Chapter Twenty-four: Catching My Breath

Weiss glanced up from her paperwork to check on Ruby. She was laid out on the couch, making faces at Monsieur Bulle, completely oblivious to Weiss' gaze. After the disastrous lunch earlier this week, Ruby had a lot of free time. She was still a little antsy about her and Yang's employment status, but Weiss assured her that their first paycheque would erase any fear they had left. Weiss also made it clear that working for her wouldn't be a conflict of interest since the restaurant was a family business and not a corporate one. Weiss was also ecstatic that she didn't have to pay a middleman for Yang's food and Ruby's coffee anymore.

"Weeeeeiiissss," Ruby whined, "are you off work yet?"

Weiss looked at the time and said, "It's almost time… hm, you know what, I think I've signed enough papers for today."

"Does this mean we can leave?!" Ruby eagerly asked as she bolted upright.

"Yes," Weiss laughed. "Golly, you're so excited I can practically see your tail wagging."

Ruby sank into her shoulders and blushed. "You're never going to let that go, will you?

"No. Never."

"Even when we're old and wrinkly?"

Now that gave Weiss pause. She blinked and swallowed then swallowed again because that stupid lump her throat refused to go down. Ruby didn't seem to notice the mental hoops Weiss was jumping through and laughed like a fool in love—which Weiss supposed was true.

"I bet you'll be as beautiful then as you are now," Ruby said without a hint of shame as she got up and stretched. "Mm… man, that feels good."

Weiss averted her eyes and pretended to focus on clearing her desk. Her hands were shaking and her heart was beating a million miles a minute. Weiss was a flustered mess, both inside and out, and it was all because of an innocuous comment. Her. Weiss Adel. The same woman that risked her position to convince the board of directors that an increase in minimum wage would benefit the company in the long run—and it did! Employee retention increased by a significant margin as did stock prices and public opinion. So how?! How the hell did the prospect of growing old with Ruby cause Weiss to be this… this… happy.

Taking in a deep breath, Weiss forced her smile down and cleared her throat to catch Ruby's attention.

"Ruby," she said, "do you have everything?"

Ruby was standing in front of Monsieur Bulle's tank, dressed in her winter coat, watching him swim back and forth. "Uh-huh."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Do you like fish?"

"Not really," Ruby replied. "I actually feel kind of bad for them."

"How so?" Weiss asked, moving to stand beside Ruby.

"They're stuck in these glass boxes for peoples amusement—I know you take care of your fish, but some people don't. And that's really sad."

"Monsieur Bulle eats better than most people," Weiss laughed.

"Can I feed him?" Ruby asked.

"There should be some fresh food in the mini-fridge below his tank," Weiss said, kneeling down to open the cabinet. She retrieved a plastic container marked "shrimp" and a pair of tongs. "Here you go."

Ruby eagerly opened the container and gasped. "Weiss, these shrimp are huge!"

"Monsieur Bulle is a big fish," Weiss chuckled. "Just give him one, please. Oh, and step back from the tank when you drop it in."

"Why?"

"He likes to splash."

"Oh."

Ruby dropped the shrimp in when Monsieur Bulle was at the other end of the tank. She watched him turn around and surge toward the food. Weiss stepped back and yanked on Ruby's hood, dragging her back a step as well.

"Ack, choking!" Ruby yelped just as Monsieur Bulle hit the surface of the water, sending droplets flying into Ruby gaping maw. She gagged in disgust and rubbed her tongue against her sleeve, tears pricking her eyes. "Ew, ew, ew!"

"I told you to step back," Weiss said, pulling Ruby's sleeve away to wipe the edges of her lips. "You should have listened to me."

"You didn't have to yank me back," Ruby whined.

"If I hadn't pulled you back, you'd be a lot wetter."

Ruby nipped at Weiss' hand and pouted. "Say you're sorry."

"What?"

"Say you're sorry!"

Rolling her eyes, Weiss kissed Ruby's forehead and said, "I'm sorry…"

"Thank you—"

"—that you didn't listen to me," Weiss teased, sticking her tongue out.

"Why you—" Ruby lunged at Weiss and wrapped her in a hug, surprising her enough to scream.

The doors to Weiss' office flew open and her assistants rushed in with panicked looks on their faces. But when they saw the position Ruby and Weiss were in, Neptune snorted out a laugh and Ciel closed the door with a respectful bow and a polite but sarcastic "carry on."

Ruby blinked in confusion and set Weiss down. "Why'd they leave like that?"

"Uh," Weiss blushed and averted her eyes.

A sneaking grin spread across Ruby's face as she connected the dots. She poked Weiss' cheek and asked, "Did you get caught doing something naughty in your old office?"

"Don't ask questions to answers you don't want to hear," Weiss said, pushing Ruby hand away.

"Wha—hey, I'm sorry, I was only joking around," Ruby said, wrapping her arms around Weiss' shoulders. "And you know I'm not bothered when we talk about her… you don't have to act like your wife is some sort of taboo we can't talk about. That's not healthy."

"It's not fair to you, Ruby," Weiss said, resting her head on Ruby's shoulder.

"No, not at all," Ruby said. "But what isn't fair is locking me out of such a big part of your life. And despite how childish as I act sometimes, I like to think that I'm pretty mature."

"You are, ma chérie, you are," Weiss replied, leaning in for a kiss. "And I'm sorry… my therapist suggested that I be more open with you, but I must admit—it's really hard."

"Why?" Ruby asked, kissing the top of Weiss' head.

"I don't know the boundary between what's okay and not okay to discuss with you."

"Well," Ruby said, tilting Weiss' chin up, "talking about your everyday life? Totally a-okay in my book. It'll probably help me navigate things with Chrys. And I think she should feel comfortable talking about her mom even if I'm around."

"That would be nice…" Weiss murmured thoughtfully.

"Sex jokes? Still a-okay," Ruby nodded. "You don't have to erase or hide your history. I am well aware you've had sex before me… but, uh, the explicit stuff? Maybe save that for the bedroom when you wanna try something you like with me and need to use an example."

A shy yet nervous grin spread across Weiss' face. She'd been giving the advice she received a lot of thought, even Glynda agreed. But despite all of Weiss' fears and insecurities, she still wanted to try again for both her sake and Ruby's.

"Well," Weiss said, picking a piece of lint off Ruby's hood, "if you're up for it later… why don't you stay the night and we can try a few things?"

Ruby gulped. "I'd love to… but I actually got a thing with Yang and Penny later tonight."

"Oh," Weiss said, unable to hide her disappointment.

"I'm sorry…" Ruby said. "I'd cancel, but we made these plans two weeks ago…"

"It's fine," Weiss replied, kissing Ruby's cheek. "You're already spending the day with me and Chrys. That's more than enough."

"See, this is what I love about you," Ruby grinned. "You don't get angry about me spending time with my friends or doing my own things."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Why would that merit noting?"

"Well, I've had some friends who had girlfriends or boyfriends that got really angry when they didn't spend everyday together."

"I barely have time for myself, why the hell would I demand all of yours?"

"Exactly!" Ruby exclaimed, kissing Weiss' lips. "You're amazing and I'm just so lucky."

"Your friends aren't seeing these people still, are they?"

Ruby nervously grinned and said, "Well, they're not my friends anymore."

"That's a shame," Weiss said. "Being your friend has been an absolute honour."

"Ooh, fancy talk," Ruby smirked. "Anyway, let's go get your girl and get that burger she keeps blowing my scroll up for."

"Should I be worried my daughter is texting you?" Weiss asked, a little jealous that Chrys would message Ruby and not her.

"You can look through my scroll if you're worried," Ruby said, completely misunderstanding Weiss' question. "All we talk about is MLB… and she maybe spilled some of your secrets."

"What secrets?" Weiss narrowed her eyes.

"Your favourite book," Ruby said.

"That's not much of a secret," Weiss laughed with relief.

"Your other favourite book," Ruby grinned. "I didn't know you were into vampires, Weiss."

The smile on Weiss' face instantly disappeared. "No."

"Yes," Ruby cackled. "It's okay, baby, it's a good book. Blake let me read her copy after I found out. I especially liked it when the MC—"

Weiss covered her ears in horror and shouted, "La, la, la, la—I can hear you!"

"Don't reject my love, Weiss!" Ruby cried, hugging Weiss tight. "I read a cheesy vampire love story for you!"

"I didn't ask you to!" Weiss screeched, pushing Ruby and her needy, puckered lips away.

The door to Weiss' office opened again and Ciel poked her head in. "Ma'am," she said in a respectful tone, eyes averted, "school is about to be let out."

"Oh," Weiss blushed, "thank you for the reminder, Ciel."

"No problem, ma'am."

After Ciel closed the door, Weiss wriggled out of Ruby's embrace and smoothed out her hair.

"We should be off," Weiss said, clearing her throat.

"Wow, way to dodge the subject," Ruby laughed, slipping an arm around Weiss' waist.

They left the office and drove down to Chrys' school. But on the way there, Weiss asked Ruby a burning question: did Penny hate her?

Ruby snorted out a laugh and said "yes" without any hesitation. The smile on her face had Weiss worried, but Ruby reassured her that it wouldn't be long until Penny and Weiss were as thick as thieves.

"I'm not sure about that," Weiss said as she got out of Ruby's car and refastened her coat's sash. She pulled the lapels up and hugged herself to brace against the cold.

Ruby wrapped an arm around Weiss' shoulders and kissed her temple. "Don't worry too much about Penny," she said confidently. "She already likes you way more than she did when you guys first met."

"She's practically your sister," Weiss said, guiding Ruby through the small parking lot leading up to Chrys' schoolyard.

"I guess she's family… but sister?" Ruby stuck her tongue out. "I almost dated her, Weiss."

"I still feel awful about that," Weiss grimaced.

"But speaking of sisters, ours got a little too acquainted and now I'm kind of worried about the future," Ruby shuddered. "Think it'll be awkward?"

"Unless Yang catches a case of the feelings, I doubt anything will change," Weiss laughed. "My sister doesn't do relationships."

"She's… not what I expected," Ruby politely mumbled. "I thought she'd be more like you, but more serious. And less fun to be around."

Weiss shrugged. "Winter was my role model growing up… which, in hindsight, might explain some of my less than stellar choices."

Ruby crinkled her nose and laughed.

They walked past Mme. Lait and her cronies, and for a brief moment Weiss thought they'd be quiet, but fate wasn't on her side. The jealous old bitch called out to them in a fake saccharine tone that made nails on a chalkboard sound pleasant.

"God damn it," Weiss swore underneath her breath. Ruby tilted her head curiously.

"Weiss, darling, so good to see you!"

"I saw you this morning and every morning since the school year started," Weiss muttered, turning to face her adult bully.

"Really?" Mme. Lait gasped with fake shock, showing off her large diamond ring.

"Yes, really," Weiss glowered.

Mme. Lait let out an haughty laugh and "playfully" swatted Weiss' shoulder. "Gosh, I had no idea! You're so pale you practically blend in with the snow."

"Whoa, lady, that's kind of rude," Ruby said, finally speaking up.

"Who's this?" Mme. Lait asked, eyeing Ruby from head to toe. She seemed particularly interested in the hand Ruby had on Weiss' hip though. "Am I finally meeting the fabled Mrs. Adel? She looks a lot younger than I expected… and I'm not seeing a resemblance between her and your little girl."

Weiss breathed in deep and exhaled through her nose. "I have told you time and again that I am a widow—and before you say anything further, my wife was older than me, but she is still far younger than you and all your busybody friends. Now leave me alone."

"Why I never—"

"Ah!" Ruby cut in, holding a finger up to Mme. Lait's face. "Shoosh, no more words from you."

"You—"

"Uh-uh, lady," Ruby said, leading Weiss away before she could lose her temper. When they were out of earshot, Ruby kissed Weiss' cheek and asked, "Is that the lady you keep telling me about?"

"Unfortunately," Weiss sighed, leaning against Ruby. "I thought she finally got bored of harassing me, but now I realize she was just ignoring me to make that terrible joke."

"It was pretty bad…"

"If it came from anyone else, it'd be hilarious because it's true," Weiss scoffed. "I blend in with the snow, I know."

Ruby snorted and said, "You don't wear enough white to blend in."

Weiss gave Ruby a sad smile and kissed her lips.

"I love you," Ruby purred.

"Mm…"

"Mama!" Weiss heard someone call. She quickly broke the kiss and looked around.

"Mama!" Chrys shouted again as she haphazardly ran towards them with a sheet of paper in one hand and the other firmly planted on her head to keep her beret on.

"Chrys, slow down!" Weiss warned in a panic, but she was a second too late.

"Mama! Mama, I—whoa!"

Chrys lost her footing and fell back, hitting her head on the snow covered ground. Ruby and Weiss winced in unison before rushing over to check on her.

"Mama…" Chrys held her hands out to Weiss, her baby blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Weiss knelt down beside Chrys and helped her sit up. "Are you okay, mon coeur?" Chrys shook her head. "Sit still, I'm going to check your head… does this hurt?" Chrys nodded, her bottom lip trembling. "You have a small bump, but you'll be fine."

Ruby offered Chrys a small smile as she picked up her beret and brushed off the snow.

"Mama…" Chrys sniffled.

"Oh, my poor baby," Weiss said as she helped Chrys up onto her feet and held her tight. "What did I say about running in the snow?"

"Not to?" Chrys replied, burying her face into Weiss' shoulder.

"You need to be careful, mon coeur," Weiss said. She wiped away Chrys' tears and kissed her cheek. "Now what's so important that you had to run to show me?"

Chrys showed her a stapled piece of paper with a big gold star and a red "100" next to it. "I wanted to show you my test so we can hang it up… but it's all wet and crumpled now."

"Wow, a one-hundred?" Ruby said as she knelt down to Chrys' level. "Can I see it?" Chrys nodded and handed Ruby the test, happy to be rid of the thing so she could hug Weiss with both arms. "Uh… okay, wow. There is a lot of math here."

"Let me see," Weiss said, craning her neck to look.

Ruby showed Weiss the front page and pointed her towards a long division question. "Is… is this normal math for her age group? Because I swear I was just starting to learn this stuff in junior high."

"That's probably because this is a private school and Chrys is in the accelerated program," Weiss said proudly.

"What?"

"Have you forgotten what grade Nora teaches?"

"Er, grade… four?" Ruby shrugged.

"Six," Weiss laughed, holding her hand out to take the beret.

"Still, I'm super impressed," Ruby said, flipping between the pages.

"At my daughter's brilliance or the fact Nora knows how to do math?"

Ruby blinked. "The latter actually. I already knew Chrys was super smart."

"Ms. Valkyrie is the best teacher ever," Chrys said, sounding much better than she did a minute ago. "She told me I was the only one to get a one-hundred percent."

"Damn," Ruby whispered. "You're really something else, kiddo."

"Hehe, praise me more," Chrys preened.

Weiss quietly chuckled as she smoothed out Chrys' hair and put her beret back on. Her daughter was so much like her mother it was almost comical.

"Chryssie," Weiss said in a gentle tone, "you know that I'd be proud of you even if you failed all your tests, right?"

"I know," Chrys said. "I just like being the best."

Weiss blinked, astonished by her daughter's infallible confidence. "A little humility can go a long way, mon coeur."

"I am asserting my dominance over the brainless masses!"

"Ugh, I'm beginning to regret letting your maman teach you Valese," Weiss sighed. "Anyway, I'm proud of you and that test is going up on the fridge. "Now then, is there anything you want as a reward?"

"We're still getting burgers and watching a movie, right?"

"That's the plan," Ruby chimed in.

Chrys tapped her chin in thought. "Can we go to a fish store after? I want to buy Tuna Casserole a new plant and some food."

"I think the fish stores will be closed by the time the movie ends… we can go another day," Weiss said.

"Aw, okay," Chrys nodded. "Then can we play some games at the theatre?"

"We already planned on that," Ruby chuckled. "I'm going to beat your mom at a shooting game."

"Please, you can barely walk in a straight line," Weiss laughed.

"I walked straight into your life didn't I?"

Weiss quirked an eyebrow. "You literally fell into my arms the third time we met."

"Tactics," Ruby winked.

Weiss rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Uh…" Chrys blinked, "I don't know what I want."

"Let me know when you think of something, okay?" Weiss said.

"Okay, Mama."

"Hey, so, I don't know about you guys, but that burger sounds super good right about now," Ruby said as she handed the test back to Chrys. "And, uh, heads-up, but that crazy lady from before is still staring at us."

Weiss let out a quiet groan and rested her head against Chrys' shoulder.

"There, there, Mama," Chrys said as she patted Weiss' head. "If it makes you feel better, you're way prettier and smarter."

"Don't forget kind and generous," Ruby added.

"We're forgetting the most important thing though," Chrys said.

"What's that?"

"Mama's super rich."

"Couldn't you have named something less superficial?" Weiss pouted. "I'm more than just a pretty face and a wallet."

"Hey! I said you were kind and generous," Ruby said.

"I know and I appreciate that, but you, young lady," Weiss squished Chrys' face between her palms, "I expected something better! What about all the times I read you bedtime stories or wiped your nose when you had a cold?"

"You read me a tax report and the words were too big for me to understand!" Chrys whined.

"It put you to sleep didn't it?" Weiss insisted, squishing Chrys' cheeks even more. "You're so squishy! How did I make something so squishy?"

"Mama! Mama, not in front of Ruby!"

Ruby laughed out loud and said, "Let's save some of that energy for the arcade, babe. You and me have a score to settle."

"Ugh, fine," Weiss huffed before pulling Chrys close and kissing her cheek. "I love you, mon coeur."

"I love you too, Mama."

Chrys walked hand in hand between Ruby and Weiss, talking their ears off about how much praise Nora gave her. And whether it was part of Chrys' plan or not, her story hit it's peak right when they passed Mme. Lait and her cronies. The look on their faces as Chrys boasted about being the top student in her class was priceless. And the look of pride in Ruby's eyes as she cheered Chrys on was the icing on the cake.

Ruby opened the back door to her car and winked at Chrys. "I remembered this time."

"Remembered what?" Weiss asked as she helped Chrys into the backseat and buckled her seatbelt.

"I opened the front door the first time," Ruby laughed, peering into the cabin.

Weiss kissed Chrys on the cheek and got into the front passenger seat. Ruby quickly followed and got into the driver's seat. Chrys asked if they were going straight to the burger place, but after Weiss and Ruby shared a look, Ruby announced they were making a quick stop somewhere else first.

"There's a place a few blocks away from the burger joint," Ruby told Weiss. "It won't take long."

"Only if you're sure, Ruby," Weiss said, laying a hand on Ruby's thigh. "It's your schedule we're following today."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Ruby replied.

"Where are we going?" Chrys asked when they left the school.

"It's a surprise," Ruby said without looking away from the road. "Just wait a few minutes okay, kiddo?"

And just as she promised, Ruby parked the car in front of a small store with a sign that said "Finatics" in bright, bold letters.

"Where are we?" Chrys asked, leaning forward to get a better look, but she couldn't see much from her position.

Ruby got out of the car first and opened the door for Weiss. Chrys crawled out of the front seat and clung to Weiss, wary of the unfamiliar territory.

"Where do you think we are?" Ruby asked, pointing to the sign. Chrys looked up and her face went from confused to ecstatic in four seconds flat. She let out an excited squeal and hugged Ruby tight, nearly tackling her off her feet. "Did Ruby do good?"

"Ruby did great," Weiss replied, taking Ruby's hand.

They followed Chrys into the store holding hands, an act Weiss was still a little unsure of. Chrys had seen them kiss once when she popped into the living room unannounced and again today just before she slipped and fell. Ruby had been extremely patient and didn't throw a fuss whenever Weiss shied away from physical contact, but today she felt bold enough to push the boundaries.

"Mama, look!" Chrys exclaimed, pointing to a large tank with an arowana swimming back and forth languidly. "It's a red Monsieur Bulle!"

"I think Mr. Bubbles is a lot happier than that fishy," Ruby whispered. "That tank is like a quarter of Mr. Bubbles'."

Weiss snorted out a laugh and smacked Ruby's arm. "Be nice."

"I mean, it's also kind of cockeyed."

"Ruby!" Weiss laughed.

"Look, it's looking at us… and the ground at the same time."

"Oh my god…"

"Mama, Mama," Chrys called, pointing further down the store, "can we look over there?"

"Go ahead, Chrys, we'll follow behind you," Weiss said, leaning against Ruby.

Ruby wrapped an arm around Weiss' shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Did I make her happy?"

"You did," Weiss said as they followed Chrys. "How did you know where to find this place?"

"Well, after seeing Tuna Casserole and Mr. Bubbles, I kind of figured we'd all go to a fish store eventually," Ruby replied. "I searched around online and found this place. It doesn't look like much, but it's been rated as one of the best places in Vale."

"Doing your due diligence," Weiss purred with pleasant surprise. "I must say, Ruby, you definitely know how to capture my interest."

Ruby blushed and shyly nodded, "I had help."

"From who?"

"Who else?" Ruby pointed to Chrys. "She's… really doing her best to support you. I don't think any other kids would be this eager to help their mom with a new relationship so soon after a parent… y'know."

"You can say it, Ruby," Weiss said, squeezing Ruby's hand to brace herself. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she felt her mouth go dry. This should have been a difficult discussion, but Ruby's love and unwavering support gave Weiss the strength she needed to keep her head held high. "She's gone and there's nothing we can do about it," Weiss said in a thoughtful tone. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Tiptoeing around the subject won't help anyone, and it certainly won't help Chrys."

"How are you so brave?" Ruby asked in awe, her gentle silver eyes reflecting the love in her heart.

"I lived most of my life as a coward," Weiss replied, fighting the temptation to kiss Ruby on the spot. She struggled to keep her gaze on Ruby's eyes and not her lips. "I ran away from so many things because I was scared of the consequences… but now I'm being forced to take a leap of faith."

"Am I helping at all?" Ruby asked.

"You've helped immensely," Weiss said. "The time you've given us… it's more than I could ask for."

"I'm here for you, Weiss. Both you and Chrys." Ruby tightened her hold on Weiss' hand. "I love you. And if time's all you need from me, I'll give you all the time I have."

"Thank you."

"Mama! Ruby!" Chrys called. "Hurry up!"

Weiss shook her head and laughed. "I'm in five inch heels and there's water everywhere, I am not rushing." Chrys stuck her tongue out and ducked behind the next row of tanks. She made a silly face at them though an aquarium filled with guppies, but she quickly got distracted by a stingray swimming behind her. "She's been so rambunctious lately."

"Is this new behaviour?" Ruby asked.

"No… this is… how she was before," Weiss smiled. "Her and Nicole would go gallivanting across the city for these little pet stores and they'd always come back with something ridiculous."

"Tuna Casserole's the only fish I've seen at your house though," Ruby said, keeping a watchful eye on Chrys.

"We had a much larger aquarium in our old house," Weiss replied. They caught up to Chrys and pulled her away from the stingray before she could get attached. "Chrys, tell Ruby about the community aquarium back in Atlas."

Chrys' eyes lit up and the stingray was forgotten in lieu of a story. She rambled on about how the aquarium was big enough to swim in and that it had a lot of plants and different fish. When Ruby asked what kind, Chrys began listing them off so fast her accent slipped and she bit her tongue.

"Ow," Chrys pouted with a bit of her tongue sticking out.

"You need to slow down while you talk, Chryssie," Weiss chuckled.

"I'mma be honest, I have no idea what any of those fish look like," Ruby said.

"Well, my favourites are the neon tetras and the swordbutts," Chrys giggled.

"Swordbutts?" Ruby repeated with a confused look on her face.

"We passed by a tank full of them earlier," Weiss said, holding back her laughter. "They were the little orange fish with the long pointy tail."

"Ah, swordbutts," Ruby said. "Actual name or…?"

"I believe they're called 'swordtails,' but Nicole always called them 'swordbutts.'"

"Swordbutts!" Chrys cheered.

Weiss pinched Chrys cheek and chuckled. "We have plenty of space in the living room… we can get you a new aquarium if you'd like?"

"Really?!" Chrys latched onto Weiss. "Can we really?! Mama, are you being serious right now?" Weiss nodded her head. "Really, really?! No joke?"

"We can't get it today, obviously, but when we have time, I don't see why not," Weiss said. "It'd be nice to have an aquarium in the living room again. You can make it pretty with plants and wood."

"Swordbutts!"

"Yes, your swordbutts," Weiss smiled. "Ruby, would you be willing to help us find a suitable shop?"

Ruby grinned and held her head high, hands held at her hips. "I'll have you know this place can custom make your tank!"

"What about the stand and sump?" Weiss asked.

"Stand too," Ruby nodded. "Dunno what a sump is."

"It's that thing," Chrys pointed to a half-filled aquarium below the rack filled with porous rocks. "It's a filter."

"Uh, we can ask?" Ruby shrugged. "C'mon, let's go find the shop owner, I'm sure he'll help us out."

"Do we have time to have this chat?" Weiss asked. "What time does the movie start?"

"Starts at six," Ruby said, glancing down at her watch. "It's barely past four and I already got our tickets, so no lines for us. We got loads of time."

"You really planned today out, huh?" Weiss smiled.

"I promised Chrys we'd make today super awesome," Ruby said, holding a fist out to Chrys. "Am I killin' it so far?"

Chrys bumped her fist against Ruby's. "Killin' it."

"You two are so silly," Weiss laughed.

They found the owner of the store finalizing a sale with a customer. He waved and said he'd be with them in a minute.

"Is there no one else that works here?" Weiss asked Ruby who merely shrugged and followed Chrys to the planted tank she was staring at.

"Are these the swordbutts?" Ruby asked.

"No, they're mollies," Chrys said. "The big ones with the sails on their backs are the boys."

"Neat," Ruby said. "You sure know a lot about fish."

"Maman really liked science. Biology was her favourite."

Weiss choked and looked away. "Biology" was one way to put it; Coco definitely enjoyed studying human anatomy.

"She liked teaching me about nature how we should all try and coexist," Chrys said, her smile faltering. "She got me my first aquarium to teach me about ecosystems."

"Oh that thing was a mess," Weiss sighed. "You cried so much when the fish died."

"I learned a lot," Chrys smiled. "Every life matters even if it's small… that, and fish parents are dicks."

"Chrys!" Weiss shrieked in horror. "That is inappropriate language."

Chrys stuck her tongue out at Weiss. "Blame Uncle Neptune."

"I don't care if he said it first, that's still inappropriate language!"

"It's the truth though!" Chrys laughed. "The mama fish eats her babies… I'm really glad you're not a fishy, Mama."

Weiss sighed. How was this her life?"

Ruby let out a loud laugh and hugged Chrys tight. "I think your mama would be more of a shark than a little fishy."

"You think so?" Chrys giggled. Ruby nodded. "What kind?"

"I think she'd be a great Wei—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Ruby Rose!" Weiss snapped with a furious blush that nearly encapsulated her whole face.

"Eep!" Ruby yelped, putting Chrys between her and Weiss. "Sorry!"

Weiss wanted to keep berating Ruby for the terrible joke she was no doubt trying to make, but the fury that fueled her was quickly burning out due to the peals of laughter coming from Chrys. She was so comfortable with Ruby now despite how she felt about her and Weiss two weeks prior.

"You'd be a cute sharky, Mama," Chrys giggled.

"Aren't sharks supposed to be mean and scary?" Weiss huffed, crossing her arms. "I know I'm not the nicest, but surely I'm not that awful?"

"Sharks are fantastic," said a tired, old voice. The shopkeeper approached Weiss with a kind smile. "And from my experience, the people who deny their kindness are the kindest of all."

"I…" Weiss blinked.

"Mama's the nicest," Chrys said, hugging Weiss' waist. "She's the best mama ever!"

Weiss smiled down at her daughter and stroked her head. "I'm glad you think that… but sucking up to me now isn't going help decide how big the aquarium will be."

"Bleh," Chrys stuck her tongue out.

"First time keeping fish?" the shopkeeper asked.

"No, we've been in the hobby since this one was born," Weiss said, looking down at Chrys. "We own a Mistral arowana. And before we moved to Vale we had a really big community aquarium."

"I see, I see," the shopkeeper said, nodded his head. "Are you looking for something small because we have an assortment you can choose from here."

"I'm thinking something large," Weiss said. "Something like that," she pointed to the display with the mollies.

"That's a four foot long tank," the shopkeeper replied. "Do you want the exact same thing or maybe something a little taller?"

"A little taller would be nice..." Weiss mused aloud. "I honestly just want it to have enough room for my daughter to decorate. Do you sell plants and driftwood—merde, I forgot why we came here in the first place. Chrys, did you find what you were looking for?"

Chrys shook her head. "I didn't see any plants or food."

"Ah, we're expecting a shipment of plants in next week, and I keep the food stored by the cash register. Is there something specific you're looking for?"

"I just want some food for my betta, Tuna Casserole," Chrys said, bounding up to the shopkeeper. "Do you also have something for an arowawa?"

"Arowana," Weiss corrected.

"That's what I said," Chrys pouted. "Arowawa."

"Hm," the shopkeeper stroked his chin, "what do you feed the arowana?"

"Shrimp, fish fillets… some pellets," Weiss shrugged, "I sort of just feed him whatever my wife fed him."

The shopkeeper turned to Ruby and asked, "Could you elaborate?"

"Huh?" Ruby blinked, her jaw dropping. "Uh… I'm not… I'm not the wife."

"Oh, my apologies, I assumed you two where—"

"It's fine," Weiss cut in, trying to regain control of the situation. "Chrys, are you planning on buying Monsieur Bulle new food?"

"If Tuna Casserole is getting something, Monsieur Bulle should too," Chrys said. "It's not good to show favouritism."

"You're right," Weiss smiled. "Could you recommend something for us?"

"There is something we have in stock, but it's a little pricey," the shopkeeper said.

"Money isn't an issue," Weiss said.

They followed the shopkeeper back to the register and while he rummaged around for the fish food, he asked about the aquarium Weiss was looking for. Weiss answered his questions to the best of her ability but doubled down on the fact that nothing was set in stone yet.

"These pellets are for the betta, and this"—he slid a bright red bag with some imposing looking fish on it towards Weiss—"is for the arowana."

"What is it?" Chrys asked. "It looks fancy."

"It's a high protein pellet," the shopkeeper answered. "My customers really it like for their monster fish. These sell out pretty quick."

"How many should I feed my arowana?" Weiss asked. "He's full-grown… I think? I don't know, he was my wife's fish."

"If he's about two feet long, then yes," the shopkeeper said. "You can feed a small handful."

"Okay, and what about the betta food?"

"Just one pellet will do," the shopkeeper replied. He turned to Chrys and smiled. "Bettas have tiny tummies. They can't eat a lot."

"I know," Chrys smiled back. "I make sure I don't overfeed Tuna Casserole. And I change his water every week."

"Tuna Casserole is lucky to have you then," the shopkeeper said. "We get a lot of little boys and girls who come in with their parents to buy the bettas, but they usually come back not long after to get a new one. It makes me really happy to see someone so young taking care of their pet."

"My maman gave him to me," Chrys said. "I'm going to make sure he lives the best life possible."

"I've seen the fish, it's practically living in a mansion," Ruby chuckled. "Tank is huuuuge for just one fish."

"Bettas need more room than people realize," the shopkeeper said. "Do you know how big the aquarium is?"

"Twenty gallons," Chrys said. "My friends think he looks lonely, but I think he likes having the whole tank to himself."

"You really know your stuff."

Chrys beamed at the praise and pulled out her debit card. "Do we pay here?"

"It's okay, Chryssie, out your card way," Weiss said.

"Are you sure, Mama?"

"I'm sure," Weiss said. I have a few more questions to ask. Why don't you go look around with Ruby some more."

"Okay!" Chrys grabbed Ruby's hand and started dragging her away. "I'll show you the swordbutts!"

Once Ruby and Chrys were out of earshot, Weiss paid for the food and asked, "Can we set up an agreement to buy whole shipments?"

The shopkeeper's eyes opened wide. "What do you mean?"

"When we get the new aquarium, would it be possible to order everything we need directly from you?"

"You mean fish and plants?"

"Exactly," Weiss nodded. "In Atlas we had an agreement with our local fish store to buy an entire shipment before other customers."

"You're aware some of these fish come in batches of twenty-five or more, right?"

"I'm aware," Weiss said. "The deal let us go through the wholesaler's inventory list. I'm offering you the same opportunity."

"Are you asking for wholesale price as well?" the shopkeeper asked hesitantly.

"Of course not," Weiss chuckled. "I'd rather get everything my daughter needs in one go."

"I-I… I think this can be arranged."

"Excellent," Weiss smiled. "I'm specifically looking for swordtails, and if you can recommend any other fish that can get along with them, I'd be more than willing to pay for those as well."

"I see… you're aware there are different types of swordtails, yes?"

"I am, and I'm hoping you'll be able to set aside some time to help my daughter choose?"

"Absolutely!" the shopkeeper nodded his head. "But putting all those fish in one tank at once—"

"I'm well-aware of the high loss chance," Weiss winced. "I'm also going to need an adequate filtration system and the media for it."

"We can do all that, yes. I can even sell you some precycled media."

"I'd like a time buffer between setting up the aquarium and getting the fish in," Weiss said. "Do you have a business card?"

"I do." The shopkeeper handed Weiss a card he grabbed from a pile near the register.

"Excellent," Weiss pulled one of her own out and handed it to him. "If you don't mind, can you call this number when you get the plant shipment in?"

"Absolutely," the shopkeeper said, holding Weiss' business card like it was a large uncut dust crystal.

"Excellent," Weiss said just as Chrys and Ruby rounded back towards them. "I'll be in touch soon."

"Hey, Weiss, if you're all set, we should probably go grab that food now," Ruby said.

"Yeah, Mama, I'm really hungry," Chrys added.

"Yes, I'm all finished here," Weiss said, picking up her receipt and goods. "Come on, let's go."

"Oh, wait!" Chrys hurriedly dug through her backpack and pulled out her scroll, offering it to the shopkeeper. "Can you take a picture of us?"

"Today a special day?" he asked. He tried to turn it on, but when the screen remained black, he scratched the top of his balding head and handed it back. "I'm getting too old to figure out these newfangled doohickeys." Chrys giggled and turned it on for him, even set it to the camera app. "Fancy. Now where do you want to take it?"

"Here is good," Chrys said, pulling Weiss to stand by the molly tank. "Ruby, you too!"

"Huh?" Ruby blinked.

"I want you in the picture too," Chrys huffed in annoyance as she pushed Ruby to stand beside Weiss. "Make sure to smile! This is for my photo album."

"Photo album?" Ruby asked Weiss.

Weiss swallowed the lump in her throat. "It's a new thing we're doing… um, I'll explain later."

"Ugh, you two are too stiff!" Chrys complained. She put her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks. "Stand closer!" Ruby scooted a little closer to Weiss. "Do I have to do everything myself?" Chrys huffed in annoyance as she marched towards Ruby and pushed her into Weiss. "You two are dating, act like it!"

"C-Chrys!" Weiss blushed.

"This is a family picture, and Ruby's family now," Chrys explained, taking her spot in front of them.

Weiss was speechless.

"Is everyone ready?" the shopkeeper asked, aiming the scroll towards Weiss' family.

Chrys looked behind her to check the space between Ruby and Weiss and nodded her head approvingly. "Yup!"

"Alright, say 'cheese'!"

After taking the picture, the shopkeeper handed Chrys back her scroll and asked how he did. She inspected it carefully to ensure the composition was adequate enough. Weiss was worried Chrys would find something wrong, but upon closer inspection, she was smiling.

Curious, Weiss knelt down beside Chrys and put a hand on her shoulder. "How does it look?"

"You look happy," Chrys said, showing Weiss the picture. And it was true. Weiss looked relaxed standing next to Ruby which was a strange departure from Weiss' stiff personality. "This is definitely going into the album."

"Only if you're sure, mon coeur."

Chrys nodded her head and showed the picture to Ruby next. "Your hair's a mess."

"It's always a mess," Ruby grinned. "Send me the pic later?"

"Only if you buy me popcorn tonight."

Ruby gasped but solemnly nodded. "You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Adel, but you have yourself a deal."

They quickly shook hands and looked up to Weiss.

"Ready to go?" Ruby asked. The shopkeeper took that as his cue and quickly bagged the food. "Here, lemme carry that," Ruby said, reaching for the bag

Weiss crinkled her nose and shook her head. "It's okay, I've got it," she said, taking the bag then Ruby's hand. She turned to the shopkeeper next and smiled at him. "Thank you for your patience. You'll be hearing from me soon."

The shopkeeper waved and showed them to the door. Chrys was busy telling Ruby some strange fish facts so neither of them were paying much attention to Weiss and her melancholic expression.

Next week was going to be hell.

Chapter eight has been edited.