Ruby couldn't believe it was happening. It was finally happening. Her biggest life goal as a paintballer was to attend the biggest and grandest paintball convention in the world: the Argus Paintball Convention.

It was practically every hardcore paintballer's dream to attend the APC. Hundreds of thousands come to view panels, check out the amazing gear, and meet some of the biggest paintball stars in the world.

Yes, this was the very place Ruby could geek out 'til her heart's content. the only thing that was stopping her was the incredibly long line ahead of them. The doors had not opened yet, and many people were seen camping just in front of the convention doors.

"It's a good thing we bought line passes, otherwise we'd be here for hours," Sun said.

"And it's a good thing we bought them before they sold out," Ruby added.

It took the group no more than an hour to get in once the paintball heaven gates opened up. Inside, Ruby was already bouncing about, gawking at the equipment on display, greeting all of her fellow competitors from over the years, and inquiring about the latest line of magfed markers.

"This place is much larger than I anticipated," Weiss murmured. "One can easily get lost here."

Yang snickered. "I think Ruby already is."

True enough, Ruby had disappeared from the group. She was now lost in the sea of paintballers, with no form of communication with the others due to fact that their scroll provider was not available in this continent, and Weiss knew for a fact that Ruby did not turn on her roaming setting.

Weiss sighed and facepalmed. "Shit."

As if she were a lost dog, the group started calling out her name desperately. At one point, Weiss had thought she caught a glimpse of unmistakable red tips. Sadly, they were mistakable and ended up leading Weiss towards a much older man with a mullet. He immediately tried flirting with her, but was quickly shut down when a certain young woman appeared in front of him.

"Hey man, no trouble or anything, but this girl's mine." Ruby smile brightly for a split second before frowning at him.

"Ruby!" Weiss was quick to wrap her arms around the taller woman. "Where the hell did you go?!"

"I went to find the bathroom." The paintballer meekly rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I should've said something. Thought I could make it back without anyone noticing."

The CEO shook her head and tittered. "You dolt, did you find it?"

"Not yet. Got distracted when I saw that dude hitting on you." She shivered and stuck her tongue out at him, regardless of whether he was looking or not. "He seemed really creepy."

"Do you still need to find the bathroom? I can go with you."

Ruby smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Weiss." Just as they were about to move, Ruby paused. "I-It's not gonna be like what I think it will be like, is it?"

"I haven't the slightest clue of what you are talking about." Weiss grabbed Ruby's hand and continued to lead her through the crowd. "Hurry up, the others are going to get worried."

"So w-we're getting it on? In a public toilet?" Ruby was visibly dumbfounded. "Literally the last place I'd expect you to want me?"

"What are you going on about? We're finding you the restroom and returning to the group as soon as you finish. Whatever you are pondering about comes later, you dolt."

As those two went in search of a restroom, the rest of the group continued to hunt for Ruby. It was at this time that they realized Weiss was missing as well.

"Fuuuuuuuuuck, why does this always happen?" Sun groaned and whined as he scratched his head.

"Sun, I'm sure they're fine," Pyrrha said. "Maybe Weiss found Ruby already."

"If that was the case, why didn't she bring her back yet?" As carefree and lazy the blonde was, he could really get worried if he saw fit.

"Maybe Ruby found a certain stall and dragged Weiss with her," Ren suggested.

Yang smirked. "Or maybe Ruby dragged Weiss behind a wall to do kinky stuff."

The comment received many glares and very sharp punch to the shoulder from Blake. "What? It's possible!" When nobody responded the way she thought they would, Yang groaned and crossed her arms bitterly. "You guys don't understand humor."

"You don't have any," Sun mumbled.

"Oh shut up. Not like you could do any better."

"I bet I can."

Blake grabbed them both by the ear and dragged them over to the rest of the group. The two blondes haven't realized Ruby and Weiss returned from wherever they went.

"Where'd you two go? We were worried sick, you bimbos!" Sun berated and crossed his arms. "Do you have any idea how easy it is to get lost here?"

Ruby rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the blonde man. "You're not my dad, Sun! I was just trying to find the bathroom, and Weiss found me and helped me."

"Helped you with what? Getting off?" Yang started snickering again, which only resulted in many pairs of eyes glaring at her.

"Yang, you promised me," the young brunette sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "You promised me no dirty jokes on this trip."

The blonde brute whined and crossed her arms like a child. "Fine. You guys are no fun."

The group continued onward in their quest roam about the entire convention. Ruby pointed out the majority of the things that had caught the group's attention. Especially a certain booth that advertised for useful paintball gear. The one Ruby was interested in was a booth selling ammo counters. True to their name, these devices were set to count ammo and display to the player how much was left.

And Ruby wanted one.

She moved quickly to find one on display to check the specs and price. Just by feeling it, she could tell it was a high-quality product. It contained technology strong enough to detect every shot fired. Not only that, this device tracked the speed and velocity of the paintball. With the press of a button, Ruby could know the velocity of the ball and adjust to hit her target dead on. Only in rich places would you find tech like this. She would have to be incredibly lucky to find this in Vale. Of course, there was always a price to pay for such products. After finding the price tag, Ruby hissed and winced. Even if she had saved enough for this trip and enough to spend, she had a budget. This device blew way past her budget.

Glancing up, she noticed one of the booth tenders walk up to her. He was a tall, slender young man with sunglasses and a black fedora. "Need any help there?"

Ruby sighed and shook her head. "Nah, I'm good."

"Are you interested in purchasing one?"

"I am very interested, but," Ruby drew out a defeated smile, "alas, purchasing such an item would leave me bankrupt."

The young man chuckled. "I completely understand. I personally wish we could lower our prices, but this is the lowest we can go."

"I get that. You can't find anything like this in Vale," the brunette admitted.

"Pardon me, Miss," the young man turned to face her. "You wouldn't happen to be Ruby Rose, would you?"

"You know about me?"

His eyes suddenly widened. "You're the real Ruby Rose? You're a legend! The greatest paintballer in Sanus!"

Ruby's heart jumped. Since when did she have fans? "How do you know that?"

"How wouldn't I know? You're the first paintballer to compete in the world tournament alone! Many people usually go in teams, the least being a duo. But you - you were the only person to go alone and take out every team! Everyone has to have heard about you!"

"O-Oh, um, that's really flattering," she nervously tittered. Ruby had never met actual fans before.

"You said something about the price, didn't you? I may not be able to change the price too much, but perhaps I could add another item of your choice? Or perhaps I could lower it in exchange for a coffee date?"

Before she could speak, Ruby's opportunity was taken from her.

"That won't be necessary." Weiss stepped in, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. "I'll pay for it. Full. Price."

"Weiss, he's just being nice-"

Weiss leaned in close to Ruby's ear. "No. He's not. Whether he knows you or not, he's still nothing more than a salesman who knows what he wants. Trust me on this." Regaining her composure, Weiss straightened herself out and took out her wallet.

Ruby wanted to protest, but she realized that Weiss knew this fact more than anyone. Her father ran the biggest company in the world. Weiss had always said that her father's business partners, even some of her current ones, acted in the same matter that this young man did. Ruby wasn't sure what the subtext was that hid beneath his words, but she trusted Weiss.

As she thought about this, Weiss had finished the payment process and handed Ruby a smooth black box that contained what she assumed to be the counter. "Here you go, you dolt."

"Thanks, Weiss, but uh...was there any reason why you bought it?"

A white eyebrow arched in question. "Is it a crime to spoil the one I love?"

"N-No! Not at all, it's just..." Ruby lowered her head close to Weiss' face. "Are you sure you aren't jealous?"

"Jealous?" Weiss scoffed. "That's preposterous. I don't get...jealous."

"Sure, sure, whatever you say. What if he was actually trying to be nice though? Like, I know you can see through people, but what if those weren't his intentions?"

"He tried to ask you out! In front of me!"

"What? No he didn't," the brunette replied. "I think he was genuinely trying to be nice."

Weiss stopped dead in her tracks and glared at her girlfriend. "So if we weren't dating, would you have gone out with him?"

Throwing her hands up, Ruby laughed. "Of course not! I'm as straight as a rainbow, everyone knows that!"

With a sigh, Weiss' anger visibly deflated as she leaned into Ruby's body. "Honestly...he had the audacity to ask you out. In front of me."

"Okay, how about...whether he asked me anything or not, and you still saw me looking at the device-"

Ruby received a shrug from her girlfriend. "I still would have bought it for you."

This brought a smile to Ruby's face. Weiss never ceased to make her feel loved. It was amazing, really. Ruby still finds herself dumbfounded by the fact that she was the partner of the world's most successful CEO.

Continuing through the convention, Ruby found herself in various pictures and selfies with many fans, signed autographs upon request, and even received a few gifts from some very gracious convention attendees. By the time they found a place to sit, Ruby felt exhausted. Her friends suggested they sit and rest, but Ruby shook it off and smiled. There was still so much more to do.

Time flew quicker than Ruby would have liked. They had attended many panels and gear showcases, but not as many as Ruby hoped. On the bright side, at least she attended the ones she had always wanted to see.

It was about time for them to return to the city when Ruby caught a glance of one of her idols. Yang and Blake noticed alongside Ruby, wide-eyed when they realized they were in the presence of a true paintballer.

"Hey Rubes, is that who I think it is?"

"I-I think it is," Ruby replied in a breathy whisper. "Blake, what do you think?"

The raven-haired girl nodded in confirmation. "That's her. That's the Grimm Reaper."

Upon impulse, the three walked up to the woman that wore a skull mask atop her head. Ruby could feel her heartbeat pick up rapidly as they got closer. The woman turned, facing the three before her. She smiled.

"Are you the Grimm Reaper?" Ruby queried.

The woman nodded. "Ruby Rose, aren't you? You can call me Maria Calavera."

"Y-You know me?"

Maria chuckled. "Dear, when you live as old as me, you see a lot of things in your life. Some things stick out, and some things don't. But you - I've never seen anyone play with as much heart as you, Miss Rose. Believe me when I say that I watch all of your televised events."

Ruby couldn't believe her ears. She turned to Yang and Blake, who both had wide eyes and agape smiles. With a bow, Ruby breathlessly spoke. "I-I...I'm truly honored..."

"At ease, dear, at ease," the woman tittered. She looked to those beside Ruby, including the rest of her group just behind. "Friends of yours? Would you all like autographs? Perhaps some pictures?"

"I think we'd all love that," Ruby answered, turning to her friends and teammates. She turned to Weiss. "Have you heard of the Grimm Reaper, Weiss?"

The CEO nodded. She swiftly trotted towards the world-class paintballer. "Miss Maria Calavera, it is an honor to meet you here. I've been to almost all of your matches since I was a child. You've been my hero all my life."

With a bright smile, Maria shook Weiss' hands and clasped them tightly. "Weiss Schnee. I used to know your grandmother."

Icy blue eyes enlarged at the statement. "You knew Nana Schnee?"

"We were best friends in high school." The paintballer placed a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "You have her strong spirit, I can tell."

Weiss looked to Ruby, who looked ready to sweep her up and take her home - in a happy and totally-not-sexual way. Definitely not sexual in any way. Totally not in any way whatsoever.

"Well, Miss Calavera, it was an honor to meet you." Ruby smiled and shook the woman's hand once more. "As much as we would all enjoy staying longer, we've all got more on our agenda tonight."

"It's quite alright, dear. I do look forward to seeing you work hard again." With a smile, Maria adjusted her glasses. "You will be competing again, won't you?"

"Yes ma'am, I'm already training for it. I won't let you down."

"Oh, before you all leave, would you still like some pictures?"

The group smiled simultaneously and pulled out their devices. They gathered around the small woman and captured a few photos before bidding her goodbye.

While the main group made their way back to the hotel, Ruby and Weiss fell back to stroll through the city. Hand in hand, the two stayed close to shield each other from the harsh cold of Argus. Ruby whistled a tune that was unfamiliar to Weiss, but she listened nonetheless. She enjoyed hearing Ruby's heartbeat, listening to her break out into song in some instances, and feeling the warmth she radiated.

"Did you ever come to Argus, Weiss?"

The CEO nodded. "My grandmother and grandfather had a house here. I would visit many times as a child. Of course I can no longer do so, they've passed many years ago."

"Oh. I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. They lived a long and happy life together."

Ruby squeezed Weiss' hand gently and looked into her beautiful icy blue eyes. "Do you think we'll live a long and happy life?"

Weiss smiled and leaned into Ruby's body, wrapping the talker girl's arms around herself. "I'd like to think we already are, Ruby. Though not very far yet in terms of years, I believe we're living happily together and will be for many years to come."

Pressing a kiss to Weiss's soft lips, Ruby leaned in close to her girlfriend's ear. "I love you so much, Weiss. I know that I'm happy with you."

"I love you too, Ruby." With Ruby's hand in hers, Weiss continued to lead her girlfriend down the street. "Where would you like to start?"

"Show me all of the places you loved. I'd love to see all the places that you grew up in."

There was a twinkle in Ruby's silver eyes that Weiss swore she would never get over. Ruby's smile always managed to pick up Weiss's heart rate. With Ruby's hand in hers, Weiss started leading Ruby down the street, past many small shops and cafes. They went into the subway station, where Weiss purchased passes for the both of them.

"So where're we heading first?" Ruby asked as they entered the train. She allowed Weiss to sit while she stood, grasping the handlebar above firmly.

"To the heart of Argus. We are currently on the outskirts. My visits to Argus were always in the more common areas."

As the train began to embark, Ruby took Weiss's hand in her own, smiling when she saw the blush on her girlfriend's face. Leaving the station behind revealed the gorgeous landscapes of Argus. The sun was close to resting on the horizon, bringing out fiery orange and gentle pink hues in the sky. The snow that sat atop the hills and mountains held the glow of the sun, turning its usual white into bright yellows and cool purples in the shadows. Ruby couldn't look away. But then she found something else to set her eyes on.

Weiss's icy blue eyes, though as cold as they seemed, were the warmest pair Ruby had ever seen. They were always filled with kindness and love, regardless of how people see her. Then there was her hair. Oh, how soft and silky her snowy locks were. Ruby loved running her fingers through those strands. She knew Weiss's favorite way to style her hair was with a ponytail on the right side of her head, though as of late, Weiss had taken to a braid instead. All hairstyles were fine and dandy, but the most beautiful one was whenever Weiss wore her hair down. Weiss always wore her hair down whenever she was dressing to impress someone, and most of the time Weiss dressed for Ruby, and Ruby only. Then her body. Weiss was very fit, though leaning more on the thin side. She was also very small. In more ways than one. But Ruby loved her all the same.

The train arrived soon in the heart of Argus, and Ruby suddenly had a thought. "Hey Weiss, what's your family like?"

"My family?" Weiss was taken aback. "What brought that on?"

"Well, I was just thinking about how beautiful you are and I wondered, 'Who made my super hot and amazing girlfriend?'" The paintballer grinned as she gave her answer.

"I suppose it is about time you learn about my family." The CEO followed everyone else off of the train with Ruby behind her. Once they were in the station, they began roaming the city. "I have an older sister and a younger brother. I've told you about my sister before, haven't I?"

"Yeah, you said she's vice prez of the company, right?"

Weiss nodded. "That is correct. While I hear from my sister every so often, I haven't heard from my brother in years. Neither has my sister."

"What was he like?"

"Well," Weiss tried to gather her thoughts and salvage what memory she had left of her brother. "His name was Whitley. He's much younger than me, he's a spitting image of his father, and he's very sly and cunning."

"His father?"

"Winter's and my step-father."

Ruby's lips formed an 'o' shape as she understood.

"He inherited my mother's natural white hair, just as Winter and I have." Weiss ran her fingers through her long locks. "Winter and Whitley took after my father and step-father respectively, but me...I looked just like my mother...he hated me for it."

"What was that last bit?" Dark eyebrows raised in question. Ruby could feel a sudden shift in Weiss's behavior. She seemed nervous...afraid.

She shook her head, her smile returning. "N-Never mind. We're at our first stop."

Looking up, Ruby immediately noticed the huge sign above the entrance. "A bakery?"

"Not just any bakery, Ruby." Weiss pulled Ruby inside and led her to the display case.

As soon as Ruby took a breath, her whole demeanor changed. She went from calm and collected to hyper as a puppy in the matter of seconds. As fast as a paintball fired from her marker, Ruby sprinted right up to the display case, marveling over every pastry there was.

Despite all of these treats here to distract her, Ruby still felt Weiss's unease.

"See anything you like?" The smaller silverette stood beside Ruby as they looked over the array of pastries and treats.

A devilish smirk appeared on Ruby's face. "I did until you appeared."

Weiss rolled her eyes and tittered, flicking Ruby's forehead. "Dolt, I'm serious. What do you want?"

"Hmm," Ruby stroked her chin in thought. "What do you recommend?"

"Well, I've been here countless times throughout the many years I've lived in Solitas and yet I always find myself eating the simplest of the simple." Behind one of the fancier treats was a small stack of chocolate chip cookies.

"Chocolate chip cookies? I would've pinned you for that truffle cake or the tiramisu over there."

"Do I really seem like some posh girl to you?" With arms crossed, Weiss turned to face Ruby.

"I mean..." Ruby started nodding like it was obvious. "You kinda are some posh girl. And I'm not the only one who sees it."

Weiss deflated. "But I'm not..."

The younger woman giggled and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman. "Don't worry. You're my posh girl." The paintballer pulled away with a smile. "Now then, let's get down to business. Do they have milk to go with those cookies?"

"I'm not sure, I don't usually have milk with cookies."

Her arms hung from her body, her mouth agape as she stood there with disbelief. "I can't believe what I'm hearing. My girlfriend doesn't eat her cookies properly?!"

"Ruby, lower your voice!" Weiss tried to calm her girlfriend, only resulting in failure when the taller, stronger, and more determined girl marched right up to the front counter.

"Excuse me, my girlfriend doesn't know how to eat cookies properly! Can I get a dozen of your best chocolate chip cookies as well as a glass of warm milk?!" Ruby stood there with a scowl, her silver eyes piercing into the soul of the cashier.

"Ruby, what the hell? You're going to get us kicked out!"

The cashier shook his head in disappointment, removing his bowler hat to reveal his shiny orange hair. "No ma'am, I'm afraid you are the one to get you both kicked out."

Icy blue eyes widened in shock. "Huh?!"

"How long has she been eating cookies incorrectly?"

Weiss couldn't fathom what was happening. "I'm not the only who eats cookies without milk."

The ginger cashier disregarded her statement and looked to Ruby. Ruby let out a heft sigh and shook her head. "Her whole life. Sad, isn't it?"

"Don't you both ignore me!"

Leaning on the counter, the cashier gestured Ruby closer. "I'll get you those cookies and milk if you swear she will forgo her previous ways and walk in the light."

"Worry not, my good sir, my girlfriend shall walk in truth from this moment onward," declared the paintballer. She placed her hands over her heart. "Til death do we part, my lover shall no longer live in shadows."

She couldn't look up. She couldn't look Ruby in the eyes. Her face was as red as Ruby's tips, her face hot enough to melt the ice caps in Atlas. When Ruby was finished with the cashier, Weiss flicked the younger woman's forehead. "You're so embarrassing. I can't believe you said all of that."

Ruby grinned. "You love it, I know you do."

Weiss headbutted Ruby's chest and pouted. "You're insufferable."

"Love you too, Snowflake."

They sat at a table near the entrance and waited for their cookies and milk. Ruby rested her chin on her arms, surveying the small bakery. As they waited, Ruby thought back to earlier. Weiss seemed fine talking about her siblings, but then she froze. Speaking about her step-father seemed to bother her somehow.

"Weiss," Ruby murmured.

"Yes, Ruby?"

Silver eyes glanced up at icy blue ones. "Do you ever miss your dad? Your actual dad?"

A pang of sadness darted through Weiss, and Ruby saw it in her eyes. "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him. Why do you ask?"

"I just..." Ruby sat up and held Weiss's hands. "I know what it's like to lose someone, and if it ever bothers you, I want you to know that I'm here for you. You can always talk to me about it, or anything that might bother you for that matter."

"Your mother, wasn't it?" Weiss's eyes showed melancholy. Ruby knew she wasn't trying to pry. It was now that Ruby had realized Weiss had no one else to relate to before they met.

"Yeah," the young woman sighed, "I lost my mother when I was in eighth grade. She had cancer for a while, and for a little bit, things started looking better for her. Too bad that wasn't the case."

Weiss's heart broke when she saw how pained Ruby appeared. She held Ruby's hand tightly. "Ruby..."

"No," Ruby sniffled, "it's alright. I believe these kinds of things happen for a reason."

"I..." Weiss felt her heartbeat hasten. She noticed Ruby watching her intently. "I'm thankful I have you, Ruby."

"Confide in me, Weiss. I will always be here for you. I have your back," she smiled brightly. "I promise."

They both gazed into each other's souls with all the love they could muster. The tender moment, however, was ruined when the cashier appeared with the batch of cookies and glass of milk.

"In the name of the cookie gods and all things sweet, I baptize you. Go forth now, you shall walk in the bakery's favor," he said with a sincere smile. "Take good care of her, Red."

"Will do. Thank you!" After waving him off, Ruby tucked in and grabbed a cookie. She dunked it in the warm milk and savored every bite.

"You know it isn't sanitary to dip your already-bitten cookie back into your milk, right?" Weiss felt her muscles cringe at the thought.

"Whatever, Weiss, like you're one to talk. I know you've eaten something much dirtier than this," Ruby retorted with a smirk. She chuckled upon noticing the bright blush on her partner's cheeks. "Just eat the cookie, Weiss. You're not gonna die."

"Fine. If I do die, however," the small businesswoman glared at her partner with all seriousness, "it will be your fault."

Reluctantly, Weiss dipped one of the cookies into the milk. There were small crumbs from Ruby's cookie floating around in the white beverage, only giving Weiss more reason to refuse doing this and continue "walking in the shadows." But, this was for Ruby. Swallowing her pride—and the high probability of getting sick—Weiss bit into the cookie.

"So? What do you think?"

In the most monotonous voice Ruby had ever heard, Weiss plainly said, "It's delicious."

A wide smile curled onto Ruby's lips. "It is, huh? And did you die?"

"That remains to be seen," Weiss replied. She continued to eat the cookies with milk, not forgetting the fact that Ruby was staring at her like a puppy would her master.

"You know, you look super hot right now."

"I'm just eating cookies."

Silver eyes flashed a hint of desire. "I really want you to eat something else right now."

"You're unbelievable. Hurry up and finish the rest of the cookies, there are still other places to cover."

After finishing the rest of the treats, Weiss took Ruby's hand and led her to destination after destination. Weiss was sure to go to every place that held her fondest memories, hoping Ruby would catch a glimpse of what her precious childhood was like. They had gone to her favorite park, some of her favorite clothing stores, a paintball shop where she received her first marker, all to name a few out of the many places they had visited. Revisiting these places felt so nostalgic to Weiss. She remembered to all of these places as a child with her grandparents and her sister. She missed how close they used to be, how often they would play and laugh.

"You alright, Weiss?" Ruby peeked down at her girlfriend's face, following her gaze to see where she might be looking.

Weiss blinked a few times before returning to reality. "Yes, yes, sorry. I just remembered the many times Winter and I would come here. We used to be so close."

"How close?"

"As close as you and Yang are. Ruby, if I'm honest with you," the smaller girl hesitantly looked up into Ruby's silver eyes, "I envy your relationship with Yang. Winter and I used to be as close as you two are, but when my step-father came, she just seemed so far away from me. Despite how much better we have it now, she still seems out of reach."

"Then why don't you reach out to her?"

"Reach out to her?"

"When was the last time you called her for reasons other than work?" Ruby queried. "You should try calling her, maybe you'll end up brightening her day. I know my day gets brighter whenever you call me."

The CEO sighed. "My sister is different, Ruby. She's always busy."

"Do you know that for a fact?"

"...no..."

The brunette smiled. "There you go. Why don't you call her now? If she's busy, then you can try again another time."

"Ruby, what if she -"

"You're worrying too much, Weiss. If you really want to reconnect, why don't you do it? Right here, right now." Ruby pulled Weiss's scroll from her purse and handed it to her. "If she's really your sister, I'm sure she'll make time for you."

Weiss stared at the electronic in her hand. She scrolled through her contacts until she found Winter's name. Then she froze.

"R-Ruby, I'm nervous. I haven't spoken to her informally in years."

Taking Weiss's free hand, Ruby pressed a kiss to her knuckles and smiled. "I'm right here with you. You're going to be okay."

With a deep breath, Weiss dialed the number and held the device up to her ear. She could hear her heart racing in her chest. Having Ruby by her side was helping by copious amounts. After the second ring, the phone on the other side picked up.

"W-Winter?"

"Weiss, is something wrong? Is there a meeting I should be in right now?"

"No, none of the sorts."

"What is the nature of your call then? You never call out of the blue like this."

"I just...I just want to know how you're doing. We haven't spoken for a while now. I..." Weiss looked to Ruby for support before finding the words she needed to say. "I miss you, Winter."

"Oh, Weiss...I miss you as well. I'm terribly sorry for not being a proper sister, especially back then. I'm doing quite well, though this company never fails to keep me busy. How are you?"

The silverette smiled. "I'm doing well myself. I'm actually in Argus with my friends right now."

"How I wish I could visit and meet you there, Sister. There are some matters I must attend to this week, I'm afraid. For curiosity's sake, who gave you the idea to call? I know for a fact that you never deviate from schedule. Someone must have put you up to this."

"No one put me up to this!" Weiss let out a breath and gave her girlfriend a loving look. "It was my girlfriend who gave me courage to call you."

"Girlfriend?"

It was in this moment that Weiss realized she had just come out to her sister and reveal that she was in a relationship. "Shit. It came out too soon. I came out too soon."

"Too soon? I'd much rather say far too late! It's no wonder you could never find a man!"

"You're not mad?"

"Sister, whatever makes you happy will make me happy. I'd like to meet her someday. Perhaps when I come for the next company meeting."

"That's a relief to hear, Winter. Thank you."

"Of course. But you do know that he will not be happy about this. And he will find out one way or another."

Weiss sighed heavily. "I know. I don't look forward to it."

"Maybe he'll find out the second he dies, who knows? Just keep it in mind, Sister, but don't let it bother you. I'm sure it will all turn out alright."

"Thank you, Winter. That does make me feel easier."

"Now as much as I enjoyed this, I'm afraid I must return to work. It was lovely speaking to you again, Weiss. I hope we can talk again soon."

"Bye, Winter." After putting her scroll away, Weiss looked at Ruby, who had an intense desire to know every detail of their conversation.

"Sooooo?"

"What?"

Ruby waggled her eyebrows. "How'd it go with your sister?"

"She was actually happy to talk to me," Weiss responded. "What's with that face, you dolt?"

The smug grin on Ruby's face made Weiss giggle. "I told you. All you had to do was call and see. What'd you talk about, other than coming out to her?"

"She just asked me how I was, I asked her in turn, and that was all."

"What? I'm sure there's more, wasn't there?"

Weiss shook her head. Ruby couldn't know yet. She wasn't ready. Weiss wasn't even sure if she herself was ready. "It's about the company. We're planning to host another business party, and I'm not usually fond of those."

There was truth to Weiss's words. Coco convinced her not too long ago to plan a business party because she needed a reason to get drunk at work. However, this wasn't the truth Ruby was supposed to hear.

Something flashed in Ruby's eyes. Weiss knew in that moment that Ruby saw right through her. "That's not what you talked about, though, is it?"

With a heavy sigh, Weiss took Ruby's hands and led her to a suburban neighborhood. There were children playing outside, old people going on walks, it seemed really nice and serene. "I need to show you something."

"Where are we going?"

Within minutes, the two of them came upon a small house. It was old, the paint was dated, and it appeared as though nobody has lived in it for years. They both stopped to take a good look at it. Then Weiss made her way to the front door and opened it.

"Woah, what the hell?! Weiss, what're you doing?!" Ruby ran after Weiss and followed her inside the house. As she slowly stepped around the home, she quickly noticed the many pictures of ivory-haired people that had the same icy blue eyes as her girlfriend. "Weiss, is this-"

"This is my grandparents' house. These pictures are of my Nana and Nicholas Schnee. I bought this house not long after they died. After moving out of my parents' house, I wanted to live here. Then I met Blake, and she led me to Vale." The silverette took in a breath, getting a good whiff of the old house smell. "I remember this place..."

"Damn, your gramps was pretty hot! I can see where his granddaughter gets it," Ruby said with a smile. Then her smile faded as she saw the look on Weiss's face. "Why...why did you bring me here?"

Coming out of the living room, Weiss held a picture in her hand. "I want you to meet my father."

The paintballer felt her heart drop. She felt honored, but so terrified at the same time. Weiss barely spoke about her parents, and now she's suddenly going to meet them?

"This is the only picture I have left of him. We lost all of our other pictures after that one night," Weiss murmured as she handed Ruby the small picture.

The young man had beautiful white hair and deep blue eyes. The woman beside him had the same white hair with icy blue eyes. A young girl stood before the father, her white hair adorned in a top bun, deep blue eyes like his. Then a very young toddler with growing white hair and striking icy blues.

Ruby sat down on the floor, tears in her eyes as she stared at the picture. "H-Hi there, Mister Schnee. I-I'm R-R-Ruby Rose, your daughter's girlfriend." Tears began pooling in Ruby's eyes. Her voice quivered, and her throat grew tense as she struggled to speak. "You have a very beautiful family, Sir. I wish I could actually meet you, b-but what can you do?"

"Ruby..." Weiss sat down and wrapped her arms around her partner. "There's no need to cry."

"I c-can't help it, it's just...I feel like I'm talking to my mother." Ruby turned and gave Weiss a smile. "I loved talking to her, even when she wasn't here. Just like my mother, I can feel him here."

She turned back to the picture. "I love your daughter very much, Sir. I know every father worries about their daughter ending up with the wrong person who will treat them poorly, but I promise I will take care of her for the rest of my days. Leave it all to me, Mister Schnee."

"His name is Myrtenaster. He would've liked you, Ruby, believe me."

The brunette wiped her tears and smiled. "That's the name of your marker. You named your marker after your father, that's so sweet."

Weiss nodded and then looked away. "Now that you've met my father, it's important that you know my step-father is nothing like him. I would have let you meet who he used to be, but...he's not who he used to be. You can never meet him, Ruby. He will hurt you in every way possible. His mental health has taken a decline ever since he stepped down from the company."

"Why did he step down?"

"He became a drunkard. And because he couldn't handle alcohol the same way your uncle can, he became psychotic and mentally ill." Weiss shivered as she leaned into Ruby's warmth. "He used to be so good, and I loved him. But I can never forgive him."

"Wow, Weiss, I'm so sorry about that." Ruby rubbed Weiss's back and ran her fingers through ivory strands.

"It's not your fault." Standing up, Weiss took Ruby's hand and pulled her up. "I have never told anyone about this."

"This must have been hard for you. But I'm glad you did. Thank you, Weiss. " Gently holding her face, Ruby kissed Weiss's lips sweetly. "I'm proud of you."

"Let's go back to the hotel now. I do believe we have a reservation for dinner later, do we not?"

Silver eyes lit up with exuberance. "Oh yeah, we're going to the ramen house! I'm so excited for that!"

The couple of paintballers made their way back to meet with their friends. That night, they all ate a wonderful dinner filled with many bowls of noodles and meat as well as karaoke and drinks. Weiss sat at the bar with Blake, watching their girlfriends make fools of themselves on stage. When they returned to the hotel, Weiss was automatically assigned to the task of taking care of Ruby.

The only thing was...Ruby was the one who took care of Weiss that night.

How do you do, my lovely readers? Hope you're doing well and staying safe inside, yes?

It has been a while, yes, but I am doing the best I can! With all the stuff going on in the world right now, it's hard to continue working and studying while writing this. But I manage for all of you!

Leave reviews if you wish, I very much enjoy reading them! See y'all in the next chapter!