It was the most wonderful time of the year. The temperatures had cooled. A thin layer of snow covered the ground and decorated the trees which had long since lost their leaves for the season. Classes were wrapping up. A long and refreshing break would soon be upon them.

But most importantly? It was nearly Christmas. And that meant one thing.

Presents!

Ruby laid happily in her bed, smiling and daydreaming about what wonderful gifts her dad was preparing for her when she arrived home from Beacon. New special SDC-manufactured ammunition for Crescent Rose? A subscription to Weapons Magazine? Video games? The possibilities were endless, and for the first time since arriving at school, she couldn't wait to get home.

Such happy and carefree thoughts were driven from her mind when the door to her dorm burst open, revealing a panting heiress. Ruby craned her neck to take a look at the girl, and saw that Yang and Blake had done the same.

"You guys!" Weiss shouted breathlessly. "Christmas is almost here!"

It was only then that Ruby realized that Weiss' arms were loaded with items covered in decorative red and green wrapping paper. The sight made the redhead's heart swell. It seemed as if the girl was really getting in the Christmas spirit.

"Yup," Ruby agreed happily. "I see you've already got your shopping done," she said motioning her head to Weiss' full hands.

"Yes, it's imperative that I make up for lost time."

Ruby frowned. Lost time? "What do you mean by that?"

Weiss stepped over to her first, handing her a small package. Ruby accepted it, giving the thing a small look before turning back to her partner. "It occurs to me that throughout this school year I have not exactly been on my best behavior," she explained. "Therefore in order to get on Santa's good side, I must show that I have changed my ways from naughty to nice."

Silver eyes blinked. Had she just heard the girl correctly? Lips parted and closed more than once as she struggled to come up with something to say to the girl. In the end, she decided to be blunt in her questioning. "Santa?" she asked.

"Yes. Santa Claus," Weiss said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Christmas is only a few days away, and if I want any hope of him visiting me that night I must make amends for my naughty behavior. I was... unjustly cruel to you when we first met, Ruby. So please accept this gift as a token of my apology and gratitude."

Ruby looked down at the gift once more. She had no idea if Weiss was being serious or not. Surely this was some sort of prank, right? Some way of tricking Ruby into saying that she believed in Santa Claus, which Weiss would then rub in her face as proof of her childishness. It was an elaborate scheme fitting of the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company.

But then again... Weiss wasn't exactly one for pranks. And if that were the case, did it mean she truly believed in Santa Claus still? At her age?

"Santa Claus," Yang echoed. All eyes turned to the blonde girl, who sat in bed with her legs dangling down from her place on the top bunk. "Really?"

"Yes really, Yang," the white-haired girl said, moving next to Blake and Yang's bunk bed. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you two either. Here."

Both Blake and Yang received similarly wrapped gifts from the tiny Schnee. Both looked at them dumbfounded before their attention returned to Weiss.

"Thank you," the blonde said genuinely. "But I feel bad, I didn't get you anything."

"Same," Blake agreed.

Weiss waved their concerns away with a hand. "It's quite all right. After all, I have the most to make up for. Now hurry up and open them."

Ruby didn't need to be told twice, and tore open the festive wrapping paper with the ferocity of a rabid Beowolf. Her eyes widened when she saw what she had received. She was both thrilled and embarrassed by what laid in her hands.

The X-Ray and Vav action figure combo set, complete with kung fu grip and real working spring-loaded missiles.

"I've noticed how your attention is always drawn to that toy store whenever we're out in Vale," Weiss explained. "So I did a little bit of research into that toy catalogue you keep hidden underneath your mattress, and found that you had this particular set circled. I figured it was something you would enjoy."

Weiss was right on the money with her assessment. Only... she kept the catalogue hidden for a secret! She didn't want anyone to know that she still played with toys! The package even said it was for ages 7-12! The fact that her secret had been exposed was... horrifying! She would never hear the end of this from Yang!

However, Weiss' heart was in the right place. In the end all she could do was smile and genuinely thank the girl for her kindness. "I love it," she admitted. Screw what Yang thought! "Thank you, Weiss."

"Of course." The heiress next turned to Blake. "Your turn, Blake."

The faunus girl looked down at her own gift, and opened it up with far more care and poise than Ruby had. When she had finished unwrapping it, Ruby saw how it appeared to be a book. That was a good choice. Blake loved books!

So why did the girl suddenly look so pale?

"Ninjas of Love. First edition, signed by the author," Weiss explained. "Though I may not agree with your questionable taste in literature, it is not my place to judge. I saw how your old copy was so worn from use that the pages are falling off of the spine. It's even missing the slip cover, which is why I assume you've been keeping it in one belonging to a book about wild flowers."

The already pale girl was even whiter now, and she merely nodded in agreement with Weiss' assessment of the situation.

Ruby's attention was drawn to the snorting laughter of Yang, who was staring down at her partner with a toothy grin. "Yeah, Blake" she agreed happily. "Try using this new book of yours a little bit less than the old one. I don't think it can take your amount of... use."

Blake glared up at the blonde, amber eyes narrowing dangerously. She didn't have time to say anything though before Weiss spoke once more.

"Speaking of use, what I got for you is something I think you'll really appreciate, Yang," Weiss said happily.

Her sister looked down at her own package, and much like Ruby had, ripped the wrapping off like she was once more a kid back home on Patch. And then, much like Ruby and Blake, her eyes widened in shock and horror.

"With our level of physical activity, proper support is a necessity," Weiss explained. "The last thing you need is to suffer from back pain in the middle of a fight. Therefore, I invested significant time in researching the best quality and most supportive brassiere on the market in order to properly care for those massive sweater melons of yours."

Lilac eyes were wide as she looked up from the bra to Weiss. "Did you just say sweater melons?"

Weiss ignored the question, and sighed with relief. "There. I believe this will be enough to get me off of Santa's naughty list. And come Christmas morning, he will give me all the gifts that I deserve."

The silence in the room was deafening. Ruby, and apparently everyone else, was lost for words. The entire premise of Weiss' argument was baffling. The gifts she had handed out, while well-meaning, were utterly mortifying to be shared in public.

Looking down at her brand new action figures, Ruby didn't have the heart to tell Weiss any of this. The girl still believed in Santa Claus. How could she destroy that kind of innocence with the truth?

Finally someone spoke. She wasn't surprised that it was Yang, but she was surprised to find out that she was playing along with her teammate. "You're not done yet," the blonde said.

Weiss glanced up at her. "Hmm?"

"There's still one person you've been really mean to who you haven't made up with yet. Santa won't come if you don't fix things with him."

Pale blue eyes widened. "What? Who?"

"Oh, just a certain guy who likes you. One who you may have shot down a bit too harshly in the past."

The heiress winced, her gaze dropping to the floor in shame. For long seconds she remained like that before turning her attention back to Yang. "You're right," she whispered. "What should I do?"

"Well I noticed Jaune's been feeling a little down lately," Yang explained. Ruby had no idea if that was true or not, but she sensed that Yang was planning something here. "Maybe you should spend a little time with him and clear the air between you two. Maybe go out and chat over a cup of coffee?"

Weiss swallowed hard. "C-coffee? Yang, are you suggesting that I go out on a date with him?"

"Well you were extra naughty when it came to Jaune. You don't want Santa's sleigh to fly past your house on Christmas, do you?"

Her head shook wildly. "Of course not! If that's what it'll take to get off the naughty list, then so be it! I'll go out for coffee with Jaune! I'll get changed immediately!"

It took no time at all for Weiss to begin throwing off her school uniform. While doing so, Yang hopped down from her bunk and made her way to the door. "Let me go tell Jaune you're coming, okay?"

Weiss nodded wordlessly as she slipped her white skirt on.

Ruby sighed as she saw her sister leave the room. If this was some sort of covert act of vengeance against Weiss for what had happened today, it was working to perfection.

The urgent pounding on his door prompted Jaune to get up quickly. Placing the comic book he was reading on his bed, he moved to the door. To his surprise, it was Yang on the other side when he opened it.

She shoved her way inside past him. "Close the door," she ordered him.

He was confused, but complied nonetheless. "Yang? What's going on?"

"We have a situation. A major situation. You're gonna want to sit down for this."

Jaune looked back, and deciding that time was of the essence, sat on the closest bed available to him. "What's going on?"

"Weiss still believes in Santa Claus," she explained. "So she's decided to take you out for coffee."

The boy blinked. "What?"

"Get ready, she'll be here any second."

"No, I mean, how does one of those things relate to the other?"

Yang threw her hands up in the air, letting an exasperated sigh slip through her lips. "Because she's convinced that Santa won't give any presents to her because she was mean to you."

He blinked again. "And... who convinced her of this?"

"I did. Congrats, vomit boy. You're going out on a date with Weiss. Consider this an early Christmas present from me."

Jaune was stunned. He didn't know what to say. Or think. But before he could do either of those things, he pounding on the door once again.

"Jaune!" the shrill voice of Weiss Schnee sounded from the other side. "Get out here! It's time for coffee!"

The urgency in her voice quite honestly frightened him. For the first time in his life, he wanted nothing more than to turn Weiss down and just stay in his room. However, a part of him knew that whether he liked it or not, Weiss would drag him out in order to fulfill her desires.

He moved to open the door once more, but was stopped when Yang grabbed him by the arm. The look in her eyes was dead serious as she peered up at him. "And don't ruin that innocence of hers," she told him softly. "Play along. Because honestly? It's freaking adorable. Got it?"

He nodded, fully understanding what was needed of him. Jaune had plenty of experience playing along with his younger sisters. There were even occasions when it had involved Santa Claus back when they were younger.

It appeared that he would be humoring the idea once more. Only this time, it was with the last person he ever would have expected having to play along with.

And the last person he ever would have expected to be asking him out on a date.

She never would have imagined being in a place like this with a boy like him. And yet here she was. It was absolutely necessary.

Sitting across from her, the blond-haired boy seemed equally as nervous. And really, could she blame him? She had been nothing but cruel to him since the school year had begun. Santa Claus would never visit her if she didn't clear things up with him. In reality he deserved better than how she had treated him.

It had been Jaune who told Neptune to talk to her at the school dance. He had willingly put his feelings aside for her own, even if it meant setting her up with another boy. And while things hadn't exactly progressed with Neptune after that night, it was the thought that counted.

Just like with Christmas. It was the thought that counted.

As she sat in silence pondering this, a waitress approached their table with a pen and paper pad in hand. "Are you ready to order?"

"I'll have a hot chocolate," he said. It didn't surprise her that he wasn't ordering coffee. But what did surprise her was what he said next. "And she'll have a coffee, black with two sugars." He winced, appearing embarrassed by what he had just said. His eyes met hers, clearly apologetic for being so presumptuous. "Sorry, Weiss. Is that still how you like your coffee?"

She nodded absentmindedly. "Y-yes."

The waitress smiled. "Great. I'll be back in a couple minutes with your order."

She walked away, leaving the two teens sitting once more in silence. She decided to break it first. "How did you know how I take my coffee?"

Jaune glanced away from her. A frown formed on his face as he stared out the front window of the shop. He probably expected that she would be upset with him. Given their checkered past, it wasn't surprising.

"I..." he started. The nervousness in his voice was apparent. "I dunno. I guess I just pay attention to stuff like that when it comes to people in my life. People who are important to me."

This time it was Weiss who had to look away in embarrassment. Important to him? Her?

Then again, was it really so hard to believe? He had gone to Neptune on her behalf, after all. The fact that he cared about her was obvious. However, Weiss had always thought it was just an infatuation due to her name and wealth.

People who wanted her for her name and wealth didn't remember how she took her coffee.

"Sorry, that sounded way more stalkerish than I meant," he quickly backpedaled. "When I say you're important to me, I mean it in the same way as my teammates and Ruby and-"

"No, it's okay," she said, cutting off his apology. "I understand what you meant. I..." she began, but trailed off when she realized she didn't quite know what she wanted to say. Other than this. "Thank you. For everything."

He shrugged lightly. "No need to thank me. It's just coffee."

"No. For more than just coffee. For... Neptune."

His eyes widened for a brief moment before looking away. "Oh. Right. Yeah, no problem. So... things going good between you two?"

Not really. She hadn't spoken to him much since the dance. He was a nice enough boy, but in the end that's what he was. A boy. One whose eyes wandered to other girls as they passed by. Growing up the way she had, Weiss valued trust and loyalty above all things. They were qualities that at this point in his life, Neptune did not seem to possess.

"We're friends," she told him honestly. They were just that. Friends. And not anything more, like she had wanted at one point in her life.

"Oh. That's good. Friends are great. I like friends."

Weiss smiled. Friends were indeed great. Ruby, Yang, Blake. Even everyone on Team JNPR. They were all her friends. Her true friends. For the first time in her life.

And she had treated some of them so poorly. While she had long ago made up with Ruby, she could not say the same about the boy sitting before her.

"I like friends too," she said softly. She cast her gaze down to the table, embarrassed and ashamed by what was about to come out of her mouth. "And I treated one of those friends of mine harshly." She looked back up to him, making sure that her eyes met his as she apologized. "I'm sorry, Jaune. Can you forgive me for what I've said to you in the past?"

To her relief, Jaune merely smiled warmly enough to make the Ice Queen's fears melt away. "Of course I can. And in your defense, I was really annoying."

Weiss giggled softly. With the ice being sufficiently broken, she felt comfortable enough to joke. "Yeah. You kind of were."

It was Jaune's turn to laugh this time. "Can you forgive me?"

"I already have."

A sense of happiness and comfort washed over her. All had been forgiven between the two. The hatchet had been buried. There was nowhere to go now but forward between the two friends.

And yet, a lingering sense of curiosity ate at her. It was obvious now that he cared about her. Not her status or fame, but her. She wanted to know why it was that this clueless buffoon had chased after her when someone as incredible as Pyrrha Nikos was right in front of him.

"Jaune. May I ask you something?"

"Sure. Anything."

"Back when... you were first interested in me. What is it about me that attracted you to me?"

His eyes widened, and he looked away as a small blush crept on his cheeks. "Wow, you really know how to put a guy on the spot."

She hadn't intended to make him feel uncomfortable. It was the last thing she wanted now that the tension between them had been cleared. "If you don't wish to answer I would understand."

"No, it's fine. It's just..." He paused, taking a few seconds to collect himself. "You're incredible. I know I don't know you that well, not like Ruby does. But you're smart. Talented. Beautiful. You seem cold, but deep down I can tell you're caring and compassionate. And your voice? It's angelic. I've heard you sing before, and it's so beautiful. There's a reason I called you Snow Angel."

Weiss felt her own cheeks grow warm. As far as confessions went, it wasn't far off from the kind of talk she had heard from men back in Atlas. But it was the way and the tone which Jaune said it which made it feel so... real. So genuine. So heartfelt.

"Really?" she asked bashfully.

"Yeah. I wouldn't say it if it's not true. I know all that stuff is kind of just surface level, but... I would have liked to have gotten to know you on a more personal level. If I hadn't been such an idiot, maybe you would have given me a chance to."

Maybe if she hadn't been such an idiot, she might have too. Both were guilty of being shallow, annoying people in the past.

"You've heard me sing?" she asked.

"Yeah. I've seen a few of your performances online. I'm sure they don't do justice to hearing you live though."

No, no they didn't. Her style of music couldn't be fully appreciated by hearing a scroll recording of it from up in the cheap seats.

Who knows. Maybe she would be enough in the Christmas spirit to give a small, private performance of holiday music for her friends. Jaune included.

"Thank you," she smiled. "I truly appreciate the compliments. Perhaps if you're not doing anything later tonight, you and your team could come over..."

Her voice trailed off as she saw Jaune looking past her. His face scrunched in confusion as he peered at something behind her. Soon enough she felt its presence right next to her.

Above her.

Looking up, she saw a gloved hand holding a tiny cluster of green leaves and red berries above the table between where she and Jaune sat.

"What's this?" an all too familiar and annoying voice sounded. "Where did this mistletoe come from?"

Weiss' head whipped around to see the grinning form of Yang standing next to her. Icy eyes were wide, and she silently mouthed the words 'what are you doing' to the blonde girl.

Yang bent down to whisper into her ear. "You were extra naughty with Jaune. Gotta earn those nice girl points."

Pale skin turned red as she realized what Yang meant. But maybe the girl was right. Maybe doing this would indeed earn her points with Santa.

Besides... it wasn't as if the idea of giving Jaune a little kiss was that bad. Not anymore, at least.

Without giving herself time to think, Weiss reached over the table and planted her lips lightly on his cheek. It was over almost as soon as she made contact, and she pulled her burning face back without looking to see his reaction.

"M-merry Christmas, Jaune," she stuttered as she then got up from her seat and rushed to the coffee shop's washroom.

She had to force herself to calm down as she splashed cool water on her face. Oddly enough, it wasn't that she was embarrassed about kissing him in public which caused her to blush.

It was the fact that she didn't mind having done it. Not one bit.

Author's Note: I know it's a week late, but this was an entry for my Discord server's holiday writing contest. Now that it's over I can finally publish it. By the way, if you use Discord and want to join, just PM me and I'll get you an invite.

As for the story itself, I figured that out of anyone in RWBY, it'd be Weiss who still believes in Santa Claus. Klein would dress up every year and bring her gifts, and because of her rough childhood, he just never had the heart to tell her that Santa wasn't real. So this happens as a result!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.