It's been a while but here's the next chapter.

This takes place after the Battle of Haven.

Weiss felt a hand on her abdomen while another gently caressed the back of her head. She groaned, feeling groggy yet felt herself quickly recovering. When her vision corrected itself, she saw Jaune, staring down at her, tears in his eyes. He held her in his arms while his aura siphoned into her. She could hear the sounds of combat around her yet all she could do was stare into those big blue orbs of his.

"Weiss..." He spoke, a tear sliding down his cheek.

He seemed worried and when she tried to move, felt a spike of pain in her abdomen where he held his hand over. She was hurt, probably badly hurt from the look Jaune was giving her.

Jaune sniffled and quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve then continued to help her recover. "I- I thought I was going to lose you..."

His expression looked like a mixture of sadness and happiness simultaneously. It broke her heart. She didn't want him to feel that way and her hand shook while placing it on his. "I- it's okay Jaune... I'm- I'm not going anywhere." She stuttered a bit from the pain.

Jaune smiled and her other hand went up to cup his cheek, wiping some of the tears away.

"Promise?" Jaune asked, a slight croak in his voice.

Weiss smiled. "Of course I promise. I won't go anywhere without you..." The pain in her abdomen was almost completely gone and she slowly began to sit up, with Jaune's hand sliding down her back, helping her up. The movement sent goosebumps down her arms.

When she was sitting up straight, she looked up at Jaune and their faces were only a few inches apart. He slowly moved forward and her eyes widened as his slowly closed.

It was obvious what he was going to do but she couldn't bring herself to back away. In fact she found herself closing her own eyes and leaning up towards him. The sounds of battle continued yet here she was about to have her first kiss.

As their noses brushed against each other, Weiss muttered his name just before their lips made contact-

"Jaune...~!"

Weiss' eyes snapped open and she quickly sat up. Her breathing was erratic and quickly looked around the room. No one. She was alone.

"It was a dream..." She realized and felt a bead of sweat slide down the side of her brow. She took the blankets and wiped her face then slid around to place her feet on the ground, staring straight ahead deep in thought.

Never has she experienced such a dream. It was... Well, it was... 'naughty' to say the least. She knew her feelings for Jaune have grown, but to think he would elicit such a response from her this way. Though it could have been more... It was only a kiss after all, albeit a rather heated one. He could have-

Her cheeks quickly grew hot and she shook her head- "No, don't think like that!" She chastised herself. Desires be damned, she was not some pervert!

Though it didn't help that a good chunk of that dream happened for real. She got hit and hit hard, due to her own incompetence no less. Jaune saved her life in that battle.

The slight blush on her cheeks remained as she thought of Jaune looking down upon her the way he did. How he held her so gently while saving her from death's door.

A small smile graced her face. She took a deep breath and stood up. Going for a walk felt nice right about now, she could use it to clear her head. Maybe get a glass of water.

After the battle in Mistral, they decided to stay overnight in the academy. Everyone would be able to get their own room and it would be a nice change.

She left her room and stepped into Haven's hallway. There were dim lights along it to give a small light, but other than that it was barren and silent. It looped around so she figured one or two laps around the building would be good enough, then it will be back to sleep for her.

However about two thirds down her first round, she noticed one of the doors were open. Not a dorm room, but a double set of doors that if memory served led to the balcony. She walked over to close it, but when she glanced outside she saw Jaune standing at the end of the balcony, staring up into the sky waring a T-shirt and pajama pants.

Her eyes widened as his body was illuminated by the moonlight. Her mouth parted and she stared at him for a moment. She never thought the word 'beautiful' would cross her mind when looking at a man. 'Handsome' at times, sure. But 'beautiful'? It was odd though not inaccurate for this moment. The way the moonlight shined on him made his features glow and his hair which always looked messy and unkempt waved in the breeze.

Her heart did a somersault. Despite discovering feelings for Jaune, she always felt his looks were... To be desired. Not that he was bad looking! Just his shaggy hair combined with that hoodie, jeans, and hand-me-down armor wasn't breathtaking or anything.

However in this moment his hair wafted in the wind. Gone was his hoodie and crummy armor and instead was a T-shirt that didn't quite hide his features as much. The muscles along his arms were candy for her eyes.

"Jau-" She tried to say his name but lost her breath halfway through. However it got his attention and he turned towards her, his features now even more on stage for her in full.

"Weiss? What're you doing awake?" He asked.

She took a deep breath, collecting herself. It's true she was taken by surprise in the moment, but she wasn't so weak willed that she couldn't have a conversation.

"Just going for a walk..." She replied and stepped onto the balcony, towards him. "I woke up from a... Dream." She added for conversation's sake while thinking what to say to him.

Jaune's features softened. "Ah... I couldn't even sleep." He said and Weiss was now standing beside him as they both stood beside the balcony's edge.

Weiss gave him a concerned look. "Not even a little? It's been hours since we all went to bed."

Jaune shrugged. "I just couldn't. I guess the fight is still stuck with me."

Ah... It seemed he was still broken up about it all. It made sense, it was only a few hours ago. He charged Cinder recklessly and lost. Granted, she didn't do much better...

Weiss turned to look outward. "I see... Well, at least you were productive during the battle... I just lost pathetically and got injured." She said and looked up at him, smiling. "You don't have to feel so broken up about it."

Though she tried to be supportive, she saw his hands tense against the balcony railing. "... I didn't do anything beside almost get you killed." He stated.

Weiss' eyes widened then she frowned. "Excuse me?!" She said, insulted by his statement. The tone of her voice seemed to almost startle him and he turned towards her looking surprised.

She didn't stop there either and pointed a finger up at him. "How dare you say that. I'm the only one who's responsible for getting hurt and I won't allow you to take even a sliver of the blame." She stated.

There was noting but confusion on Jaune's face but before he could say anything, Weiss crossed her arms. "I want an apology."

"What?!" Jaune asked, bewildered.

Weiss narrowed her eyes. "You heard me. Apologize." She demanded. "I aim for perfection, Jaune and I wont allow you to diminish my shortcomings by blaming yourself."

Jaune was silent for his part. His mouth opened and closed as if he wanted to say something but it didn't seem like an apology.

"Well?!" Weiss pressed.

"Okay! Okay, I'm uhm... Sorry..." Jaune relented.

Weiss' expression brightened into a smile and she lowered her arms. "Good, and don't you ever forget that."

Jaune's shoulders slumped and he looked somewhat drained just from that exchange. "Y- yeah..." He muttered. "I... Just thought I was going to lose you..." He said and looked down.

"I- I thought I was going to lose you..."

Jaune's words from her dream mirrored what he said just now and it made Weiss' eyes go wide. He then turned away. "I- I mean, not lose you but uhm- I mean, you know! Er-" He was rambling now but it made Weiss' shock turn to a smile once more. His mumbling combined with the blush on his cheeks made her happy. It showed he still thought of her. He still cared about her. He still liked her. Winter was right, it was never too late.

Similar to her dream, Weiss cupped Jaune's left cheek with her right hand. It caused him to immediately stop his muttering and she saw his eyes go wide. He seemed to turn into a statue at her touch, something that she was more than happy to take advantage of in that moment.

"And this..." She began, using her hand to guide his head downward a bit as she stood on her toes while leaning up. "Is a thank you..." She added then closed her eyes and kissed him lightly on his left cheek. She kept her lips pressed against him for a couple moments and felt his body flinch. She then pulled back, sliding her hand down his cheek.

Despite her bold act, she suddenly felt rather small and timid afterwards. Her hands went down to her waist, fiddling with each other and her body was just a bit slouched. Jaune was still wide eyed, staring straight and hunched over, seemingly in awe. It made her blush spread across most of her porcelain facial features.

"W- well.. I uh... I'll see you tomorrow, Jaune." She said without her usual attitude and turned on her heel, quickly walking towards the door. She grabbed it and turned her head without facing him fully.

"G- goodnight..." She added then stepped out of the balcony and back into the hallway, closing the door in her wake.

When she was on the other side of the door, Weiss took a deep breath and on the exhale, covered her mouth as she let out a muffled screech in her mouth. She couldn't believe what she just did and she felt heat travel down her neck.

"I- it was necessary though!" She told herself. First of all he was putting himself down, she couldn't have that! Not after everything he's been through and all he's done for her. Second of all she had to make him understand she was still on the table! Just as Winter said she should! A small kiss on the cheek was easy, simple, and completely normal!

Though she did keep her lips pressed against his cheek for a bit longer than needed... And did she feel a small amount of stubble on her lips when she did?!

Her knees felt weak for a second but she quickly corrected her posture using the door frame.

It... Was time to go to bed. Though the thoughts of Jaune with a rough beard invaded her thoughts now.

Jaune stared forward for what seemed like minutes as he replayed what just occurred. Weiss. Weiss Schnee. The Ice Queen. The Snow Angel. She just kissed him. Sure, it was on the cheek but... But she kissed him! Not only that but the way she touched his cheek... It send goosebumps down his spine!

A smile slowly spread itself across his lips and he even let out a slight chuckle. His head lifted up to comb through his hair as he tried to contemplate the impossible scenario that just occurred.

I was going to have a chapter or two about Weiss being captured by Raven and/or being in Mistral before the Battle at Haven, but decided that was just beating around the bush and went straight into the good stuff. I also find it funny that Jaune's first speaking lines in this fic were in an almost-wet dream for Weiss lol