Chapter 16: Baby Shower
"Hands off!"
Blake's eyes narrowed. A stranger's hand on her wife. On the Bumblebaby's bump. She itched to make the stranger regret it, but Yang was doing that already.
It could be worse for the stranger; Yang could've grabbed the intrusive hand with her prosthetic's stronger grip. Not that her white knuckled grasp with her flesh and blood fingers was weak by any means, but it'd probably merely bruise rather than break bones.
The stranger yelped, snatching her hand away as soon as she could. She opened her mouth to say something, but blanched, eyes wide, snapped her mouth shut, turned on her heel and fled.
Blake glanced at her wife's face. She wasn't surprised to find a red eyed glower fixed on the fleeing stranger, no doubt what made her decide to leave in a hurry.
"Third fucking time this week," Yang grumbled. "Just because my bump is kinda obvious doesn't give anyone the right to feel it!" She laid a protective hand on her belly, right where the stranger had touched. "Especially people I don't even know. Ugh! I can't go out without this happening. You're going to have to keep me from breaking fingers next time."
"That might be tricky. Whenever someone touches you without your consent, it makes me want to do just that to them." Blake pretended to break some invisible fingers, clicking her tongue to mimic the bones snapping. The violent urge should disturb her, but Yang deserved better than to have strangers violate her bodily autonomy, even just with an unwanted touch.
"It'd be so satisfying in the moment," Yang said, tone dropping an octave. Her voice returned to normal. "But we've got to be good little huntresses even when benched. We protect people, we don't attack them."
"Not unless it's in self defence. I think it should count, touching the Bumblebaby bump without permission."
Yang sighed. "I don't fancy our luck convincing a judge and jury, so best not."
"You're right. It'd be assault or grievous bodily harm or something, and getting in trouble wouldn't help either of us. Or the Bumblebaby." Blake reached out a hesitant hand. It hovered over Yang's on her belly. "Is it okay if I…?"
Yang rolled her eyes, grabbed Blake's hand and put it directly on her bump. The Bumblebaby kicked against her. "It's different with you. Besides, we agreed it's yours too. You don't need permission. And even if I'm not exactly in the mood for sex again, I still like it when you touch me."
"Glad to hear it." Blake kissed her, cupping Yang's face in her free hand.
Judging by the way Yang groaned about not being in the mood for sex, she could do with some reassurance. Blake glanced around, checking they were still alone. Good; no one else had come out of the furniture hire place. Although maybe they should talk when they were inside their hire car…
"Come on, let's go home." Blake gave her another quick kiss.
"Good idea, before anyone else puts their hands on me… That and we've got to get back for when your parents arrive with the food."
"And before the chairs we just hired are delivered."
Yang made a beeline for the driver's seat. Blake let her, confident that it was safe enough: a five point harness seatbelt made all the difference there. The other safety features of the car helped too. She'd have to make sure that the one they bought had them all, even if it meant paying extra. It'd be worth it, for her peace of mind.
She waited until Yang started driving before saying anything else. Blake wanted to be sure they were home before her parents arrived, and even a pregnant Yang could cope with the distraction of talking while behind the wheel. But starting the conversation before that would probably delay Yang driving off.
"Back when you were having problems with morning sickness, we talked about dry patches in our sex life. Do you remember what I said?" Blake kept her tone mild.
Yang kept her eyes on the road. "I mean, not word for word. You know what my memory is like at the moment. Baby brain is what I think your mom called it, she had it too when carrying you."
"Perhaps it'll be easier for you to remember what I told you a week or so ago when you tried to initiate sex anyway. Despite not being in the mood for it." Again, Blake tried to go for a mild tone. She didn't entirely succeed.
"Um." Yang flushed. She cleared her throat. "You could tell I wasn't really into it."
Blake hummed an acknowledgment. "And…?"
Yang squirmed a little, as much as she could while in the seat harness. "You didn't want me to feel obligated. I just… I feel bad about it, okay?"
"You're not neglecting me. And I told you I could take care of myself, and you were welcome to watch if you wanted to. I haven't changed my mind." Blake laid a hand on Yang's thigh.
Yang put a hand over Blake's, but left it poised to move to the car's controls when necessary.
Blake wished she could lean over to kiss Yang's cheek, but the car's safety harnesses didn't allow that. "I love you. I'll love you even if we never have sex again. But do you seriously think that's likely to happen?"
Yang laughed, her blush deepening. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I? We'll have it again. I won't feel like this all that much longer. Within a couple of months we'll have a baby to interrupt our sex life instead."
Blake shook her head. "I don't think it's ridiculous, and yes, we have childus interruptus to look forward to."
"It's just… I want to want it again!" Yang whined. "And I hate being so pathetic about it."
Blake gently squeezed Yang's thigh. "Please don't call my wife pathetic. Besides, I'm pretty sure your libido will recover when you can feel sexier again. I still think you're sexy, but you need to be able to believe it."
Yang made a grumbling sound that had no coherent words, no doubt unable to believe Blake's words. "Yes dear."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "What would you think if I was the heavily pregnant one?"
"That's different! You're you! No one's sexier than you, and you're always beautiful to me."
"Right back at you, honey."
"Yeah, yeah. I get your point. And I love you too." Yang spared a quick adoring glance at her before returning her eyes to the road.
Yang sat on the bench, wishing she could help with the preparations. But Blake was right; Yang wasn't steady enough on her feet to be moving furniture.
"Fine weather for your baby shower!" Ghira beamed, face upturned, pausing to bask in the sun while he set up the hired chairs in the garden.
"Don't forget the sunscreen, dear," Kali murmured, touching Yang's arm in passing with snacks to go on a table outside.
"Like Blake would let me forget that," Yang said. "She doesn't want me relying on Aura alone after hearing what Doc said about my skin being more sensitive to sunburn while pregnant."
"Because projecting Aura all the time is exhausting, and you're already tired!" Blake appeared next to her with the tube of sunscreen. She swatted Yang's hands away. "Let me. Please."
Yang sighed, but didn't argue. She even angled her head cooperatively while Blake applied the cream and rubbed it in.
"There. No white marks left. You should be protected from sunburn for the next few hours." Blake kissed her, a gentle peck.
"Do we know yet how many of your guests can make it?" Kali asked. "So we know how many chairs to put out, and how much food."
Yang shrugged. "Nope. No news is good news, I guess."
Kali and Ghira exchanged a look.
"And Tai?" Ghira asked. "I thought he'd be here already. From what I know of him, he always wants to help."
Yang took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "He sent his apologies last night. Something came up, and I'm sure it's important."
Both Belladonnas stiffened. Deep frowns creased their faces.
Yang winced. "He'd be here already if he could be. Kali, Ghira, please. I don't need your outrage on my behalf."
They exchanged another look, faces smoothing out with visible effort.
"If you insist," Ghira murmured, returning to his work with the chairs.
"Sorry. I just… He should be here." Kali sighed. "I'm sorry he can't be."
"Yeah, me too," Yang said.
Blake perched next to Yang on the bench, wrapping her arms around her. "Last night you said you were fine with it. Are you still?"
Yang leaned against her. She kept her voice quiet, mindful of Kali's sensitive cat ears. "I have to wonder if he's avoiding seeing me. Always voice only calls when it's left up to him. It's not like he can even see my bump on video calls!"
"Scrolls can be knocked, the camera could slip down to include it," Blake murmured, her voice equally quiet.
"Yeah. Maybe he doesn't want to take the risk of seeing me more and more pregnant. Maybe I'm just an even more painful reminder of both Raven and Summer at the moment." Yang blinked back tears, her eyes stinging, vision a little blurry.
Blake kissed her again, and rested their foreheads together. "You're allowed to feel sad about it. To be disappointed."
"I know, but he's my dad. I'm allowed to feel like that. It doesn't feel right for anyone else except Ruby to be disappointed in him. Even you…" Yang rubbed at the back of her head. It made her move against Blake, foreheads and noses rubbing together.
"It's because we care about you, and you're hurting. I can tell, so can my parents. Don't forget: we're your family too now." Blake kissed her again and drew back.
"I know." Yang looked around, and caught Kali watching her with sad eyes.
Ghira heaved a sigh, resting a massive hand on the back of a chair. "Forgive me, it's just… There's more important things than being a huntsman, or preparing teenagers to train as huntsmen and huntresses. I don't mean to imply it's not worthwhile, but Tai should be here."
"Can we please drop it? I'll accept a group hug, but nothing more about my dad's absence." Yang pushed herself to her feet, and let Blake steady her. Her balance was only getting worse the bigger she got, no thanks to the growing Bumblebaby within her.
Kali and Ghira reached her at the same time, wrapping warm comforting arms around her, with Blake's already there.
"Consider it dropped," Ghira murmured. "This is supposed to be a happy day."
"We know Tai cares," Kali said. "I'm sure he'll make it up to you."
Yang counted to ten. Slowly. The Belladonnas cared too. She knew that. It was why they were being like this. "Thanks, but there's nothing to make up. I don't keep a tally of things he owes me. That's what being family means."
Ghira shifted. Kali's arm moved, and Ghira grunted. Had she elbowed him? She'd probably guessed Yang wouldn't like whatever he may have been about to say, and preemptively silenced her husband.
"Yes, family," Ghira agreed. "Ours too."
"Exactly," Kali said. She gently pulled back from the group hug, and Ghira did too, keeping an arm around his wife. "Now, we're pretty much prepared, but the pair of you need to decide what to do about your earrings and bandanas."
Oh, right. The telltale signs they'd got married, for anyone observant enough to notice.
"The earrings should be safe enough," Blake said. "They're a faunus tradition, and—Oh. Ilia. Velvet. Right."
"And Sun," Kali added. "He's coming too, isn't he?"
Blake snorted. "I have my doubts he'd notice even if he knew what it meant."
Ghira chuckled. "I was about to say that."
Blake glared at him. "He's my friend, and that means I have the right to say that sort of thing about him."
Ghira lifted his chin, jaw set stubbornly. "I'll admit Sun has his good points. I just don't feel that being observant is one of them."
Yang kept her mouth shut. She met Kali's eyes, and saw the same sentiment reflected there: 'let's stay out of this.'
Kali cleared her throat, her gaze flicking back to Blake. "You still need to decide, and your guests are due to arrive very soon."
Yang looked at the bandana tied to her arm. She didn't want to take it off. Of course she would if Blake asked her, but… "Mine isn't that far off the shade I've worn for ages, and I switched to wearing it on my arm getting on for a decade ago."
"Yang might get away with it," Blake said. "But I won't." She sighed, and started to untie the bright golden yellow silk around her left arm. "I should've got into the habit of wearing a bandana too…"
Yang reached to help Blake. "At least it won't have to be off you for long."
"It still feels wrong without it." Blake heaved a deeper sigh. "Help me with the newer earrings. Mom's right, they'll be too obvious for anyone who knows faunus customs."
Yang gently took Blake's right cat ear in one hand while she released the earrings with the other. She pocketed them for safekeeping. "I'll put them back where they belong as soon as I can."
"Thank you. Turn your head, and stay still."
Yang did as she was told, guessing which way to turn her head.
Blake reached around the back of Yang's closer ear. "It's less obvious than on me, but someone might notice your right ear is pierced when it wasn't before." She deftly removed the earrings from Yang. "I'll keep these safe, and give them back soon enough." She shook her head, cat ears pinned back. "I wish we didn't have to hide it. Still, I know it's best to wait until we can soften the blow with a cute Bumblebaby."
"Me too," Yang murmured. She leaned in for a quick kiss.
"Do you have any wedding photos on display?" Kali asked.
"Just in our bedroom, and the door can be locked. With curtains drawn so certain people don't peek in." Yang glanced at Blake, exchanging a knowing look. Sun was just too curious for his own good, and Nora wasn't much better.
"I'll go do it now." Blake remained standing, despite a blur of movement.
Yang sighed. She booped the shadow clone's nose, and it faded away like smoke. "I could've done it!" she called towards the house.
"All done," Blake said, reappearing next to her. "I also locked away the engraved glasses from our elopement."
Yang closed her eyes, shoving aside her irritation. It was mostly her treacherous hormones, and the last thing she wanted to do was ruin the baby shower before it even started. She nodded. "Good idea."
"A little help?" yelled a voice from the road.
Yang's brain caught up with her ears, and she realised Ruby and Weiss had arrived. She turned to look, and saw them go through the gate Ghira held open, each carrying gifts, Ruby's almost bigger than she was. Something in a box, clearly still a mystery for now. Yang was surprised they hadn't joined forces, but maybe they wanted to do individual gifts as rival aunts.
Ruby stumbled, eyes widening. She almost dropped the box on her feet, scrambling to catch it as it slipped in her grip. Her gaze was fixed on Yang's belly. Right, neither Ruby nor Weiss had seen Yang in person since the wedding, over a month ago. Their video calls hadn't shown the Bumblebaby's bump swelling.
"You're huge!" Ruby squealed. "Not so much a Bumblebaby bump, more like a—"
Weiss elbowed her. "Ruby!" She turned to Yang. "You look… I mean to say… You're, um, glowing."
"Hmph." Yang crossed her arms and glowered at them. "I'm a whale, I know. You don't need to tell me or tiptoe around it."
"Uh, how do we do both?" Ruby asked.
Yang's breath hissed between her teeth. "Just talk about something else!"
"Um, so… How many Bumblebabies are in there?"
Weiss groaned. "Ruby…"
"Just the one, as far as scans can tell." Yang wasn't about to share what else the doctor said. It might make it come true, and the idea of one baby to care for… She shivered.
"Are you sure? Ow, Weiss! You almost made me drop this," Ruby grumbled, readjusting her grip on the box after Weiss elbowed her. Again.
"Then don't open your mouth and insert foot," Weiss muttered, before her eyes returned to Yang. "Where can we put these? Proper greetings would be nice, but it's hard to hug like this."
"Uh…" Yang gave Blake a questioning look.
"Inside, maybe?" Blake suggested. "Just in case it starts raining? It's not forecast, but…"
Weiss glanced up at the cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine. She raised an eyebrow at Blake.
"If my mother says the word 'picnic' you'll be amazed at how quickly the rain starts to fall," Blake said.
Weiss shrugged, as best as she could with her hands full. It was impressive how she'd managed to elbow Ruby without dislodging her own grip. "If you say so. Do you have anywhere specific in mind, or should I use my initiative?"
Blake pointed towards their bedroom window, the only one with curtains drawn. "Our bedroom's locked, but other than that… I'm sure wherever you put it will make sense."
"Oh right, hiding away the evidence that you're already married," Ruby said. "Come on, Weiss."
Their next guests arrived before Ruby and Weiss returned.
"Whoa! You're so big! Are you sure you're seven months—"
Neptune's hand clamped over Sun's mouth. "He knows not what he says! Spare him, please! Team SSSNN needs him!"
"Just give me a minute," Yang spoke through clenched teeth. "Without any comments about my size. Go on, out of my sight, find some refreshments." She pointed to the table groaning under the weight of assembled snacks and drinks.
Neptune dragged Sun away. "We'll say hi properly when I manage to extract Sun's foot from his mouth!"
Yang tried to smile. From the concerned look on Blake's face, it didn't help mask the murderous look making her eyes burn red.
"Will you help me hide the body if I kill the next person who tells me I'm huge or otherwise big?" Yang kept her voice conversational.
Blake kissed her cheek. "That's what I'm here for, honey. I'll go get the shovel, shall I?"
Yang shook her head. "Nope, wait until we need it for sure."
"At least no one's tried to touch your bump without permission."
"No one here, you mean," Yang grumbled, fingers flexing, wishing she could've broken those intrusive fingers earlier on. "And not yet."
Arms wrapped around her. The faint scent of roses meant Yang didn't stiffen, or worse, fall over. Her balance was that bad and kept getting worse. Hopefully she'd manage not to topple over while everyone was here for the baby shower…
Ruby gave her a peck on the cheek and released her, moving on to hug Blake.
Weiss stepped up, standing on tiptoe to hug her. "It's been too long since we were all together. We need to do better, have a weekly dinner or something. Missions might well get in the way, but there's no excuse for us not seeing you since the—" She cleared her throat, looking around. "For weeks."
Ruby tutted. "After reminding me so many times to watch what I say, you're the one who almost said the forbidden word." No doubt 'wedding' when around anyone who didn't know.
Weiss blushed. "Shut up. Are those cookies I see over there? Let's get you one before the boys eat them all."
Ruby reappeared over at the snack table, leaving a trail of petals.
"Works every time," Weiss mumbled. She hugged Blake. "Now I really had better get over there myself, Ruby's about as bad as the boys when it comes to wolfing snacks." She wandered over, stopping to greet Blake's parents en route. Weiss looked so small next to Ghira. Well, even smaller. Only Maria was shorter in their friend group.
"Huh, speak of the devil," Yang muttered, hearing the cane on the path.
"What?" Blake asked.
"Maria," Yang said, raising her voice and looking over at the approaching diminutive figure. "Glad you found us!"
Maria paused, leaning on her cane. She looked Yang up and down, her prosthetic eyes adjusting as they focused. She glanced at Blake, and nodded at them both. "Your address is easy enough to find. You're both well?"
"Fine," Yang said brightly.
"I'm fine," Blake said. "Yang's getting some of the 'joys' of pregnancy, so don't believe her."
"Traitor," Yang muttered.
Maria hummed. "Come sit." She beckoned at Yang. "Fetch us drinks," she ordered Blake.
Yang cleared her throat, arms folded.
"Please," Maria added.
"Want anything in particular?" Blake asked.
"Surprise me. And bring some cashews."
"Ahem." Yang raised her eyebrows.
Maria sighed, but didn't argue. "Please bring me some cashews."
"My mother was in charge of catering, I don't know if she got any…" Blake hurried over to Kali.
"The monkey boy's eating some," Maria said. "I'll fight him for them if I have to."
Blake's cat ears twitched towards them, and she looked over at Sun. She darted over to him, lips moving as she said something too quietly for Yang to catch. He paused, mid crunch, and his head turned, eyes on Maria.
Sun came over and surrendered the bowl of cashews to Maria, an amiable smile on his face. "Maria, right? Blake said you'd like these, and I'd feel bad keeping them from a little old lady."
"Sun, this 'little old lady' was once a huntress before they were even called that," Blake said, passing a glass of what looked to be orange juice to Maria, after she sat down and rested her cane against the bench, freeing a hand.
Blake then handed a virgin strawberry sunrise to Yang, the strawberry impaled by the little paper umbrella. Just the way she liked it.
"Thanks," Yang said, giving Blake an adoring look.
"I meant no disrespect!" Sun blurted, the hair on his tail standing on end. He ran his hand through his hair, grinning sheepishly. "And I'm sorry I put my foot in it, Yang. You look great!" His grin widened and he gave her two thumbs up, with a bonus tail pointing upright beside them. "I'll just… I think Neptune is calling for me." He fled.
Blake sighed.
"I'd keep an eye on that boy if I were you, Blake, he's walked into potential trouble already," Maria said.
Sure enough, Sun had rebounded from Ghira, fallen over, and flipped back onto his feet, hands raised apologetically. Ghira crossed his arms, a sterner look on his face than Yang was used to as he glared down at Sun.
A heavier sigh escaped Blake. She kissed Yang's cheek and made a beeline for the unfolding potential disaster.
"Now, let's sit," Maria said. She patted the bench beside her invitingly. "I daresay you could do with getting off your feet too, and this way we can talk easier. You're too tall, just like the rest of you young whippersnappers."
Yang sat next to her. "I'm going to be twenty nine soon enough."
Maria waggled a finger at her. It'd work better if she wasn't holding onto both a glass and bowl of cashews. "That's young, even without being compared to my age."
"Which is?"
The blue lights on Maria's prosthetic eyes narrowed. "Never ask a lady her age."
"I've never thought of you as a lady. Should I?"
Maria cackled. "No! But you still won't get my age out of me."
Yang shrugged. "I can live with that."
Maria pouted. "You're supposed to want to know."
"It'd be rude to insist."
Maria snorted. "Since when do you care?" She tipped some cashews into her mouth and crunched them up. "But speaking of rude, don't let anyone tell you that you're fat. There's a baby in there, and a fair size one as far as I can tell. Are you sure you're not having twins?"
As far as Yang could tell, Maria's gaze had dropped to her bump. With her prosthetic eyes, it was like she was always wearing sunglasses when it came to knowing exactly what she was looking at.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to take anything like that from anyone. I've reached my limit for being told I'm anything approaching fat. Even huge, or big. Ugh." Yang sighed deeply. "As for twins… I've been hearing that a lot, but not as far as I know? I hope not, the thought of just one, it's scary."
"That it is." There was a note of regret in Maria's voice.
"Um. Did you… Uh." Yang rubbed the back of her head, trying to find a tactful way to ask if Maria had wanted kids, or had them and lost them, or anything else that could explain Maria's tone.
"No, I didn't have kids, if that's what you're trying to ask. After I lost my eyes, I was too scared to pass on silver eyes to any child I might have had. I didn't want them to suffer my fate, or worse." Maria sighed. "But I wanted them. Oh, I wanted them." She brightened, wrinkles deepening as she grinned. "Then I met you lot. Closest thing to grandkids I could want." Maria lifted her glass as if she'd made a toast, and drained it.
"Don't we annoy you?" It was a rhetorical question. Maria grumbled about them doing just that quite a lot, but always affectionately.
Maria laughed. "Frequently, but I'm sure grandkids by blood would do that too."
"Well, I guess you're gonna have a great grandkid soon." Yang rested a hand on her belly.
Maria's grin became a soft smile. "Looking forward to it. Your baby is going to be spoiled rotten, like it or not."
"I know, and Blake and I are very grateful. Although we might change our minds about that, depending on how many noisy toys we're given…"
Bright colours caught Yang's eye, and she looked up to see Nora fling the gate open, Ren and Jaune behind her.
Blake intercepted them, hugging them, and pointing to the snack table. As if they could miss it with Sun, Neptune and Ruby devouring everything. Kali and Ghira kept having to refill things.
"I can promise you've got no loud toys from me," Maria said. "But I'll be amazed if Nora doesn't give you something like that."
Yang groaned. "Me too. Maybe Ren and Jaune managed to rein her in…"
"Unlikely. Pretty sure the only thing that can contain her is a big enough jolt of electricity to knock her out for a while."
Yang winced. "A little too close for comfort when she still carries the scars from that."
Maria tapped her prosthetic eyes and Yang's prosthetic hand. "I think we both understand lasting scars just as well, and Nora carries hers with pride."
"True."
Nora appeared in front of them like a bolt of lightning, grinning from ear to ear. "Yang! Oh, and Maria, good to see you!"
Maria gestured at Yang. "Feel free to focus on the most important person at this baby shower."
"Okay, I'll just have a private word with Yang here." Nora grabbed Yang's hand.
Maria shrugged. "Stay. Pretend I'm not here, no need to move. Let Yang rest. I'm not listening, so whatever you say is between the pair of you."
It was a little difficult to ignore Maria crunching her way through the bowl of cashews, but Nora had a way of attracting attention.
"Ren thought I should wait until after the baby shower, but I'll explode if I don't say something! If I tell you all hush-hush, then I'm not stealing the spotlight. We're expecting!" Nora's grin somehow widened still further, and she squeezed Yang's hand.
"You mean expecting a baby?" Yang asked.
"Yes! It's all thanks to Blake sharing the news about you being knocked up, it gave us the idea. We want our kids to grow up as friends, maybe even be on the same team at a huntsman academy if that's the career they want. So we got busy! Right away, after I reserved the right to use the name Pyrrha."
"Congratulations!" Yang blinked, her smile faltering. "Wait, weren't you with Jaune when Blake shared that?"
Nora laughed. "He doesn't mind."
If Jaune liked to watch, good for him. If it was a poly situationship, good for them. Yang didn't ask for clarification. She didn't need details unless they wanted to share them, so long as they were all happy, and they seemed to be. Jaune and Ren were certainly standing close together, all smiles, over by the devourers of the snacks.
"So how far are you along?" Yang asked, looking Nora up and down. She wasn't showing yet, no visible bump.
"Just a couple of months, so we didn't actually get lucky on the first try. I know I'm not supposed to tell anyone until I'm past the first three months, but you're a special case!" Nora bounced on the spot.
"Are you having any trouble with morning sickness? I could hook you up with some herbal tea that helped with mine," Yang said.
Nora waved a hand. "Nope!" She laughed. "Thanks, but no need! I feel great!"
Yang took a deep breath. "That's great." She hoped the burn in her eyes didn't mean they'd gone red again. Nora was a good friend, and the last thing she wished on her was morning sickness, it just… It wasn't fair. Yang mentally slapped herself, and pulled Nora closer, into a hug. "Hopefully you'll have an easier pregnancy. But be prepared to shelve Magnhild and other heavy weights within a couple of months, until after birth."
Nora briefly flopped against her, moaning. "I didn't think this through! How can I give up my weight lifting regime?"
Yang patted her back. "It's just for a few months. And you'll have a cute little Ren-Nora hybrid for your pains."
"Yeah! You're right. To play with your cute little Bumblebaby!"
Yang shot a glare towards Ruby. "I see my baby sister can't keep her mouth shut."
"It'd be a crime to keep that name a secret."
Yang switched to glaring at Nora, whose grin only widened.
A familiar tearing sound heralded Raven's arrival. Nora yelped, her hammer suddenly in hand. Yang wasn't about to ask where she'd been hiding her weapon.
Nora lowered Magnhild on spotting the portal. "Oh. Never getting used to that." Her hammer disappeared back to wherever she'd been keeping it, possibly some Dust enhanced storage, working much like Ember Celica did: bigger on the inside. A lot bigger in the case of wherever Magnhild was kept.
Raven stepped through the portal and closed it after her. She looked around, eyes lingering for a moment on each person present. Then she turned to Yang, holding out a basket. "I wanted to drop this off. I'd stay longer, but I'm supposed to be taking it easy. Doctor's orders."
"Are you okay?" Yang asked. "You didn't respond last time I asked by text."
"Terribly sorry I'm sure. And I'll be fine, after some treatment including resting. Don't worry, I'll live a good while longer." Raven thrust the basket at Yang. "Take it."
Yang slowly reached out and took it. The basket was covered with tissue paper, concealing its contents. "Thanks."
Raven gestured at the basket. "Presents are supposed to be given at a baby shower, aren't they?" She looked around again. "Is Tai hiding inside?"
"He couldn't come," Yang said, tensing, ready to defend her dad. Again.
"Want me to fetch him?"
Yang shook her head. "He's busy. But if you could fetch Qrow, he mentioned wanting a lift if you showed up, and I told him that'd be fine because there was no way you'd dare miss the baby shower."
"Ugh. Of course he did. Fine." Raven drew her sword and slashed open a portal.
Qrow sauntered out, smirking at his twin.
Raven glared at him. "Where were you?"
"My favourite inn, why? They do good fake cocktails. Y'know, the ones without alcohol."
"Good enough for me. You know where to reach me, Yang. Enjoy your baby shower." Raven stalked off, disappearing through the portal. It faded away.
Qrow stared after her. He shook his head. "Sorry, Yang. I should've lied, said I'd been somewhere I knew she wouldn't want to go."
"It's okay. She explained why she was leaving, and I believe her."
"Oh?" Qrow raised an eyebrow, pale red eyes moving to look at Yang. His gaze dropped to her belly. His eyes widened, but at least he had the sense not to comment on her size.
"Do you remember Raven getting side effects from using her Maiden powers, back when she saved Blake's life a couple of months ago?"
"Come to think of it, yeah. Nosebleed, headache…" He frowned at where Raven's portal had been. "She okay?"
"She said she will be, but needs rest for now. She came to give me whatever's in this." Yang raised the basket.
"Good," Qrow muttered. "Oh, that reminds me." He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "Here. Happy baby shower."
It was a plush crow. Yang took it. She smiled at the feel of it, perhaps the softest she'd ever touched. "Thanks, Uncle Qrow."
"It's safe for a baby, even a newborn, I checked," Qrow said. He looked around. "Tai couldn't come?"
Yang gave him a warning look. "No."
"Sorry, Firecracker. One of these days I'll get him to retire, or take up a less demanding line of work." Qrow gave her a sympathetic look. "Who knows? Maybe I'll convince him to divorce Raven at last. I earn enough to keep him as a house husband."
"Good luck with that. He's very attached to being a teacher." Yang shrugged. "You might have better luck with just the divorce and remarriage thing, who knows?"
"Ugh, luck…" Qrow grumbled. "Unlikely, knowing me and my Misfortune. Anyway, I'd better get over there before Ruby eats everything." He bent down to kiss Yang's forehead. "Good to see you looking well." He straightened up and nodded at Nora and Maria. "And you two."
"Make yourself useful and bring me more cashews." Maria passed the empty bowl to Qrow, who bowed theatrically, and wandered over to the snacks.
"Another thing you have to look forward to: having to pee a lot more. Gotta go, nature calls. I've lost count of how many times so far today…"
Nora blanched at Yang's words.
Yang slowly pushed herself to her feet, doing her best to avoid fainting. She walked off, all too aware that her movement was becoming more of a waddle.
Those at the snack table noticed her coming closer, and waylaid her. To be fair, a bunch of them were just trying to say hello, but it was the worst time for hugs. The last thing Yang needed was to be squeezed; there was already too much of that from the Bumblebaby kicking her bladder. At this rate she'd be fortunate not to wet herself…
"Yang?" Blake asked, concerned eyes on her. Chances were she recognised the look on Yang's face.
"Gotta go," Yang muttered. "Bathroom." She passed the plush crow to her wife. "From Qrow."
"Aw, that's adorable! So soft…"
Jaune chose that moment to take his turn to hug her. "Yang! It's been far too long. You didn't even look pregnant last time we met up, and now—"
Yang pushed him back. "Sorry, great to see you too, but gotta go, gotta go…"
Blake gently tugged Jaune away. "Yang will be back in a minute."
Yang fled as fast as she could. She made it to the bathroom just in time. After relieving herself and washing her hands, she came to a sudden halt. Ruby had abandoned the snack table, possibly because she'd devoured all the cookies, and was doing something to the door of the baby's room. Was that a screwdriver?
"What're you doing?"
At Yang's question, Ruby turned her head. "Putting up your gift! It's from Weiss and me. We made it together."
Yang walked closer. "Does Weiss know you're in here?"
Ruby shrugged. "I wanted you to see it for the first time where it belongs."
"Let me guess: Weiss thought you should leave it to Blake and me to do."
"Maybe," Ruby drawled. "But I'm saving you the job. All done!" She stepped back, out of the way, and gestured towards the door. "Behold!"
An engraved wooden sign was now on the door, the word 'Bumblebaby' flanked by Blake and Yang's emblems, with a stylised bee over the words.
"That's cute, thanks, Rubes."
"Really? I thought you might try to clip me over the ear for the modification." Ruby grinned impishly.
"Huh?" Yang leaned closer, and discovered it actually read 'Bumblebaby(s)' and the '(s)' looked like it'd been added so recently there was still sawdust inside the lettering. It wasn't spaced as well as the rest of the letters, no doubt because it hadn't been designed with the addition in mind.
Yang dragged a hand down her face, groaning. "Don't jinx me, I don't need twins."
Ruby eyed the Bumblebaby bump. "Yeah," she said, drawing out the word. "There's a reason I put plural as a possibility. Having more than one would explain why you're so big."
Yang clenched her fists. "I don't want to think about it, let alone talk about it. All I can say is Doc only found one on the scan."
"Sorry." Ruby hugged her. "But even if there really is only one Bumblebaby in there, you might have another."
"True." Yang looked around, to make sure they weren't overheard. "Both Blake and I would like a biological child of us both too. We love the Bumblebaby, of course, we just…" Yang stroked her belly.
"I get it, I think. I'm not ready to have kids yet, but when I do… I'd want at least one of them to be a Schnee as well as a Rose by blood. We might adopt too, but…"
Yang nodded. "Yeah, we might end up doing that too. There's kids in need of families out there."
"Just preferably not more than one baby at a time, eh?" Ruby grinned.
Yang stroked her bump. "Yeah. Got that?" she addressed her belly, and got a kick in response.
Ruby laughed. "Let's get back to the party, shall we? Before Weiss notices I'm missing."
"She'll notice that sign is on the door the next time she's inside," Yang said.
"Cover for me?" Ruby gave her puppy eyes, almost as lethal as Zwei's.
Yang snorted. "Nope, not after you may have jinxed me into having twins."
"It doesn't work like that! If you're having two babies, you already are! It's not my fault! I just gave you a thoughtful gift!"
"It is a nice sign," Yang admitted. "Wait, if this is from you and Weiss, why were you both carrying gifts?"
"Oh, the other one's from Dad. He figured it'd get here faster if he sent it here with me." Ruby opened the door to the baby's room and pointed at the box she'd been carrying.
Yang eyed the box. Coming from their dad, it might well have something much bigger inside than it looked like from the outside. She'd often wondered if it was his Semblance, as he seemed to fit more inside boxes than even Dust enhancements would allow. "What is it?"
"Furniture for the baby. It's why I put it inside. I think it might already be assembled, but I guess you'll find out when you open the box. His own carpentry, of course." Ruby rubbed at the back of her head. "He sends his love, and said he's sorry he can't make it here today."
"I know. He's busy, and sorry about it." Yang sighed. "I've already had to defend him to the Belladonnas. They think he should be here, no matter what."
"Well… They're right," Ruby said. "Weiss and I turned down a mission to be here. It wasn't highest priority, don't worry about it. But after missing out on decorating this room, we couldn't miss today too. And when you're giving birth, we'll be there too."
"Chances are you'll be stuck in the waiting room for hours, I don't think many visitors are allowed in until after the baby's born." Yang had no idea if that was true, but she'd be damned if Ruby had to witness Yang in that much pain.
"Still. We'll be there. I want to hold the Bumblebaby or Bumblebabies—"
"Don't," Yang snapped. "One baby is scary enough!"
"Sorry, I mean, hold the Bumblebaby singular, as soon as possible. I'd better be the first one after you and Blake, not including the medics. I claim realest aunt rights!"
"Weiss might have something to say about that. So might the grandparents, that their rights trump yours."
"Ugh, fine. I'll just use Petal Burst to get ahead of them all. Anyway, back to my point: I'll drag Dad with me if I have to." Ruby shook her head. She threw her hands up in the air. "He wants grandkids! He wants them enough to have us freeze eggs just in case! The least he can do is be there. Be here. I'm sorry he isn't." Ruby hugged Yang tightly.
"Yeah. Me too. To be honest, I think… I think I probably bring up bad memories for him at the moment, and he can't bear to be around me."
Ruby sighed. "I think you may be right. He's not busy with anything he can't get out of if he really tried. I wish he'd talk to me, then I might be able to help—" She squeaked, stiffening against Yang. "A kick! The Bumblebaby kicked me!"
"Yeah, the wriggly little menace does that. Most of all at night when I'm trying to sleep."
"I was about to tell you not to call my nibling a menace, but it sounds pretty accurate what with already giving you sleep deprivation before—"
A shadow darkened the doorway to the garden. "Ruby Rose!" Weiss pointed an accusing finger.
"Hide me," Ruby whined, trying to get behind Yang.
"Oh no you don't," Yang muttered, holding Ruby in front of her.
Weiss advanced. "Ahah! Ignore me, will you? Put the sign up without me, will you?!"
"I didn't ignore you! I can prove it: you said Blake and Yang should—"
Weiss silenced Ruby with a finger to the lips. She inspected the door, leaning past Yang and Ruby. "Hmm, it does look good on the door…" Pale blue eyes narrowed. Yang was surprised her glare didn't carve into the door on the way to Ruby. "But it should've been a team activity!"
Ruby hung her head. "I get your point. Even if you didn't say that when telling me to leave it to Blake and Yang."
"Yes, well, we were both wrong. It would have been better with all of us involved." Weiss frowned, eyes drawn back to the sign. She stepped around Yang and Ruby, running her fingers over Ruby's addition. Weiss sighed heavily. "Typical Ruby," she muttered.
"If she jinxed me into having twins or worse with that…" Yang trailed off, leaving it to their imaginations what she'd do to Ruby. It was probably more effective than anything she could come up with.
"Or worse?" Ruby quavered.
"Triplets?" Weiss suggested. She eyed Yang's bump.
Yang winced. This was backfiring on her own imagination now. How many babies could be in there?
Another shadow darkened the doorway. "Is the party moving in here now?" Nora asked. "Anyway, Blake pointed me this way! I come bearing a gift!" She closed the distance in a single bound, somehow not hitting her head on the ceiling. "Here!"
Yang took the offered gift bag.
"Get it out!" Nora almost vibrated on the spot.
Yang couldn't help the thread of jealousy winding around her. At the same stage of pregnancy, Yang had been a drained mess, not bounding around or quivering with excitement. She squashed the toxic feeling; she should be happy for Nora, and not wish her own unpleasant experience on her.
Yang pulled the gift out of the bag. After a moment of horrified silence, she hugged Nora, muttering in her ear: "Thanks. But what goes around comes around. Just think, your baby will get a noisy toy too for when you're most sleep deprived."
"…I didn't think this through," Nora said, equally quietly.
"Mmhmm. Suffer!" Yang said it as brightly as she could manage, drawing back to smirk at Nora.
"Any chance Blake will have mercy on me?" Nora asked.
"Her ears are more sensitive than ours," Yang pointed out, her smirk widening.
"I'm doomed," Nora moaned.
"Yup! Anyway, I'm hungry," Yang said.
"Still some snacks out there, thanks to your future in-laws restocking them," Nora said.
"Have a seat, I'll make sure someone brings what you want," Weiss said, holding the door open for Yang.
A minute later Yang was back on the bench. Blake sat beside her, Maria kindly moving to a chair to free the space.
"Any cravings?" Blake asked.
"Something salty. Please."
"Right, I'll just—"
"I'll get it," Weiss said, before Blake could get up.
"Thanks," Blake called after her, as Weiss marched off. "Nothing quite like Weiss to make me feel like a bad hostess," she muttered. "Still, I appreciate it." She took a deep breath, face upturned, basking in the sunlight. "It's nice just to sit with you and—"
Yang didn't mean to interrupt her wife, but she couldn't help it: she gave in to the irresistible pull of morbid curiosity, and pressed the 'try me!' button on the gift from Nora. The regret was instant.
"What," Blake said, struggling to keep a level tone, her cat ears pinned back, "is that monstrosity?"
"Pressie from Nora."
"Of course," Blake growled, glaring at Nora's back, where she stood next to Jaune and Ren, both with their arms around her.
Kali appeared next to them, a hammer in her hands. Not Magnhild, unsurprisingly what with the taboo about touching a huntress's weapon without permission. "What was that racket, and can I please smash whatever made it so it never happens again?"
Yang held up the toy. It was some sort of Grimm, the colour scheme distinctive, although not a specific type Yang recognised. The sound effect was far worse than any Grimm she'd encountered, if also much quieter and tinnier than a roaring Grimm of any sort.
Kali readied herself to swing the hammer, drawing it back.
Yang held up a hand in front of the toy. "It's a gift. No smashing, that'd be ungrateful. I've already expressed my… gratitude… to Nora. Rest assured, she'll get what's coming to her."
"So will that toy," Blake muttered. "It doesn't have to be smashed to be rendered silent."
"What needs to be silenced?" Weiss asked, a bowl in her hands, and four drinks balanced on one of her glyphs, floating next to her.
"This," Yang said, waving the toy. The motion was a mistake, it 'roared' again.
"Ruby," Weiss snapped.
"What did I do this time?" Ruby groaned, appearing beside Weiss.
Weiss smiled and took Ruby's hand. "Nothing. Nora thoughtfully gave this toy for the baby to have when they're old enough. Its sound either needs improving or preferably silencing. Can you do it?"
"That better be one of those questions you don't need an answer to."
"Rhetorical, yes."
Ruby held out her hands. Yang passed her the toy.
"Cool toy. I'll make it even better. Be right back!"
While Ruby took care of the toy, Yang tucked into her bowl of salty snacks. She soon regretted it, after the familiar burn flared into life in her chest. Fucking heartburn… if she was unlucky, indigestion would be next. She hadn't even eaten that much, yet felt full. No thanks to the Bumblebaby taking up ever more space. Mortification followed in the shape of trapped air seeking freedom. The only saving grace was that it went up rather than down.
Yang stifled the burp, and was promptly ambushed by another the moment she let her guard down. Her cheeks burned. "Sorry. Pregnancy thing."
"I've witnessed you belch the Valean national anthem," Weiss said, eyebrow raised. "And you're embarrassed about far fewer uncontrollable burps?"
"That's different! I was tipsy back then, and it was deliberate! This isn't, and it makes me feel repulsive."
Blake put an arm around her. "It's just gas, and perfectly natural."
"Even if I end up burping right at the worst time?"
Blake covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "I think it'd be funny."
Yang pouted. "I don't want to be funny at a time like that, I want to be—"
Weiss drained her glass. "I don't want to know what the worst time would be. In fact I'll—"
Ruby sighed. "I picked the wrong time to come back, didn't I? The improved toy is in the Bumblebaby(s)'s room, and before I find out more than I want to know, let me get you a refill." Ruby snatched Weiss's glass and disappeared, trailing petals.
"Did she stutter when saying Bumblebaby?" Blake muttered.
Weiss's outraged yell distracted Yang from explaining about the gifted sign: "Ruby! That was my plan! Ugh. Not a word more, you two, I'm begging you."
Yang exchanged a look with Blake. They smirked, and kissed.
Weiss groaned. "I need to be more specific."
AN: Coming up next: the rest of the baby shower. We'll see how far I get after that.
I finally reached the baby shower! And the chapter ended up longer than I intended and still didn't cover it all. Oh well, the rest will be covered in the next.
Confession time: I've never actually been to a baby shower, so this is my best guess of what one is like.
I do in fact think Sun is capable of being observant. He just has moments when he misses things, and as his friend, Blake jealously guards the right to take his name in vain.
Team SSSNN isn't a typo: Sun, Scarlet, Sage, Neptune and Nolan, Scarlet's boyfriend, a budding development in the RWBY novel, Before the Dawn.
Comments much appreciated, it helps me keep writing.