuckled happily, "He's perfect Weiss."
The nurse came over with a clipboard and smiled at them, "Have you decided on a name? We'd like to put something down so we can get his paperwork figured out."
Ruby nuzzled Weiss's hair, giving her consent to anything Weiss wanted. Ruby would be happy with whatever name he had so long as he was breathing so she didn't mind if Weiss decided. They had not discussed names because it was too hard a topic for them during the whole ordeal. Weiss watched his tiny fingers grip her finger and she stared at those silver eyes, "His name is Sterling. Sterling Rose."
Ruby kissed her head, voice sweet and loving, "I love that Weiss."
The nurse nodded and gave them a bit longer with him as she went to get things in order. Weiss looked up at Ruby, "Do you want to go get the others now?"
Ruby nodded, "If you're sure."
When Weiss gave her approval, Ruby kissed her hair again and pulled her arm from the glove, "I'll be right back Princess."
The young woman went back to where their family was waiting and waved for them to get up as she walked over, "Do you guys want to see him now?"
Yang practically flew to her feet excited before turning to help Blake up. Winter stood up as well though with much more grace, pulling her bag over her shoulder before settling Dove on her hip. Yang grinned at her little sister, "Hell yea we wanna see him!"
Ruby chuckled and led them to the glass window. Weiss was still inside but was talking with a nurse. It looked like they were sorting through a schedule of some sort. Ruby could ask about that later. She nodded her head to the glass and smiled at them, "That's him. That's Sterling. He's really tiny but so far things are ok. He's really cute right?!"
Yang grinned watching the squirming bundle, "Um yea! He's adorable Rubes! I love him already! Hey look at that looks like he's got that signature Schnee hair too!"
She was smirking at Winter, who just smiled, "Well… strong genes I suppose but it looks like he has Ruby's eyes."
They all excitedly watched him, Blake placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder with a soft smile, "Congratulations Ruby. I'm happy for you."
Her voice conveyed everything she meant best, giving Ruby the encouragement the younger woman needed to feel at ease after all the crazy that it took to get here. Ruby just gave a thankful smile to the faunus.
Weiss was working out a feeding schedule for Sterling, agreeing to a pump schedule to try to use her own milk first. The nurse was also explaining what stages he would have to meet before they could pull him from the chamber more permanently.
—-
Thankfully he took ok to bottle feeding and was cleared to go to Weiss to be fed when needed around his chambered treatments. and Weiss got to actually hold him and feed him by the evening the next day. Ruby just sat there amazed at her new family, finally getting to hold him for a moment while they waited for the nurse to come back after he ate.
Holding him for the first time was an overwhelming experience that flooded her heart with so much love she could hardly breathe. He was so small in her arms and she felt she had to be super careful and delicate with him but she couldn't take her eyes off him, gently whispering loving words to him. Weiss watched them with a gentle smile, her own heart melting at the sight as Ruby kissed his head, softly touching her forehead to his, "I love you so much Sterling. I'm never going to let anything bad happen to you again I promise. You're going to have the best life ever with me and your mommy, just you wait and see. She's the best once you understand her."
Weiss huffed and rolled her eyes but couldn't stop her grin, "Don't go making him think I'm cold, Ruby. I haven't been an 'Ice Queen' in years."
Ruby chuckled and stuck her tongue out playfully at Weiss as the nurse came back and gently took the baby to bring him back to his pseudo environment.
—-
It took almost three weeks but the baby and Weiss were finally cleared to leave. In that time, Weiss's family and Tai had managed to come by and see the new addition. Willow and Klein cried of course but were very proud of Weiss.
They would have to be really careful with him and what he is exposed to as premature babies are very susceptible to the ills around them but that would be fine. With how clean Weiss liked things and the fact they didn't really get many visitors, it shouldn't be a problem.
Getting him home was a happy victory for the young couple. He was doing well with Weiss feeding him and Weiss was getting around well from her own injuries almost fully healed up. Ruby continued to be on leave so she could help care for her new family for now, easily taking up the task of checking on him anytime he cried in the middle of the night so Weiss could rest, motherhood definitely still wearing her out currently throughout the day and Ruby didn't want her to push herself too hard.
Weiss was thankful, the night was the only time she could get much sleep. The older woman would pump enough milk to allow Ruby to bottle feed him when needed at night so she could sleep and Ruby would get to catch up on rest in the mornings once Weiss was up for the day. Sterling often cried, the baby easily unsettled by just about everything in his feeble form.
Within the first few weeks at home he had ended up sick a few times, his body just lacking pretty much any immunity even with his parents doing their best to keep him healthy and safe. Luckily he didn't need to go back to the hospital at any point.
He was currently fighting a rather rough cold at only a month old, his congested cry dragging at his parents' heartstrings. It was almost two in the morning when his sickly cries wailed out. Ruby rubbed her face, exhausted. She had been up now three times already since he was laid down for bed.
Weiss rolled to reach for her, "Ruby… I can get him if you need."
Ruby just sleepily patted Weiss's hand, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, "I got it Weiss… just…" she yawned deeply, "go back to sleep…"
Blue eyes watched the younger woman stumble to her feet before wobbling off to check on him. As Ruby entered his room, she walked over to the crib and looked down at his squirming form, ears burning at his cries as she reached down and scooped him into her arms, "Shhhh there there Sterling Mama's here. It's ok. Let's get your nose cleaned out so you can breathe ok?"
She walked over to a set of tubs and pulled out what looked like a tiny bulb with a nozzle, using it to suck the goop from his stuffy nose until it was cleared and sitting in the rocking chair with him, rocking him gently to soothe him as she rubbed his back. It didn't take long for him to calm down.
When it got quiet but Ruby hadn't come back, Weiss got up, going to check on them. Ruby had dozed off with Sterling held to her chest in the chair, the both of them asleep. Luckily he was not being held in any way dangerous to him. She leaned on the doorframe just watching the two people who owned her heart for a moment before walking over and gently taking him.
It startled Ruby awake a bit but Weiss just leaned and kissed her head, "It's ok Ruby I have him."
The younger woman nodded as she passed back out, curling into the chair as Weiss got him back into his crib. She watched her son sleep for a bit, stroking his head sweetly before turning and trying to wake Ruby. When she couldn't, she smiled and got a blanket, laying it over her exhausted wife and kissing her cheek before she went back to bed, whispering as she closed the door to a crack, "I love you both. Goodnight."
Ruby ended up sleeping through the night with Weiss tending to any cries the rest of the night, the younger waking confused at her surroundings in the morning as Weiss was getting him ready for a feeding. She stared at the blanket and the other two and rubbed her face, "I'm sorry Weiss. I guess I was super tired."
Weiss just smiled at her and rolled her eyes, holding Sterling, "It's fine Ruby. We are in this together after all. Could I have the chair though so I can feed him?"
Ruby nodded and got up with the blanket, folding it as Weiss settled into the chair with him for his morning feeding. He got over his cold after a couple days and they fell back into the easier routine for the time being.
—-
As Blake entered the last week of her pregnancy, Sterling was now three months old and the couple finally allowed the select few to visit. Her own baby had gotten oddly calm lately. She was still moving around from time to time but she had all but stopped kicking and tumbling around. Blake thought it was weird but she felt confident in the fact the baby was full term and was still at least a little active. She assumed maybe it was just getting too cramped inside for much movement.
She was currently sitting with her mom while Yang cooked dinner as she felt the baby shift just a bit slowly, her face curious. Her mother noticed her face and gave her a questioning look, "What is it dear?"
Blake shook her head, "I don't think it's anything to worry about but she has just been really, really calm lately. Don't get me wrong my organs are thankful she isn't trying to kick box with them anymore but… well it's just… she has been so active since she started kicking that it just feels really strange for her to not even so much as throw her foot once these past few days. I don't know Mom, should I be worried?"
Her mother hummed in thought for a moment, "I'm not really sure dear. I had zero complications with you and that's the only experience I have but if she's still at least moving it's probably a good sign. Have you tried calling your doctor?"
Blake shrugged, "I'm trying not to accidentally trigger panic in Yang. After everything with our nephew she has been really on edge of every little thing."
Kali nodded, "Is that so bad? It was a very terrifying experience to witness and she just wants to make sure her own little family is safe. I think it's sweet."
Blake rolled her eyes, "You aren't the one she's hovering."
Her mother laughed, smiling at her as she leaned on her hand, "No I suppose not but you'll come to appreciate it later when it's all said and done."
The faunus sighed and rubbed her belly, "I guess so."
When dinner was ready, Yang helped Blake to her feet and walked with her as the cat waddled over to the table. The three of them got through dinner and as they were settling for the night Blake felt the movement of her baby come to a crawling sudden stop. It gave her a terrible feeling but she pushed it down. That night, she had a terrible nightmare that threw her awake with a shout, sweating and gripping the sheets.
Yang stirred awake, her own dreams suddenly invaded with a distantly familiar male voice urging her to wake with a flash of silver light. She looked at Blake, "Everything ok Kitten? You look like you've seen a ghost."
When she said nothing, Yang sat up, reaching to hold her. Blake's hand rubbed through her own hair as she tried to calm her racing heart, "I just… had the most vivid nightmare. It… felt so real."
The blonde tucked Blake into her arms, "Tell me."
Blake began to describe the dark images and this crazy supernatural shadow that was tearing into her body after the baby, red eyes glowing and what sounded like Salem's evil laughter than Grimm were ripping through out of her body, the cat sharing the unpleasant experience to the very bloody details, "I could've sworn I heard Salem's voice saying something like… 'you will all regret what you've done'…"
Yang frowned as she listened. Blake was holding her belly with her other hand and leaning into Yang, "I haven't felt her move since before we went to sleep. Normally she would be doing flips with how much my heart is racing like this… it… it was just a bad dream…right?"
Her wife didn't respond for a long time, lost in thought. They had seen all sorts of the unexplainable from maidens to magic to gods and other worlds. Would it be that odd for such a nightmare to be real to some degree? Worried words pulled Yang from her thoughts, "Yang… you're scaring me… say something please."
The woman released a breath and was climbing out of bed, "I think we should get to the hospital just to be safe."
Amber eyes filled with worry at Yang's forced calm and she stood up, "O…ok… "
Yang helped her get dressed and grabbed the prepped go bag, getting Blake to the front door, "I'll go wake your mom up. Wait right here ok?"
The cat just nodded and waited. When Yang returned with Kali, the three got into a vehicle to head to the hospital. Kali took care of calling ahead as Yang drove. While on the trip, Blake suddenly started feeling movement again but this time it was as if claws were dragging around the womb, making her hunch forward and cry out.
"Are you having contractions?" Kali asked as she rubbed Blake's shoulders but her daughter shook her head, tearing up as the clawing got more aggressive and intense, "N…no I… I don't know but AHH! I don't think so… it… feels like AHHHH! sc…scratching…"
Her mother's face flashed worry for a moment before her expression steeled itself, turning to Yang, "You need to get us there faster."
She tucked her head to Blake's, speaking calmly and evenly, "Just breathe dear. It'll be alright."
Yang threw on the emergency lights and floored it, the tires screaming into the overhang at the hospital and staff coming out to help get Blake inside. When their doctor arrived, Blake was in intense pain and doing her best to not panic. None of this seemed right, "Blake… we are going to go ahead and induce you. I think it's best we get her out and figure out what's going on alright? Should be fine, you are pretty much due any day now anyway ok?"
She nodded and they got her induced and the epidural for the pain. Kali took care of calling Yang's list of people so the brawler could be with Blake before the woman called Ghira while she waited.
Ruby came by but Weiss stayed home with Sterling, not wanting to bring him to the hospital because of the health risks of the environment. Tai also showed up with Qrow and surprisingly Raven was there. Ruby gave the woman a glare but she held up her hands, "Yang and I have been in contact and she had asked Qrow to bring me. Trust me it's strange for me as well."
The waiting room was less stressful than when Sterling was born but Ruby had to admit being on the waiting end was absolutely not fun either. Tai and Qrow were sharing stories to lighten the mood and pass the time while Raven had set herself up standing by a window and ignoring everyone with a frown on her face. If Ruby didn't know any better she would assume Raven was being forced to be here. Kali kept herself preoccupied on her scroll with her husband.
Within the room, the injection was taking effect and she could no longer feel much from the waist down. The doctor then gave an injection that rapidly sped the active labor process up so that they didn't have to wait too long if something might be wrong. Yang stood with her as everything was happening and Blake's body responded to the medications, ready to begin pushing within an hour.
Oscar had shown up again, which made Ruby extremely nervous in the waiting room, "Don't… tell me Ozpin had you come again?"
He nodded, "Unfortunately yes. He is pretty sure now that Salem did something to all four of you when you defeated her or that her magic left some sort of temporary residual effect. He just told me to come and be ready so I'm here."
'Oh…oh no…' Ruby thought as she bit her lip and grew anxious waiting.
The process went about as smoothly and normally as it can be expected, the epidural being successful was probably the only thing keeping Yang from being injured by a potentially pain-ridden faunus. When the baby was finally born after the intensive process, there was a slight weak cry before something nightmarish occurred.
As if the dream Blake had was an omen or warning of some kind, the cat caught sight of her baby's eyes and they were beaming a glowing red before a geist Grimm of all things ripped its way free of the little body with a screech, the room lights flickering and Yang growled, reaching for it and grabbing it's mask, crushing it in her metal grip furiously, Salem's laugh echoing out of it as it dusted to nothing.
Their baby's body went limp and silent the moment the geist had left it. The doctor and nurses flew into procedures to try to help the little human baby but the issue didn't seem to be in the heart or brain. The doctor turned to Blake and shook his head. Through tears, Blake held her arms out, "I want to see her…please…"
A nurse swaddled the baby and set her into Blake's shaking arms. The nurses in the room were still a bit shaken up by the creepy situation that had just unfolded. Blake clung to the little blonde babe, her heart broken at the sight of the lifeless form.
Outside, Ozpin took control of the body, "It seems I'm needed now."
Ruby stood up watching him enter the room. When the doctor saw Ozpin he almost protested but remembered the strange help he gave Weiss and let the man through. Blake and Yang were watching everything unfold, Yang gritting her teeth with clenched fists, angry that somehow the ghost of Salem was still haunting them.
Ozpin moved to Blake, "The God of Light would like to give you his blessing as his brother gave to Weiss. Your baby isn't sick. her soul was taken and it was in the geist when Yang crushed it. But he wants to give her a new one so she can live, a reward for defeating Salem. Do you accept?"
Blake watched him carefully. She wasn't sure what this meant for them but she could see Yang switch from angry to broken as she absorbed the information that she was basically tricked into destroying her own child's soul. Blake could only reach a hand to Yang and nod at Ozpin, "Please… I would do anything…"
His hand reached over the little human infant and it glowed a brilliant gold and so did his eyes as the blessing gifted the small body with part of the god's soul itself to replace the lost one, the baby suddenly twitching and crying, little dull nibs of dragon teeth appearing in her mouth with the new life.
When he was done, he smiled at them and took his leave. The staff made sure the now faunus baby was ok and got her clean before giving her back to Blake who could only hold her close, pulling Yang's guilt-ridden form closer and placing her hand on their daughter's head of thick blonde hair, the little amber eyes roaming around blindly before scrunching closed as the baby cried.
Blake nuzzled her baby's face and the infant began to calm at the purr Blake gave off, "Yang… you didn't know… you were just trying to protect us… now come close and meet her…"
Yang knelt closer nodding with wet eyes, "I'm sorry. I…she's got teeth? Did she have those a moment ago?"
Blake looked over the tiny round nibs in the gums and shook her head, "I… think they came from the brother… sorry Yang… guess she won't be human after all."
Yang gave a weak laugh, "I don't care so long as she's with us."
Blake watched the baby go into an instant state of calm at the feeling of the rumble against Blake's chest as the woman purred, "Yang… back home we have a word, 'Jin' that means 'gold'. With her hair and eyes and that glow that saved her… I think it's only fitting to be her name."
Yang just nodded, gently cradling the baby's head in her hand as she pressed her face in next to it against Blake, "I'm happy with anything, I just am glad she's going to be fine."
After being checked over, the doctor let the parents know the results, "It's strange. She is majorly healthy with a very strong heart but… it's irregular and the rest of her seems to be in a weird stasis, as if her other functions are trying to keep up. She will be fine but it could cause issues in the future. I'd like her to stay at the hospital for the next two weeks so we can be sure it won't create any major issues. I also am concerned about the irregular pattern of her heart beat and want to monitor that, see if it levels out."
Blake bit her lip. It almost felt unfair to get her baby back only for such serious sounding issues to be left over but she nodded. After a while with just the couple and the baby in the room, Blake's arms felt weak, tired sensation pulling at her eyes and body and she turned to Yang, "do you want to hold her for a while?"
Yang nodded eagerly and took Jin and sat on the side of the bed next to Blake, who watched them lovingly as sleep took over her. When Yang realized Blake was out, she moved to sit in the chair with their baby who was also asleep and just sat there, watching her sleep for what felt like an eternity. She didn't mind. She felt like she could watch her baby sleep forever and never grow tired of it.
Eventually, there was a gentle knock at the door. Yang softly answered for them to come in. At the door stood Ruby with Raven and Kali behind her. Kali went in and sat next to her sleeping daughter as Ruby walked over to Yang, beaming down at her new niece. Yang smiled at her sister, whispering softly to not wake the baby, "We named her Jin. Isn't she the cutest?"
Ruby nodded. She wanted to ask to hold her but she wanted to wait for Blake to be able to give the ok. Kali had warned them outside that Blake was likely to be possessive for a while and probably not let anyone hold the baby for a while other than Yang. Ruby didn't want to get attacked by a territorial momma cat.
Lilac eyes stared up at Raven who was still by the door, not coming any closer. The woman seemed irritated but Yang assumed it was just her mother's neutral state at this point, "Mom."
"Yang," the woman returned, narrowing her eyes. Ruby watched what felt like a tense stare down of dominance in the room growing uncomfortable until Raven finally scoffed and folded her arms, "Well I showed. You're welcome. I'll be going now."
As the woman left, Yang grit her teeth but Ruby's hand on her shoulder made her relax, the baby squirming like she might wake in response to how tense Yang had gotten. Kali was stroking her daughter's hair as she whispered to Yang, "If she's a faunus you will need to be careful of your emotions and body language. Faunus infants have a sixth sense until they get to a certain age that is specifically attuned to familial reactions and expressions. It's an instinctual defense mechanism for being able to tell you from strangers but also gauge their own safety. If it sets your baby off she will start releasing a very specific cry that will trigger Blake into a sort of protective frenzy. Even you could end up in trouble if you make Blake feel like you are putting her baby in danger."
A tired voice drew everyone's attention to Blake as the woman stirred and pulled herself to sit up, "Alright mom that's enough. I can tell Yang about all that later."
Blake's ears flicked towards Yang and the baby for a moment before her head turned, "Your mother got you all riled up huh?"
Yang just nodded, fingers of her metal arm fiddling with the blanket ends the baby was wrapped in, her mind seeming far off. The sound of fingers snapping lightly pulled her eyes over to Blake and the faunus was wearing a faint smile, "Yang. You did all you can do to include her in her granddaughter's existence. You can't force her to be someone she isn't. She showed up. That means she cares enough to make time to be here. She will come around if she wants to be involved and if not, well you did your best. It won't be your fault."
God she loved Blake so much. The cat reached for her young and Yang handed Jin over, placing a kiss on Blake's lips softly before whispering, "Thanks Kitten."
Kali happily leaned to peer at her new grandchild when Blake revealed the baby, but she didn't reach out because she wasn't being offered the permission to touch. The new grandmother gushed with joy at the baby while Ruby stepped out to grab Qrow and Tai.
Of course, Taiyang was loud and overwhelmed with emotion, accidentally causing the baby to start screaming and making it worse when he got too close. Bad move. Yang had to grab Blake as the woman bared her teeth at Tai hissing and clutching the crying baby close to her chest. When everything finally calmed down and Blake snapped out of her aggressive behavior, her purr returning to sooth the offspring into a calm again, Qrow chuckled lightly, "Well firecracker, can't say I didn't expect something crazy to happen once Tai here was involved."
Yang grumbled, glaring at Tai, "Yea leave it to Dad to do something stupid."
Tai deflated, "Yang come on, that's not fair."
Qrow and Yang shared a chuckle before the man got close enough to see without offsetting Blake, waiting for the invitation to come closer. When granted, he peered at the bundle and smirked, "Heh… she looks just like you did when you were born Firecracker. You two are gonna be fighting suitors off like crazy when she grows up."
Yang winced a bit. He was being harmless and thought he was giving a compliment of course but it wasn't welcomed judging by Blake's slight growl. Everyone was ushered out by Kali, the woman going as well, "Alright everyone I think my daughter has had enough company for now."
—-
Jin's heart rate stayed irregular over the monitoring period though it would fluctuate to regular and irregular in awkward patterns that never were the same. Her body also seemed to weirdly struggle with the rest of her organs and functions but it didn't seem to be hurting her, or at least not currently and she was eating fine and otherwise ok so they discharged the baby.
Unfortunately, these circumstances made Blake super protective, not allowing anyone other than Yang to even come close to touching her baby for the longest time and Kali ended up having to leave because even having her mother around was putting Blake on edge. Her mother was good about it though, not wanting to put unnecessary stress on Blake or the baby.
The very first time Yang experienced the warning Kali gave her was terrifying. She was sure Blake would destroy her. She had gone to check on Jin while Blake was in the shower. While sitting with the baby on the nursery couch that was covered in Blake's scent keeping the baby calm, a message from Raven came in that was particularly rude in response to a picture Yang had sent of the baby wearing a little red and black onesie Raven had sent, making Yang incredibly angry.
The noise was unusual alright. It sounded like a kicked puppy and was in such a pitch and so loud that Yang's ears rang painfully, "Wholly…the hell?!"
The sharp yelps wouldn't stop and the baby flailed in Yang's arms, the ringing in Yang's ears and the volume making it impossible for Yang to hear the rapid sound of Blake rushing over and snarling, still wet and naked from flying out her shower as she all but ripped the baby from Yang, a free hand shoving Yang away so harshly the blonde fell to the floor in a painful slam.
She could only watch and back up with her hands raised to show submission as Blake growled, the yelping instantly stopping the moment the baby sensed Blake's arms around it, "Blake hey it's me ok? I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare our baby but you know me, I'd never hurt her."
Blake slowly calmed down, releasing a purr to soothe her infant, "Yang I'm…sorry I panicked I couldn't stop myself once I heard that sound."
Yang was standing now that it was safe, straightening herself out, and rolling her shoulder, "It's fine. It was my fault anyway. God that was a good push Kitten. I think my shoulder's gonna hurt for a week! I had no idea a baby could make a sound like that. I was really surprised, honestly."
Blake nodded, "It was a distress call. It's specific to faunus children and it triggers an instinct in me to protect her. It's entirely instinct on both ends. It comes from a specific vocal tunnel of cartilage that will dissolve when she gets to a certain maturity. Since you didn't birth her, you are capable of triggering it even if it's not easy to do as a biological parent."
Blake set the now sleeping infant in her crib, "You need to be careful Yang. I could really hurt you by accident if she does that with you."
Yang rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled, "Yea my bad. I'll be sure to remember that the Kitten has claws next time."
Blake glared and groaned, stalking off to go finish her shower, not even a little amused at the joke.