Disclaimer: I'd like to thank Keena-Kapu for their help with this as well. They've been my sounding board while writing much of this second part. Also, after reading the comments/reviews... DO NOT read this in public. You've been warned. But, again, there IS a happy ending!

Day -92
Winter bided her time. It would be all too easy to rush ahead and propose within the next few days but she opted to pace herself, sift through a hundred daydreams to find the aspects she liked most and thread them together carefully. Yang was the sort of person who would appreciate any gesture she made, so long as she made it honestly, but she had her preferences. Despite the brevity of their relationship, Winter had dedicated her time to learning those predilections rather well.

So she spent her time perfecting a single recipe. No kitchen mishaps this time, no, she could at least cook one meal, which she loaded up in a basket. Then, she coaxed Yang into taking them out to a park, because nothing put the woman in a better mood than riding her bike. She led them to a secluded spot with a beautiful view of the sunset, when the orange tinged clouds made the world look aflame with gentle fire, and they had a picnic.

Because Yang didn't prize an ostentatious proposal nearly as much as a heartfelt one. Writing it in the sky, spelling it out in petals, nothing could compare to hearing the words straight from Winter's lips.

And when she did ask- when she looked into lilac eyes and told Yang that she meant the world to her, that she wanted nothing more than to be there for the woman and have her by her side in return, that she wanted to spend the rest of her life, what little time that might be, together… Winter could tell she'd provided exactly the sort of proposal Yang wanted to hear.

That the woman tackled her to the ground while giving her answer provided some of the clues for that deduction.

The moment they got back to the bedroom provided an abundance of confirmation.

Day -82
Winter sat at the table, staring at her scroll. This time, she'd written down notes, because she had so much she wanted to say in the video and suspected she'd get off topic if she didn't have some measure of keeping herself in line. However, getting it started proved a bit… tricky.

"Snowdrift?" Yang poked her head in, a frown on her lips. "You alright?"

"Of course," she replied, passing a hand over her face. "What makes you ask?"

"Well, you've been sitting here for about three hours, I haven't heard you actually talk, lunch is getting cold-"

"Ah. Right." She leaned back in her chair.

"Having second thoughts?" Yang entered the room properly, leaning down to drape her arms over Winter's shoulders and the back of the chair. "Wedding's tomorrow and all."

"No, nothing like that." She indicated the notes. "I just… I have so much to say… but no idea where to begin."

"Speak from the heart." A kiss pressed just below her ear. "It'll come together. Don't worry about how long it is- just open the gate and let the flood go."

"Would it be silly to say that I would prefer a bit more structure?"

"Yeah." A chuckle. "But it's the sort of silliness I expect from you." Another kiss before she retreated, heading back out of the room. "I'll keep your lunch warm but, after an hour, I'm dragging you out of here."

"Thank you, Sundrop. Love you."

"Love you too." Winter waited until she'd left the room before returning her attention to the scroll.

Reaching out, she hit the button to start the recording.

"Hello, Sweetheart." Her breath caught in her throat, tears springing to her eyes. "I wonder what your name is. Yang and I haven't properly talked about it yet but I'm sure it'll be fitting and beautiful. I wouldn't want to decide it right now anyway; it should be something she chooses… when she sees you." A brief pause. "I wish I could know you, I wish I had that much time, but I don't. I'll never hear your first word or see your first steps. I'll never even see you born. But please, please, believe me when I say: I love you with all my heart." She blinked, trying to hold back the tears. "Please, Sweetheart, don't make my mistakes. Dream- dream as big and as often as you want, and never give up on them. Let them die as your interests change, let them sift and shift and evolve, but don't throw them aside because you feel like you haven't the time or the skill or the energy- don't give up. You never know what opportunities lie around every bend, what could lie in wait for you. Take those chances. And if you face failure, if you face rejection, know that you've made me so proud for simply trying. It's a courage I didn't posses until far too late." She reached forward, blinking and imagining a tiny child in front of her rather than her scroll. "I know you're going to do amazing things. And I don't mean anything that's going to be recorded in a history book or broadcasted on the news- perhaps you will, perhaps you won't be known the world over for one thing or another. The amazing things you'll do… is to simply live. To live facing fear, facing failure, facing all the terrible things that come with this world, and continuing on anyway. Your Momma will be there for you, I know, and your Aunts as well. And I wish with all my heart I could be there, too." She sniffled, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's okay to be scared. It's okay to lean on others. It's okay to be hurt and to make mistakes. I'll love you no matter what. Just live your life, pursuing whatever catches your fancy." A watery smile curled her lips. "I hope you discover all this world has to offer. I hope you find love, if that's your dream. A family of your own, if you choose it. Those were my dreams, and though I didn't have long to enjoy them, I can honestly say I'm happy for what time I've had. I just wish I had more." She drew back, straightening her shoulders and clearing her throat. "In your veins runs the blood of a Schnee, my blood. Pursue your happiness and you will be all that's best in me and so much more. I love you, Sweetheart."

She turned off the recording and sat, crying as she couldn't help but picture a small child watching that, only knowing of her from that recording and Yang's stories. Weiss' and Blake's too.

Eventually, her fiance entered the room and pulled her into her arms, quietly making promises that their child would know just how much Winter wanted them.

"Who knows." She spoke quietly, pushing aside white bangs to try and catch the woman's eyes. "I might not even get pregnant."

"I might never know," she replied, sniffling again. "But how much time did I waste, giving up when I ought to try?"

"We can't undo that." Yang slipped a finger under her chin, tilting it so their eyes could meet. "All we can do is make every moment count while we can." She drew them into a soft kiss. "C'mon. Let's go eat."

"Okay." Winter allowed herself to be led from the room and she couldn't help but hover around whatever room her fiance happened to be occupying after they'd finished their lunch. At least, until they had to start getting ready for the rehearsal dinner. "I… suppose I should've waited until after the wedding to make that video."

"Eh, I don't think waiting's done you any good in the past." A soft smile, tinged with sadness. "And I know you're happy about this. I don't need to hear you say it."

"Yes you do." She went over and wrapped her arms around her fiance, hold her tightly. "I amhappy for this. To be with you, to marry you, to stand up in front of everyone and say I love you and only you. I'm ecstatic about it, truly." The more she spoke, the more she focused on the present, not the future, and a smile came to her lips. "I'm not looking forward to being separated tonight but I am looking forward to making it up to you tomorrow."

That brought out a laugh, arms encircling her as the embrace was returned. "Oh, has the student surpassed the master?"

"I'd like to think I found some tricks you might enjoy." She bent down, nipping at Yang's ear and eliciting a little squeal.

But she pushed lightly at Winter's shoulders. "We have a dinner to get to, and damn you for finding the one instance I don't want to go a few rounds first."

"The anticipation will make it sweeter." Yet, she relented, settling for a chaste kiss before heading towards the closet. "But you're right. We should get ready."

Thoughts of their child faded to the background as they got prepared for the dinner.

Day -81
The wedding itself was a small affair. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and a few of Yang's other friends- not much of a guest list but everyone she wanted to bear witness. Winter stood at the altar, awaiting her bride, and briefly tuned out the master of the ceremony to reflect.

She had less than three months to live; she couldn't change that. But in the three months since she met Yang, she'd lived more than she had in the twenty-seven years prior. Going forward, she would have a wife- someone she would shower with every manner of affection she could- and she might even have the promise of a child before her end came.

And she really, truly, couldn't ask for more.

Her chest ached, tears springing to her eyes again even as a wide, bright smile claimed her lips. She couldn't imagine never knowing what this felt like, the sense of overflowing joy and happiness pouring from her heart as she looked out and the small group they'd gathered around them.

After all, was this not a family?

And then Yang came striding down the aisle, in a white dress that fluttered around her ankles with every step, wearing a smile just as big as her heart that could easily be seen from beneath the veil.

Even in imperfect circumstances, it was the wedding of her dreams, because when they each said 'I do', there could be no doubt they meant it from the bottom of their hearts.

The rest? Honestly, a blur; for all the trouble of picking out specific decorations and themes and the like, Winter could honestly say that she didn't remember seeing anything other than her new bride for the remainder of the day. Even at the reception, when they had their first dance, she could barely focus on the music long enough to deliver one of the little surprises she'd planned for the day.

Because she hadn't done it in so long, had given up the practice, that Yang didn't know she could sing- and rather well at that. Until she started singing along to the music for their first dance.

"Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go." She could see the surprise light up Yang's expression as they moved to the music. "You have made my life complete, and I love you so."Winter leaned their foreheads together, looking into her wife's eyes. "Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfilled. For my darling I love you, and I always will."

Yet, even now, Yang found ways of surprising her, joining in with her own voice, and picking up the verse Winter herself was hesitant to sing. "Love me tender, love me long, take me to your heart. For it's there that I belong, and we'll never part."

The last, they sang together, swirling around the dance floor while their friends, their family watched. "Love me tender, love me dear, tell me you are mine. I'll be yours through all the years, till the end of time."

If asked, she'd be hard pressed to recite any other details about the whole affair. But she would never forget- never- just how happy she felt in that moment, with the music dying down, when they leaned in to kiss amidst the cheers.

How foolish she was to think that avoiding this could possibly be the better alternative.

Day -75
Winter laid on the couch, Yang cuddled up next to her, the two lightly dozing in the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows. On a whim, she asked a question that had nagged at her since their wedding.

"Sundrop?"

"Hmmm?"

"What are you going to do when I'm gone?" She could feel the way Yang shifted against her and decided to immediately clarify. "You don't have to make any promises or set anything in stone… but I wonder. What do you see in your future?"

"What do I see?" Her hand drifted down to her belly. They still didn't know if she managed to get pregnant- not that they'd stopped trying, of course- but the action brought a smile to her lips. "A little girl with white hair and blue eyes. Maybe moving to Mistral for a bit, just for a change of pace- you've always talked about it so fondly. Holidays spent with Weiss and Blake and Ruby and too many kids running around for any of us to keep track of but we do our best." She shrugged. "I dunno. I… the future's always been a weird thought for me. I try to focus on the now."

"Obviously." Winter chuckled, though she sobered herself to address the topic that had her concerned. "What I mean is… when I'm gone, will you look for someone else?"

"What?" Her brows furrowed. "Is this really an appropriate conversation to have with your new bride?"

"By the time you're not my new bride, I'll be dead."

"Okay, that was morbid." Yang chuckled and then sighed. "I don't think I'll go looking but… if I see someone I like, I'll talk to them."

"Good." She wrapped an arm around her wife's waist, pressing against her back. "I just want you to be happy, Sundrop. Don't let happiness pass you by on my account."

"Now that is irony."

"How so?"

"Because that was literally your plan when we first met." She turned her head, looking back at Winter over her shoulder. "Better to never try, right?"

"I've since learned the error in my reasoning." A small smile. "I just don't want you to adopt my mistake."

"If I see a chance, I'll take it. But… for what it's worth?" She turned, raising a hand to thread through white locks and pull her into a kiss. "I'll still love you. That won't go away."

"You're a better woman than I deserve, Yang Xiao Long."

"Yang Xiao Long-Schnee."

They both laughed before settling down again, relaxing together.

Day -69
Winter frowned, only slightly annoyed by the proposition. "Are you twelve?"

"C'mon, Snowdrift! We can't pass this chance up!"

"We're not spending all day in bed."

Yang got a mischievous twinkle in her eyes then. "We're not?"

Winter had, somehow, forgotten just how weak she was to her wife's particular methods.

Day -54
The rain poured down, nearly soaking her in the brief time between putting down her umbrella and stepping into the restaurant, Yang laughing the whole while. It didn't often come down so hard in Vale but, when it did, it was a sight to behold, the lightning streaking across the sky in shades of blue and even orange. The gutters were already overflowing with water and waves of it were sent into the air whenever a vehicle passed; they'd barely avoided a few waves making their way from the bus stop to the restaurant.

"Well, perfect weather for a romantic date, yeah?" Yang smirked, rolling her eyes as a crash of thunder shook the window glass. They'd both dressed up, and she'd even gone to the trouble of wrangling her bountiful blonde locks into a nice up-do for the occasion to go with her dress. Thankfully, neither were harmed by their brief bout of rain seeing as Winter had ensured her wife went in before lowering the umbrella.

"I'll admit it does have some appeal." She glanced back out at the storm outside while shaking the umbrella and straightening out her own dress. "A dark, stormy night with my beloved- quite a few tales include such imagery."

"You gotta stop borrowing Blake's books." As they were shown to their table, she hummed. "Although… if you managed to grab some from her private collection-"

"It worries me that you know about those."

"Oh, so you do know what I'm talking about."

"I lived with them for a few months; it was entirely unintentional." They were both smiling throughout their teasing, taking their seats and glancing at the menus. "I didn't read… more than a few pages."

"Pages?"

"Fine, chapters."

"Oh, now we're getting juicy." Yang leaned across the table with a smirk. "Anything you wanna try?"

Winter raised a brow. While the woman could be a bit over-the-top from time to time, there seemed to be something a bit… off tonight. "Is this really the conversation you want to have over dinner?" And then she matched her wife's expression, effectively calling her bluff. "It's not like I can make good on any suggestions at present."

"And here I was hoping you'd be a bit of an exhibitionist." A smile and a shrug. "I… guess it's just a nicer way to look at the topic."

Her brows drew together. "Sex? You've never had a problem talking about it before."

"What? No. Not that." Yang paused to glance out the window as lightning streaked across the sky. "I mean… is there anything you want to do before… ya know?" Her smile faltered. "I don't… really… wanna call it a 'bucket list' but… I guess that's what I'm talking about." A helpless shrug. "Is there anything you wanna do?"

"Huh." She sat back in her chair, mulling over the thought. "Now that you mention it, a few things come to mind."

"Care to share?"

"Well… I did want to stroll through Forever Fall at least once." Her head tilted to the side. "I've always heard it's a spectacular view."

"It really is; I went on a field trip there during my Academy days." The waiter came and they ordered- their usual, having frequented the establishment enough times to have that routine. "Anything else?"

Winter smiled. "Well, I wouldn't want to spoil any surprises."

After they'd finished their dinner, the storm still raged, so Winter held the umbrella aloft as they left the restaurant. But, before they reached the bus stop, she lightly grabbed Yang's arm and brought them to a halt.

"Are you really keen on indulging my whims?"

Her wife raised a quizzical brow. "Your whims?"

"It's better than 'bucket list'."

"Heh." She chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "Alright, I'll give you that. What's on your mind?"

"This." With that, she pulled the umbrella away, allowing them to be drenched by the falling rain. What sound of shock and surprise Yang might've made was quickly silenced when she darted in for a kiss, holding it for a few seconds before putting the umbrella back up. By that point, they were pretty well drenched. "Thank you."

"What?" Yang laughed, running a hand through her rain slicked bangs. "What was that?"

"I've… read before that kissing in the rain is rather romantic." She reached up and pushed her own bangs out of the way. "I thought it would just be ridiculous but, as it turns out, I see the appeal now."

"You wanna explain it to me?"

"When we walked in, I had the most gorgeous woman on my arm. Now?" She offered her arm. "That's still true."

"I feel like a dog that jumped into a lake."

"A very gorgeous dog in a lake."

With a smirk, Yang reached up and pulled out a few bobby pins, allowing her hair to fall down around her shoulders while her other hand lightly pushed on Winter's arm, the one holding the umbrella. "Well… might as well get the full effect."

As it turned out, running with her wife through the rain also counted as something she wanted to do, even if it meant they almost missed their bus home.

Day -43
Interestingly enough, when they arrived at Forever Fall, Winter could hardly be bothered with the scenery.

"Oh, hold on, I think that's the tree!" Yang drug her by the hand, heading off the walking trail. "I swear, it was one of these."

"My question is why you carved your name into one in the first place."

They'd seen the place Yang's class stopped to gather their own jars of sap, where they'd stood to observe the wildlife- they'd basically re-walked Yang's entire trip, and the whole time, all she could do was watch the expressions on her wife's face. Reliving memories… something she hadn't considered before.

"It was a spur of the moment thing!" A laugh, bright and cheery. "I had a pocket knife, there was a tree, they left me alone for five minutes- it was an impulse thing." They ducked around a bush. "Ah! There it is!"

And, sure enough, 'Yang Xiao Long was here' stood out against the bark.

"Well. I suppose there's only one thing to do."

"Take a picture?" Yang offered, starting to pat herself down for her scroll.

Winter reached into her pocket and pulled out a little knife she managed to buy at a gift shop before they started their trip through the forest. "I have a slightly different idea."

She'd never tried carving anything into a tree before but, about five minutes later, she'd made her own addition.

"There." She stood back and admired her handiwork. "How's that?"

"Winter and Yang Xiao Long-Schnee was here." Yang laughed. "Perfect, bad grammar and all." Wrapping an arm around her wife's waist, they admired the memento for a moment longer. "I think I'll come back here in a few years. Make it… like a tradition."

"Only if the memory remains a fond one," she said. "I doubt you'd want to bring any future lovers here."

"I dunno. Maybe they'd make this the 'Yang Xiao Long and spouses' orchard." She waved a hand around. "Can you imagine? All these trees with different names? It'd be like something out of a myth. Like, I dunno, Maidens or something."

Despite the joke, she could see the slight downturn in her wife's mood and gently chuckled. "Is there anything else you'd like to revisit?"

Yang leaned her head against her shoulder and sighed. "… I don't want you to become just a memory."

"If it was in my power, I wouldn't leave you." She pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm sorry, Sundrop."

"Don't apologize. We both knew what would happen going into this and I don't regret a second of it."

She held the woman a little tighter amid the red leaves falling down around them and tried to steer the conversation towards happier topics, suggesting they go visit Patch, where Yang was born and raised. She'd never so much as heard of the place before meeting her wife but, now, she wanted to know more about it, purely to listen to Yang gush about all her childhood memories.

Day -31
Winter steeled her nerves, glancing out of the airship at the scenery below. Frankly, she hadn't really entertained the idea of sky diving before, and she didn't necessarily possess a fear of heights… she just wasn't sure she trusted her life to anyone except the woman beside her, who happened to not be one of their instructors. In the end, a bout of shortsightedness on her part.

"Hey, Snowdrift!" Yang called out over the roar of the engines. "You havin' second thoughts?"

"A few, truth be told!" She slipped her hand into her wife's. "But I think we'll be fine!"

"Of course we will be!" A wide smile that reached her eyes. "This is gonna be great!"

"I'm glad one of us thinks so," she said, though not loud enough to be heard as the airship door opened and the instructors waved them over. Yang tethered to one while Winter had another- a policy she couldn't decide if she liked or loathed. On the one hand, it did provide a safer alternative… but on the other, it meant they wouldn't be jumping together.

"You wanna go first?" Yang looked at her then while settling goggles over her eyes.

"Yes." She nodded to her instructor, proceeding to the door and keeping in mind the tips they'd given her prior to boarding the airship.

And then, they were free, falling through the sky and turning, because the view below didn't matter to her nearly as much as watching her wife follow suit, mouth open in a loud, victorious cry. In the minutes they were tumbling through the air, Yang managed to catch up to her, laughing and smiling, thoroughly enjoying herself while Winter watched, amazed.

When they finally found themselves with firm earth beneath their feet, they unbuckled not only from the parachutes but from the instructors as well.

"Wow, that was awesome!" Yang laughed, taking off the goggles and running a hand through her hair. "How long have you been wanting to do this?"

"A couple weeks, I suppose?"

"Weeks?"

Winter shrugged. "Honestly, I only wanted to do it because I thought you'd enjoy it." Then she smiled. "And it seems I was right."

"C'mere, you." Her wife reached up and pulled her into a kiss, chuckling when they pulled away. "You're something else, ya know that?"

"I'll take that as a compliment," she replied, tucking a few blonde bangs behind her ear.

"Would you two like a picture?" One of the instructors offered, pantomiming holding a scroll.

"Absolutely!" Yang fished out hers and handed it over.

They posed together, Winter's arm around her shoulders, her wife's arm around her waist, smiling bright with Yang's windswept hair catching the sunlight.

The only downside to the picture she could see, after they'd returned the equipment and had a moment to really admire it, had to be that it didn't really capture the look of unbridled joy on Yang's face when she jumped.

But, Winter surmised, the moment it captured instead would probably mean more to her wife in the long run. They truly looked happy.

"You think I could become a sky diving instructor?" Yang toyed with her helmet for a moment before putting it on, already astride her motorcycle. "Or at least certified to jump by myself? I'd need, like, four more, right?"

"Well, I wouldn't sell the shop, but I could see you doing it, if you so chose." Slipping on her helmet, she settled behind the woman and pressed a kiss just beneath her ear. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Oh, right, about that." Looking over her shoulder, lilac eyes gleamed with a hint of concern. "You do realize the whole 'whims' thing is supposed to be about you, right?"

"Sundrop, the only unfulfilled dream I had left was finding someone I could spoil to my heart's content, and now I have you." She wrapped her arms around Yang's waist and squeezed her tight. "All I want is to see you happy."

An arm laid over hers. "Snowdrift… what am I going to do without you?"

"You'll mourn. You'll heal. And, then, you'll be stronger than before, even with the scars on your heart." She sighed. "I only hope I can give you enough happiness now to make the coming heartache worth it."

"You already did that." Yang turned, pressing a kiss to the side of her helmet and blinking away the unshed tears. "Let's get back home."

Day -23
Winter laid on the couch, listening to Yang humming in the kitchen with her eyes closed. She could almost name the song but the title eluded her.

"Dinner's almost ready!"

"Sounds great," she said, trying to put as much strength into her voice as she could.

"What's the matter, Snowdrift? Headache?"

She tried not to wince. "A little one. It should pass."

Truthfully, she merely didn't want to admit that her strength was waning. She'd gone downtown that morning looking for a few birthday presents because she'd miss Yang's by a few months, so she thought having a present already wrapped for her to open on the day would be a nice gesture, and maybe she could get a few more, and maybe some toys and such for her niece, and it just turned into a ridiculous shopping spree.

But it drained her more than she wanted to admit.

"Oh, well, I'll get you some aspirin and- what the-" Yang came around the couch, kneeling down and frowning. "Winter? This… isn't just a 'little headache', is it?"

"Do I really look that bad?" She tried to sound appropriately miffed at her wife's reaction but couldn't quite summon the proper tone for it.

"You look like you ran sixteen miles with one leg tied behind your back." Strong arms scooped underneath her as she was pulled into Yang's chest.

Part of her wanted to object- she wasn't entirely invalid- but the rest of her was too filled with gratitude to care. "Thank you. I… perhaps overdid it today. I'll keep my limits in mind, next time."

"I'm not sure if I believe that."

"I just need to eat. Recover my strength."

"Okay." The subdued response spoke volumes. They both knew it to be a lie- perhaps she'd be better, for a time, but her time was running out- yet they accepted it anyway.

It seemed… easier, if nothing else.

Day -14
Winter sat down on the couch, setting the bag of popcorn she'd prepared down on the table and queuing up the movie. One of Yang's favorites; she must've seen it at least a hundred times in the past six months, but one more time wouldn't hurt. It seemed like a nice way to cap off the night.

However, her wife had disappeared to the bathroom and yet to return.

"Sundrop?" She called out, trying to hide how breathless the simple act of going to the kitchen had caused her to become. "Everything alright?"

"I have no idea!"

… not the response she was expecting but she supposed it beat a flat out 'no'.

"Do you need help?" The bathroom door opened and Yang appeared, heading towards the couch and plopping down, setting a little box down in front of her and pressing back, as if putting as much distance between her and it as she could. A quick glance rather effectively explained her wife's reaction but she gently prodded anyway. "Are the results not to your liking?"

"I haven't checked it yet." Yang admitted, glancing away from the box containing the pregnancy test- which had already been opened and, presumably, used. "I mean, I know I'm late. I just… don't know why, because it could be stress but it might not be and I just- I don't know what I'll do if it's just stress."

"So, you're not having second thoughts?" Winter scooted a little closer and wrapped an arm around her wife's shoulders, trying to comfort her. "You're worried about a negative result more than a positive one?"

"Of course I am!" For a moment, she hid her face in her hands, trying to hide the slight crack in her voice. "It's… it's too late to try again. This is- make or break. And… I just don't-" She leaned into Winter's side, closing her eyes tight and gritting her teeth. "I'm already losing you. I don't want to lose a dream, too… and that's not even thinking about everything that might go wrong-"

"Hush, don't stress yourself out over ill fated possibilities." Carefully, she reached forward and grabbed the box, tilting it so she could see the pregnancy test hastily jammed back inside. With only a moment's hesitation, she drew it out and looked at the indicator. "I can tell you're sure about this decision."

A brief chuckle. "What was your first clue?"

"You're positive."

"Yeah, I'm positive, I- wait." Brows furrowed, Yang drew back enough to look at her. "When you say 'you're positive' you mean…"

"That you are positive." She turned the test to display the little plus sign. "You're pregnant, Sundrop."

"It- it worked?" Winter had considered, more than once, that her wife might indeed be very attached to the idea of having a child. Frankly, she thought Yang would make a wonderful mother. But the look that came over her then, wonder and happiness and so much hope- she suddenly felt a bit ashamed about her initial refusal. How could she deny the woman this? "It worked!"

"It did. We beat the odds." She couldn't help but leave the test with the box so she could put a hand on her wife's lower belly. "There's a little one in your future."

A hand covered hers. "A piece of you and a piece of me." Yang sniffled. "Guess I couldn't ask for more."

Tears came to her eyes as she drew her wife into a kiss. "Make sure they know how happy I am. Please. Please."

"They'll know." A solemn promise, despite the smile, because for as happy as the news made them, it also brought with it a painful dose of reality. "They'll know."

The movie and popcorn were left, forgotten, as they celebrated the news- though 'celebrate' might… not entirely encompass the enormity of the emotions rolling through them. Because for all the joy, there also lingered a crushing dark cloud.

Winter put on a brave face, though, and waited until they'd gone to bed, after Yang had fallen asleep, to weep for the child she would never know.

Day -7
Standing for too long had started to make her lightheaded and she found herself suffering from lethargy more often than not but Winter summoned her strength for a few more visits.

However, she hadn't accounted for the emotional toll they took, even as she tried her hardest to keep herself in check. "Weiss-"

"I'm sorry." She quickly retrieved a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, sniffling slightly. "It's just- there's a difference between knowing something's coming and actually confronting it and I- perhaps I didn't truly give that enough credit before, enough consideration."

"That's alright," she replied, because she could very well picture what her sister saw. Gone was the soldier who marched through countless missions with grim determination; she'd gotten softer in the past six months, yes, but she'd also grown weaker in the past few weeks, and it showed. Soon, her eyes would be dull as the last of her aura petered out. "How's Blake? I'm surprised you didn't accompany her to Menagerie."

"I offered but she assured me this particular tradition is best attended alone." A sigh and a nervous shifting of some papers left on the table. "I don't like it, mind, but I know it's important to her. She'll be back tomorrow, though. She wants to be here when…"

"When I die…" A hum. "That's thoughtful of her. I'm sure you'll need the support."

A few beats of silence. "There was a point in time when I would've assured you I'd be alright. I never wanted you to see me as weak." She swallowed thickly. "But honestly… I'm going to miss my big sister."

Winter sat forward, reaching across the table to put a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "There was a point in time when I would've been quite scathing and told you to grow up. But, truthfully, I think I've been looking up to you for longer than you've been looking up to me." A gentle smile. "You're so strong, Weiss. But strength doesn't mean never faltering, never failing. It means getting back up after you've been knocked down and courage is taking chances even when you run the chance of getting hurt. You possess both." She wasn't surprised when her sister got up out of her chair and threw her arms around her, returning the embrace. "I'm very proud of you, Weiss. You've grown into an exceptional person. I hope I've lived up to your example."

"I wish we had more time." She pulled back, wiping at her eyes again.

"I do, too." In the back of her mind, she recalled all those ancient stories, cautionary tales about what a person might be willing to forsake to achieve their desires. She'd always thought them fools but, now, she could think of very few things she wouldn't give up to barter for more time. "But I need to beg a favor of you."

"Anything," Weiss replied.

"Watch over Yang for me." A frown tugged at her lips. "I know Ruby will be there for her, and your other friends, but all too soon, our baby will enter this world. And I won't be there to do it myself." It still hurt, the truth in that, but she couldn't avoid it. "Please, look after them for me."

"Of course." A small smile, a fragile thing, but sincere all the same. "I know Blake will be just as concerned." And then she voiced a doubt that had lurked since they'd broke the news. "But… are you sure Yang can handle it? Being a single parent- I know she helped raised Ruby but… it's going to be a lot."

"I know she won't run away; I know she won't abandon the child. And I believe she'll throw her whole heart into the endeavor, and that's more than some parents ever do." A sigh. "But I do worry, and that's why I ask. You know she's just as stubborn as I am when it comes to accepting help. I'm quite certain you'll have to bully her a little- gently, of course."

"We'll do our best… but I think you're right in many ways." Her smile turned more sure, more certain. "Yang will be an excellent mother and we will have to bully her a bit to convince her she can lean on us when things get too tough."

"Thank you, Weiss." Winter sighed, finding a bit of peace creeping into her soul. "And thank you, for providing me this opportunity in the first place." At the quizzical look she received, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Come, now. I never would've met Yang had I pursued my initial plan. Without your intervention… I honestly don't know where I'd be, but I'm happy I'll never know."

"Well, you've very welcome."

After that, Weiss regaled her with the exploits of some of her more amusing cases- ones where the side she opted to not represent had entirely laughable reasonings for their disputes or just bizarre ones- and Winter listened intently, glad her sister had found work she could be so passionate about.

Day -6
Winter reached out and hit the button to record, certain this would be the last video she made.

"I do apologize for my appearance. I haven't much time left but it occurs to me that there's a subject matter that I am a relative expert on, though I hope none of you need this wisdom for that exact reason. Everyone in your life will either have decades or maybe even a century left, but I'll be long gone. Having a short countdown… it's a shock nothing on Remnant can prepare you for, so I offer you this: something that will remain true if you have twenty years or two hundred." She paused to take a deep breath. "Your life has meaning. No matter it's length or brevity, what you choose to do with your life is powerful, and it's a power only you can wield. For far too long, I closed myself off from others, to make my passing easier. I thought it the nobler choice. But now, I realize that every life you touch- every person you meet, you have a chance to affect them in some way. For good or for ill. So I implore you to experience this world to the fullest, to chase your dreams, even if you know that you can never achieve them. You have no idea the impact it can have on those around you- it could inspire them, it could bring them together, it could make your bonds even stronger. The loss of any life is a painful thing, yes, and the more people you know and befriend, the more people whom you love and whom love you, the more people will be saddened by your passing. But from that sadness can come strength and happiness, inspiration and courage, because the memories you leave behind are not entirely lost." She paused, chuckling softly. "I believe I'm rambling. I just- I want you to understand that it does not matter how much time you have to live. All that matters is that you live. Your name will be etched into the hearts of those you meet and you can do so much in just a handful of minutes. You could brighten someone's day, you could make their week, you could inspire them to feats of their own greatness. Just live, and try not to focus on the clock. No matter how hard you watch it, it will never be in your favor, and it'll just try to trick you into thinking it's worthless to try. But, try anyway. Every ounce of happiness gained is worth it, even when it comes with heartbreak as well." A smile, as wide as she could muster. "I love you, little ones. So go, live, and be happy."

She stopped the recording and allowed herself a few tears, because she couldn't imagine what it would look like when they finally watched it. Her countenance reflected her exhaustion, dark circles under her eyes and her skin looked paler than usual, but the extended time spent resting gave her mind plenty of time to wander.

When Yang came in, drawn to the sound of her sniffling, another thought occurred to her. "Sundrop? If it's not too much to ask…"

"Go for it." Her declining state had worn on her wife as well, making her look frazzled and haggard. Worry had started etching lines around her eyes, which always looked on the verge of tears.

"Show these videos to your children, too." Even though the thought hurt a bit, she couldn't help but smile. "Provided you find someone, of course. I think you'd be rather fond of a big family, wouldn't you?"

"You want me to show these to kids that aren't yours?" Confusion showed plain in her tone. "Why?"

"Because they'll be yours." A chuckle, broken up by a cough. She couldn't seem to get enough air these days. "I'd love them just as dearly, because they'd be a part of you."

Yang swallowed down a sob and nodded, pulling her into a gentle hug. "Yeah… okay, Snowdrift. I will."

"Good." In her mind's eye, she imagined that far future- her own child with half siblings, Yang and some shadowy figure laughing and chasing after them, and it made her smile. "Live, my love, and be happy. Even when I'm gone."

"I'll do my best."

"I know you will."

Day -1
She'd read, several times, about what to expect when one died of natural causes like this. How she'd have a surprising surge of energy, the last roar of her aura before it extinguished for good, and she'd spent the past two weeks planning what to do with that energy. Unfortunately, the surge wouldn't last for long- twelve hours at best, by most accounts she'd read- but she could still do a few things with that time.

And Winter planned to start the moment she woke up, rolling over to kiss her wife awake, much to the woman's surprise.

"Wha- Snowdrift?" Yang scrubbed at her eyes and trying to blink the world into focus. "What's going-"

"Hush, Sundrop," she said, leaving a litany of kisses wherever she could reach. "You'll catch on soon enough."

"I don't- hah- okay, I do- hmmm- yeah, I see where you're- ah!- going with this but… oh, but… you're making this really hard, Snowdrift."

"I think that's part of the goal."

Yang laughed, though it morphed into a moan as Winter continued her carefully planned assault. "Oh, don't- aren't there, hmmm, better uses of time?"

"Don't worry about the clock. And, by my estimations, this is the best use of my time," she replied before doubling down on her chosen path and effectively derailing her wife's attempts to dissuade her.

Eventually, they made it out of bed- Yang sporting a few new marks, love bites and scratches that drew a pleased little hiss from her lips when she stretched- and went to their favorite little cafe, walking through a park afterwards. Lunch, Winter cooked, and spent every moment in between doting on her beloved as much as she could.

"Hey, isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" She groused goodnaturedly from the couch, remaining seated per Winter's instructions, laid back and relaxing while one of her shows played on the screen. "Aren't you the one who's supposed to be getting pampered?"

"I spent my childhood being waited on hand-and-foot; I'll not go out that way," she replied, carrying two plates into the living room and setting them down, stooping down for a kiss before heading back to fetch silverware. "Besides, nothing makes me happier than seeing you smile. Why endeavor to do anything else?"

Yang laughed, shaking her head fondly.

They watched the sun set from astride Yang's bike, at an outlook that gave them a stellar view of the city. She'd hoped to watch it from beside the guard rail… but her strength had started to wane. Besides, with her arms wrapped around her wife, she had the best view already. Why move?

However, it did make it rather noticeable when Yang began trying to hold back her sobs. "Sundrop?"

"This is it. Our last sunset." She shut her eyes tight, trying to hold back the tears. "I wish I could make it stop."

"Oh, Yang." She squeezed a bit tighter, and hated that it wasn't nearly enough. "I know it hurts right now. One day, it won't."

"I don't want to forget you." A choked sob as she curled in on herself, and Winter pressed firmly against her back.

"You won't. I'll live forever in your heart," she said, trying not to betray how tired she felt. "With time, the pain will fade, but my love won't. You'll see." Shifting her arm, she brushed a hand against her wife's belly. "Every time you look at them, you'll remember how much I love you. How, if it was in my power, I wouldn't leave you. And you'll remember that all I want, all I can ask for, is that you find a way to be happy again. And you will. I'm sure of it."

For a long moment, Yang didn't speak, doing everything in her power to hold herself together. And when she did finally break her silence, it was to sing.

"Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go." The words came out thick, tainted by tears and grief. "You have made my life complete, and I love you so."

Without missing a beat, Winter picked up the next verse, though her voice didn't carry the way it once did. "Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfilled. For my darling I love you, and I always will."

Neither had the strength to sing the next verse. They left it unfinished, the roar of the motorcycle filling the silence on the ride home.

Day 0
Winter thought she understood the meaning of the word 'exhausted', had pushed herself to the brink multiple times through her military career. But never had she felt like this, as if opening her eyes would be too great a challenge to overcome.

She tried moving or vocalizing but both were weak attempts and she opted to stop, conserve her strength, and wait for the sun to rise and filter in through the windows.

Eventually, she became aware of the shifting in Yang's breathing, the beginnings of a gentle rise to consciousness before she snapped awake and gasped.

"Snow-Snowdrift?"

"I'm… still here…" With a supreme force of will, she forced her eyes open, enough to see as her wife coaxed her onto her back.

She could imagine what the woman saw. By now, the shine to her eyes had completely dulled. Just focusing seemed too difficult. Her breathing, ragged and uneven, sounded hoarse.

It wouldn't be long.

"Should I… call Weiss?" Yang ventured, tentatively, obviously terrified of the implications.

As much as she wanted to reassure her wife… Winter had to face the truth. "Yes."

"Okay." She could feel the press of lips against her forehead, wished she could return the affectionate gesture.

But all she could manage was a soft voice. "Sundrop… Yang… I love… you."

"I love you, too, Snowdrift." The gentle break in her wife's voice nearly broke her heart. "I'll be right here."

Her eyes closed, unable to fight the impulse any further, but she listened- to the urgency in Yang's voice, to the soft platitudes she offered, to the doorbell as Weiss and Blake arrived, Ruby not far behind. To the hushed agreement to take her to the Comfort Care facility.

"I'm right here," Yang said, even as she pulled back the covers and scooped Winter into her arms. "I'm right here with you."

Her perception of the world around her ebbed and flowed, allowing her to be aware of mere snatches amidst the tapestry. Riding in the backseat of a car with Yang curled around her, being laid down in an unfamiliar bed, the hushed tones of voices she didn't recognize, the prick of needles and cold press of some manner of scope- and, all too suddenly, Winter became keenly aware of the two sounds whose cessation would herald her departure from the world: the beeping of her heart monitor and the low drone of her aura reader. Somewhere between the flatline and the drone petering out into nothingness, her brain would cease all function, and she would be gone.

"Sssssssunndro-" She grimaced at the dryness in her throat, which seemed quickly remedied by a straw being held up to her lips.

"I'm right here."

Winter forced her eyes open and looked at her wife, lips twitching into a small smile. "Love… you…"

"Snowdrift… Winter." She felt a hand take hold of hers- strong, warm, gentle- and another enclose it. And, in the smallest voice she'd ever heard, three little words. "Please don't go."

And, she tried. She tried to hold on, but she could feel herself growing weaker. "Sssorry…"

"No no, I know, it's unfair, and I chose you- I chose you to leave me behind but now I don't want to lose you." She could hear the tears but she couldn't open her eyes to see them. "I love you so much, please, stay with me."

I'm trying.

"I know I told you I could do this but I'm so scared." It tore at her heart, the pleading her wife's voice. "I know it's not fair, but I just can't- I can't lose you."

You won't. I'll always be in your heart.

"Ma'am, she doesn't have long left-"

"Winter…" She could feel Yang lean over her, until their foreheads touched, and tears dripped onto her cheeks to join her own. "You're… my soulmate… I love you so much… please…"

She summoned all her remaining strength and forced her eyes open, seeing lilac shining with tears as a warmth bloomed in her chest. "You're… mine… too… Yang… I… l-love…"

"Winter? No, please, stay with me-"

But she couldn't. She'd fought as hard as she could, tried to beat back the clock for just a little more time, but it was a futile effort.

In that moment, Winter Xiao Long-Schnee… died.

Day +2,043
Yang wiped the sweat from her brow, sitting back on her heels and looking around the garden. After Ruby went off to school and she moved to Vale, their childhood home had sat neglected in the little clearing, their father's garden left to be overrun with weeds. Clearing it and replanting everything took the better part of a year but it… soothed her. On the days when the shop back in Vale didn't bombard her with calls and she could focus on the things most important to her, especially.

"Momma! Momma!" A smile curled her lips as she looked up to find her favorite little helper running around the corner of the house, a little seed packet in her hands. "This one! This one!"

"Oh? And which one is that?" She held out her hand, taking a moment to just… take in how absolutely ecstatic her daughter was regarding her choice. Brilliant blue eyes that sparkled like the ocean surrounding the island, white hair that fluffed up like a cloud, and a mile wide smile- Zephyr Xiao Long-Schnee was going to grow up to be a heart breaker, just like her mom.

"The picture looks really pretty," Zephyr said, handing over the packet and beaming with pride at her selection.

Yang glanced at it and couldn't help but chuckle. "Do you know what kind of flower this is?"

"No."

"They're called snowdrops." She wrapped an arm around her five year old daughter, hoisting her onto her hip as she stood up. "Unfortunately, we can't plant them just yet."

"Aw." Zephyr pouted. "Why?"

"'Cause it's not the right season!" Yang laughed, heading into the house and setting her down once inside. "But, as soon as the season comes around, we'll plant them. Okay, my little Snowdrop?"

"Can it hurry up and get here?" Her daughter crossed her arms over her chest. "I wanna plant 'em!"

For a moment, she remained silent. Then, she knelt down so she could be on eye level with Zephyr- a gesture the little girl understood to mean that she was about to say something very serious and she wanted to be sure Zephyr could understand her. "Sweetheart… I know it's hard to wait for things to come but… trust me. There'll be a time when you just want time to stop. It's okay to take things slow and wait for now. Okay?"

"Yes, Momma."

The discouraged tone in her daughter's voice made her expression soften. "Come here, Zeph." She pulled her into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You remind me of myself when I was young. A regular chip of the ol' block."

"Does that mean I get to be big and strong like you?" Instantly, the little girl perked up, curling her arms to try and show off her nonexistent biceps.

"Maybe!" Yang mirrored the posture, though she had far more muscle to show off. "But, the only way you'll be big and strong like me is if you finish all your vegetables!" Her arms dropped and she lightly tapped the tip of her daughter's nose, causing those blue eyes to go cross before she giggled. "Which reminds me; it's lunch time."

Zephyr cheered, following her into the kitchen and offering to help, however she could. However, before they could get properly started, they both heard a car door slam, which got the little one excited all over again.

"Mom's home!"

"Yeah she is." Yang bent down and scooped her daughter up. "Let's go meet her."

By the time she'd gotten to the front door and opened it, her wife had started up the little path from the driveway to the house.

"There's two of my favorite girls." Winter smiled wide, shifting the infant nestled in the crook of one arm so she could kneel down as Yang allowed Zephyr to regain her feet.

"Mom! You're back!" Without hesitation, their daughter ran down the path and barreled into Winter's shoulder, allowing herself to be scooped up. "And Zise's back, too!"

"Yes, yes, we're both back." The woman chuckled, pausing long enough for Zephyr to shift and pat at Zise's little hand, not wanting to risk either child squirming while she walked.

Yang merely watched with a smile on her lips, leaning against the door frame. She rightly couldn't believe, even after five years, that she still had the woman by her side.

In those old myths and stories, going back as far as the tales of Maidens and such silly legends, there existed cautionary tales about giving away one's aura. That it could be done, years given from one to another, but it could come at a terrible cost. Sometimes, it meant trading away all the years a person had left to give them to another and, others, the one who received those extra years became… someone else entirely. So, no one had tried in millennia to do it.

Until that day, when Yang held Winter in her arms and could feel the woman slipping away. Her heart had stopped for three minutes, according to official records, and Yang couldn't bear to pry herself away, not as long as she could hear the low, barely there hum of the aura monitor. Somehow, that was all it took, because one moment she was bawling her eyes out and begging a nigh silent room for Winter to come back… and then she did, carding her fingers through blonde strands and offering a weak smile, sweetly telling her she didn't have to cry anymore.

In the end, it didn't come without a price. Winter had thirty years… and she had less than that. From the moment she gave some of her aura to save Winter, Yang had twenty seven years, six months, two weeks, and three days remaining.

The exact amount Winter was born with. The irony didn't escape her.

And, sometimes, in the quiet hours when she laid in bed, she worried if she made the right choice. Sacrificing her abnormally long life span meant she wouldn't be there for Zephyr quite as long… but then Winter would hold her tighter in her sleep or Zise would cry, and she realized that trying to weigh such things would forever be a futile effort. She couldn't trade one for another and she didn't regret her decision in the slightest.

After all, who would object to a few more decades with their soulmate?

"Sundrop?" She blinked, suddenly realizing that Winter had arrived in front of her, carrying their daughters, with a puzzled expression on her face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm perfect, Snowdrift," she replied, and she meant it, meeting her wife halfway for a kiss that drug on perhaps a touch too long, if Zephyr's light complaining was any indication. "I was about to make lunch."

Blue eyes positively lit up. "May I help?"

"Yeah, c'mon." She nodded, all four of them heading inside, Zise tucked into her high chair while Zephyr grabbed a coloring book from the living room and used it to keep her baby sister's attention. Meanwhile, Yang and Winter stepped into the kitchen and spoke in hushed tones. "What did the doctor say?"

"She's the picture of health," her wife replied, pride clear in her tone. "And the reading's holding steady. One hundred and two."

"That's two for two over the century mark." Some part of her worried that their children would be affected by her giving up so much aura, but Yang felt relief settle across her shoulders as that seemed to not be the case. It seemed they'd bear the same curse as she had and her mother before her. "I'd say we're doing pretty good."

"Good enough to try for three out of three?" Winter lightly bumped their shoulders together. "Perhaps in a year or two, I mean."

She chuckled, tilting her head to the side. "Well, you might have to sweet talk me a bit. And not necessarily with words."

Her wife seemed eager to rise to the challenge, coming up behind her and pressing a kiss beneath her ear, pausing long enough to lightly nip at her earlobe. "I look forward to our debates on the subject."

Yang laughed, leaning back into the embrace. As much as she'd always done her best to focus on the present, she had to admit… she looked forward to it, too.

But for now, they'd take things one day at a time.

Author's note: Y'all can thank Kap and Moonwatcher for convincing me to give this a happy ending.