Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The paper crinkled under Blake’s tense grip and she nervously smoothed out the creases against her jeans. She slouched back into her seat and glanced back out the car window at the same red sign she’d been staring at for nearly 45 minutes. That cheery red sign with the big white letters almost burned into her retinas.

Help Wanted

She’d spotted the sign while out with Ilia the other day and asked her about it.

“Oh yeah, that place has been there a while, I think. I’ve been a few times, kinda small but I swear they’ve got the best burgers in Vale.”

Ilia had encouraged Blake to apply and even drove her to the library to print out her resume. 

“And they’re faunus friendly!” she’d exclaimed. “This’ll be great to help you get back on your feet!”

She just wants to get rid of you. A familiar voice whispered in the back of Blake’s mind. You’ve been living on her couch for weeks now just moping. You’re so pathetic and annoying.

Blake shook her head a little as if to dislodge the sinister thoughts slithering through her mind. Her pointed black ears pinned back against her hair.  No. No more of that. I’m free of him, and that’s what matters. But I also can’t keep living on Ilia’s couch forever. Especially now, with... Blake’s hand drifted to her lower stomach, slipping under her t-shirt to cradle the small barely-there swell. She still had a few weeks before she started to show, and she knew by then it would be even harder to find a job. No one would want to hire a pregnant faunus.

Come on, where’s that confidence? You once led an entire student body in a protest back in school remember? You can be brave and go apply for a damn job. Feeling a new rush of confidence Blake straightened up and squared her shoulders. She pulled in one last deep breath and checked her reflection in the rear-view mirror. She gave the steering wheel one last decisive pat and hopped out of Ilia’s truck, striding across the street with as much confidence as she could muster. Pausing briefly to glance up at the name scrawled in an elegant script beside a stylized rose above the entrance.

Summer’s Place.

The door chimed cheerily as it swung open, knocking against a small bell on the frame. As Blake’s eyes quickly adjusted to the light she took in the smallish establishment. The place was a bit bigger than it had initially looked from the outside, longer than it was wide. The bar stretched along the left wall, shelves lined with a dizzying array of assorted alcohols and mixers. The right wall was lined with booths padded with deep red cushions and smaller round tables scattered in the space between. Towards the back she could see a sitting area with a lit fireplace, driving away the chill of early autumn. Overall the place had a warm and welcoming vibe, everything paneled with dark polished wood. It smelled clean and well cared for, a far cry from other bars she’d been to.

On a Saturday afternoon Blake hadn’t expected it to be busy. But the bar appeared to be completely empty. She frowned and glanced back at the hours painted on the door. No, she got it right.

Her ears suddenly picked up the sound of low muttering and clinking of glasses coming from the direction of the bar, and she cleared her throat. “Hello?”

A hand shot up from behind the bar, holding up one finger. “I’ll be with you in a moment!”

The clinking and muttering continued for another few seconds before the person finally stood up, and Blake’s jaw dropped. The first thing she noticed was a mass of curly blonde hair, barely restrained back into a ponytail. The second thing she noticed was how unfair it was that bartenders could be that pretty. Bright lavender eyes (a rare color, Blake couldn’t help but think) set into a heart shaped face with a few golden wisps escaping from their hair tie prison to curl around her ears. The woman was about Blake’s own age and was wearing a black tank top (that only seemed to highlight her broad muscular shoulders) with a red rose logo above the left breast, the same one as above the door. The woman flashed Blake a bright smile, and she couldn’t help but notice how it seemed to emphasize the smattering of light freckles on her cheeks. “Hey there! Welcome to Summer’s Place. What can I do for ya?”

It took Blake slightly too long for the words to register in her stunned brain, but they finally did and she gave herself a little mental shake. She swallowed against her sudden dry throat. “Uh, yes. I saw your ‘help wanted’ sign outside...”

The woman blinked and glanced over at the window, then brightened. “Oh! Right! I honestly forgot I put that up. Things have been kind of crazy here.” She leaned over the bar and offered her hand. “I’m Yang.”

“Blake.” Blake took the offered hand in a firm shake, and just now noticed the large elaborate tattoo of a serpent-like golden dragon stretching from Yang's right shoulder to her wrist.

“Nice to meet you, Blake. Do you have restaurant or bar experience?”

“I worked as a waitress all through school.”

Yang smiled brightly. “Oh awesome, that’s what we’re looking for. Business has really taken off ever since we got that food critic review a few weeks ago, and we could really use the help.”

Blake handed Yang her resume and she took it, reading with interest. She gestured with her hand. “Come with me, and we can talk.”

Yang led her through a side door to a small office, where another woman sat hunched over a stack of papers. “Hey, Weiss. Do you think you could watch the front for a few?”

The pale haired woman looked up, pushing a pair of glasses up her nose. Blake noticed a pale scar bisected one of her eyes, before she nodded and stood. The other woman, Weiss, passed by Blake without looking at her or speaking.

After the door closed Yang maneuvered herself to take the now vacated seat behind the desk. “Sorry about that, Weiss is friendly I promise.” She gestured to the small chair Blake hadn’t noticed. “Please have a seat.”

Blake sat down and looked around the small office. The shelves were stacked high with boxes stuffed with papers, various dates scribbled on them in marker. The desk held a few loose papers and folders, with an older style computer on one end.

“So, Blake.” Yang said, setting the resume down on the desk. “Are you new in town? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

“Sort of.” Blake fidgeted in her seat. “I’m from Menagerie originally, but I’ve been living in Vale for about 5 years. I just… didn’t get out much.”

“Ah. Well, Blake, tell me a little bit about why you decided to apply here.” Yang turned to the ancient computer monitor and began typing as she talked.

“Well, I...” Blake twisted her hands together in her lap and fought the sudden fluttering of nerves in her belly. “I had a change in my living situation recently and I really need a job to help with bills.”

Yang looked up from the computer and tilted her head with an amused twist to her mouth. “Well, I appreciate your honesty, that’s a good enough reason as any.”

Yang’s fingers continued to click away at the keyboard “I see your experience in waitressing here on your resume. Wow, you did it for a while. Did you like it?”

“Yeah I did. I really enjoyed it.”

“Why did you quit?”

An unpleasant feeling curled in Blake’s stomach. She glanced down at her knees. Yang looked away from the screen and her eyebrows knitted together. “Oh, uh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean..”

“No no, it’s okay. I just...” Blake pulled in a breath. “I just had a lot going on in my personal life at the time. It just didn’t work out.”

Yang nodded and gave her a look of sympathy that made Blake tense a little. She didn’t need sympathy.

“Yeah, yeah I get that. Well, Blake tell you what. I’ll talk this over with my partner and give you a call by Monday. Does that work for you?”

“Really?” Blake couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. Yang nodded again and gave her another bright friendly smile. “Really. I can’t promise anything but just off the bat I think you’d be a good fit here.”

Blake jumped out of her seat and took Yang’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “Oh thank you! You don’t know what this means to me!” Yang laughed and let Blake shake her hand. “No, thank you. You’re a lifesaver. We really do need the help!”

Blake grinned back, feeling the lightest she’d felt in weeks. No, months.

Yang’s smile morphed into a smirk. “Can I have my hand back now?”

The sudden sharp realization that she was still shaking Yang’s hand and grinning like an idiot brought a fierce blush to Blake’s cheeks and she dropped the hand like it was on fire.

“Hey it’s fine, don’t be embarrassed.” Yang pulled open the door and gestured. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

The found the pale haired woman behind the bar washing glasses. In the time they’d been in the office a few patrons had entered and settled into the various booths and tables, quietly chatting. She gave them both an unimpressed look.

“Don’t mind the ice queen.” Yang said under her breath. “She really is nicer than she looks.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Blake whispered back.

Yang walked her to the front of the bar and held it open. “Well, I have your number. We’re closed tomorrow but I’ll definitely call you by Monday with a decision okay?”

“Okay. Thank you again. So much.”

“Hey, it’s no problem at all. It was really nice meeting you.”

“You too.” The two women stood in the doorway grinning at each other. Blake found herself noticing all the different shades of lilac the autumn sunlight brought out in Yang’s eyes.

Yang cleared her throat and Blake spotted a light reddish tint to her cheeks, but it was probably just the chilly breeze. “Well, uh, I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah.”

Neither of them made any move. Until the sudden calling of Yang’s name from inside the bar made them both jump.

“Okay I’ll be right there!” Yang shouted over her shoulder, and she turned back to Blake. “Sorry, duty calls.”

“Oh yeah, I don’t want to keep you from your job. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, tomorrow.” Yang gave her one last smile and a small wave before she finally closed the door, the bell above the door frame jingling. Blake slowly walked back to the truck and slid into the cabin before she let out a breath, her cheeks puffing out. She spotted her flushed face in the mirror and couldn’t help but laugh.

Yang watched the reddish truck pull away from the curb and disappear down the street, still feeling the heat dissipating from her face. I’ll see you around? What kind of line was that?

“Ahem.”

Yang jumped and whipped around to see Weiss standing only a few feet away. Yang dramatically clutched her heart. “By the gods, woman, I need to put a bell on you!”

Weiss scowled and flicked Yang in the face with the small cleaning cloth in her pocket. “And I need to put a leash on you! What was that?”

Yang side stepped the shorter girl and walked toward her bar. “What was what?”

“You know perfectly well what I’m talking about Xiao Long.”

Yang stepped behind the bar and poured herself a glass of water. The few patrons that did come in were regulars, and she nodded greetings at them. “No, I don’t.”

Weiss huffed and stuffed the cloth back in her pocket. “We’re never going to hire someone if you keep scaring them off with your flirting. Did this one run out like a Grimm was on her tail too?”

“No.” Yang said a little too forcefully. “And the last girl didn’t ‘run out’ she was just late to an appointment.”

“Uh huh. Sure.” Weiss rolled her eyes. “You know you’ve got a reputation around town. Just… cool it alright? Keep it on your pants for once.”

Yang held up both hands and attempted an innocent smile. “Hey, I’m good, I’m good.”

Weiss squinted suspiciously, but she seemed to have been convinced for now. Weiss nodded. “Okay, well I need to get back to the office. You’re good out here?”

“Yep. Go ahead. Should be an easy shift.” Yang watched Weiss walk back to the office and close the door, then turned back to the bar and picked up an glass to wash. She blew out a breath through her nose. Weiss is right, she shouldn’t be trying to flirt with potential employees.

Even if they are beautiful.

Chapter Text

The sound of shattering glass.

The sharp sting of an open palm striking her across the face.

A disgusted scoff. “You bitch! Gods you’re so clumsy.”

The pain of broken glass digging into her knees as his hand grabbed her by the back of her neck and forced her down to the floor.

The image of cruel blue eyes blurring through her tears...

“Blake?”

The familiar brown carpet faded into clean white linoleum, the broken pieces of the empty mug scattered at her feet. Blake looked up to meet Ilia’s concerned gaze from the kitchen doorway. Panic rolled in Blake’s belly and she bent over frantically to pick up the broken mug. “I’m sorry I’m sorry! I’ll clean it! I’m sorry!”

“Whoa whoa, Blake, calm down!” Ilia joined her on the floor and gently grasped her wrists, holding Blake’s shaking hands still. “It’s alright, it was just an accident. Breathe, in and out remember? In and out...”

Blake sucked in a shaky breathe through her mouth. 1... 2...3... breathe… 1... 2... 3... breathe…

The pounding in her chest slowed. I’m not there anymore, I’m here. In Ilia’s kitchen. Safe.

“You’re bleeding.” Ilia’s voice seemed to remind Blake of the cut on her thumb, and it gave an angry throb. Blake flinched, looking down at her hand. Mildly surprised as the amount of blood.

“I have a broom and dust pan for picking up sharp pieces.” Ilia said gently. “I’ll show you where I keep it for next time.”

Ilia tugged Blake to her feet and led her over to the sink. Blake numbly watched the blood swirl in a spiral down the drain. An all-to-familiar sight.

“Just hold it under the sink okay? I’ll go grab my first aid kit.”

Blake hummed and watched the water run red. The adrenaline was almost gone, leaving behind a strange empty feeling. Gods she was so tired.

“Okay, here. Put pressure on this and come sit down.” Ilia pressed a soft cloth into Blake’s palm and led her over to the small kitchen table, pushing down gently on her shoulders into a chair. Ilia lifted the cloth away and examined the cut. “Not too bad, it doesn’t look deep. I’m just going to clean it and put on a bandage. Is that okay?”

Blake slowly nodded. Ilia patted her forearm and began to rummage through her first aid kit. “This might sting a little...”

Ilia pressed a cloth soaked in antiseptic to Blake’s hand, and the sting made her hiss. “Okay, okay it’s over. It’s done.” Ilia continued to speak in a low soothing voice, like she was speaking to a frightened animal. Which, Blake supposed, she kind of was.

“This was a bad one, wasn’t it? You really zoned out there.” Ilia said, keeping her tone low.

“Yeah.”

Ilia slowly began to wrap Blake’s hand in gauze. “You okay?”

Blake finally looked up and met Ilia’s concerned grey-blue eyes. She sighed. “I will be.”

Ilia searched her eyes and seemed to find what she was looking for, and she gave a nod. “He really did a number on you, didn’t he?”

Blake flinched. “Ilia...”

Ilia frowned, but she changed the subject. “I’m going to go make us some tea and you can tell me how your interview went.”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “You hate tea.”

“Well, maybe your obsession finally rubbed off on me.” Ilia shot over her shoulder as she stood and walked over to the cupboard. Blake couldn’t help the small smile that crept over her face. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Listening to Ilia’s low muttering and the sound of the faucet turning on. Those familiar sounds helped the anxiety fade and the dull throbbing on her hand lessen. Blake wasn’t sure how much time passed, but she eventually heard Ilia make her way to the table and set a tea cup in front of her. The familiar smell of jasmine filled her nose and Blake sighed. She wrapped her hands around the cup and let the warmth sink into her skin and sooth the throb of the cut.

“So.” Ilia sat down across from her with her own cup. “How did your interview go?”

Blake took a sip from her cup. “I think it went well. They said they’d call me by Monday.”

Ilia gave a decisive nod. “Good. I think this will be good for you. You know? Get you out of the apartment. I know I would have gone stir crazy by now.”

Blake sighed. “Thanks for letting me stay here, Ilia. I know you don’t have a lot of space...”

Ilia held up her hand. “Hey it’s okay. I really don’t mind. That’s what friends are for right? It can get kind of lonely anyway.” She took a sip from her own cup and instantly made a face. “Though I still don’t even know how you drink this stuff.”

Blake let out a small laugh. “It’s better than all that coffee you drink every day.”

Ilia dramatically put a hand on her chest. “Hey don’t insult my bean water, okay? That stuff is addicting.”

“Well the first step is admitting it.”

“Keep that up and I might not make that spaghetti with the sauce you like so much tonight.” Ilia stood from the table and dumped her cup in the sink.

Blake gave a dramatic gasp. “You wouldn’t...”

“And risk the ire of a pregnant woman? No I wouldn’t.” Ilia washed the cup out in the sink and set it down on the drying rack beside the sink.

When Blake didn’t respond, she looked back at her friend who was now staring down at her lap. Ilia sucked in a breath. “Crap. I did it again didn’t I?”

“No no. It just… hasn’t really sunk in yet.” Blake’s hand drifted to her stomach almost subconsciously.

Ilia’s voice softened. “You have your first appointment soon right?”

Blake propped her head on her other arm. “Yeah. At the end of the month.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you? I still have time to request that day off...”

“You’ve done so much for me already. I can’t ask you to miss a day of work for me too. I’ll be fine.”

Ilia looked a little skeptical, but she nodded. “Alright. I can drop you off at the clinic in the morning.”

“My appointment isn’t until the afternoon and I can just get a taxi or something. Really.”

Ilia frowned, but she recognized Blake’s stubbornness when she saw it. “Okay, okay fine. At least call me if you have any trouble. And let me know what it’s going to be, okay? I’m still saying boy.”

Blake gave a little roll of her eyes. “And I’m still saying it’s too early to know right now.”

“Well as soon as you know.”

Blake chuckled into her tea. “You’ve got a bet going or something?”

“Oh yeah. We’ve got a huge betting pool going down at work right now. I’ve got 50 lien on the line.”

At Blake’s suddenly stricken look Ilia held up both hands in a surrender gesture. “I’m just kidding! I haven’t told anyone! I promise!”

Blake blew out a breath and put her head in her hands. After a pause, she heard Ilia’s footsteps moving closer, then a gentle hand on her forearm. “I’m sorry, that was a bad joke.”

Blake shook her head. “No no. It’s fine. I just… I don’t know. I don’t want… him… to hear about it.”

Ilia squeezed her forearm. “Yeah. I get it.”

Blake raised her head and looked Ilia in the eye. She gave a shaky smile. “I’m okay.”

Ilia patted her arm and rose, taking Blake’s empty tea cup with her. “I’m heading to the grocery store later to pick up a few things, do you want anything?” Blake hummed a negative and picked at a scab on her knee.

Later that night, with her stomach full of Ilia’s spaghetti and tucked in her blankets on the couch, Blake lay awake. Watching the shadows grow and warp with the occasional light from a passing car. Her hand crept down under her shirt to touch the skin on her lower belly. She felt a sudden swell of fierce protectiveness, the same feeling that drove her to flee from that house and from her child’s father in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on her back.

No one is ever going to hurt you, Blake thought, trying to push her thoughts directly down to that little barely noticeable bump.

I promise.

Chapter Text

Sunday dawned cold and dreary. The sky hidden behind thick gray clouds like a soft blanket and coating the city in a misty haze. The kind of mist that chills down to the bones and lingers long after retreating indoors. Blake stood by the window, a quilt wrapped around her shoulders as she watched Ilia’s distinctive red truck disappear down the street. She sighed and squeezed her tea cup tighter, willing the warmth to sink into her skin.

She took a sip and glanced down at her brand new scroll on the counter top. She had been keeping it close all morning, anxiety making her stomach uneasy.

What if they don’t call? What if you don’t get the job? You’ll just disappoint everyone again…

Blake frowned and moved away from the window, taking her scroll with her into the living room and sitting down on the couch. She switched on the tv to a random channel to try and calm her racing thoughts.

Unwittingly, her eyes strayed to the plain brown paper bag sitting innocently on the floor beside the coffee table. Blake’s eyes flickered between it and whatever mindless talk show was playing on the screen. She pulled in a slow breath and leaned down to pull the bag towards her, the paper crinkling under her hands. She reached in and pulled out the glossy brand new book and set it down carefully in her lap like it might spring to life at any moment and bite her.

What To Expect When You’re Expecting

The book had been a well-intended gift from Ilia a few days after Blake had first moved in, but Blake had yet to muster up the courage to actually look at it. Or even acknowledge it.

Because that would mean this was actually happening.

Her grip tightened on the book and she blew out a breath, having not realized that she was holding it in.

A sudden, loud ringing sound pierced through the air, shattering the tension. Blake jumped and let out a yelp, dropping the book on the floor with a thud.

Her hands automatically started to jerk up toward her face, her heart pounding a million miles a second. But reality quickly returned and Blake dropped her hands into her lap, shaking.

Her scroll vibrated on the couch cushion beside her, an unknown number flashing across the screen. The obnoxious ringtone grated on Blake’s ears and she grimaced as she picked it up. I’ve got to change that she thought as she clicked accept and held it up to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hello, Blake?”

Every nerve suddenly perked up as she sharply remembered why she was waiting by her scroll to begin with. “Yang?”

“Yup. How are you doing?”

“Good good, I’m just...” Blake glanced down at the book she’d dropped, now splayed out pages down on the floor. “Just relaxing.”

“Good good. Well I have good news! I talked things over with my partner and we want to give you a shot!”

“Really?!” Blake’s voice came out squeakier than intended. Yang laughed.

“Yes really. We’re closed today but we open in the evening tomorrow. Can you come in around 4? We can go over how everything works.”

“Sure! Sure, I can do that. Tomorrow at 4?”

“Yup. Make sure you wear comfy shoes alright?”

“Alright. I’ll see you then?”

“See you then!”

The line went dead, and Blake sat for a second simply absorbing what just happened. It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she felt lighter than she had in years. A sudden burst of joy had her pumping her fist in the air.

Maybe everything will be alright.

For the second time that week Blake found herself standing outside the bar, looking up at that lit up stylized rose above the door. Except the cold gray clouds had finally broken into a light rain, and she peered past the edge of her borrowed umbrella.

Ilia waved at her from her truck window. “Call me when your shift is done okay? Good luck!"

Blake waved back, smiling as she tried to hide her nerves. As she watched Ilia’s truck drive away the nerves got worse. She turned back to the door and took a deep breath. A glance down at her scroll showed the time as 4:05 PM. She squared her shoulders. And pulled the door handle.

It opened easily, with the same cheerful ding of the bell above the door frame. She pulled the door shut behind her and the sign reading closed swung on its hook.

“Hello?” Blake called out. The bar appeared totally empty. But the lights were on, and she could hear what sounded like muffled music coming from towards the back. She followed the sound and found a door with a small plaque reading ‘Kitchen’. Blake tentatively pushed the door open. “Hello?”

Standing with her back to the door was a young woman, dancing and singing loudly (and slightly off key) to the unfamiliar rock song blaring from the speakers on a nearby shelf. Blake could see that she had short dark hair that bounced as she moved to the music.

From where she was standing Blake could see that the girl had various vegetables strewn across the counter top and she was chopping and slicing with a speed that made Blake nervous.

“Hello?” Blake struggled to raise her voice above the music, but it looked like it was enough. The girl turned, startled, but her face broke into a wide grin when she saw Blake in the doorway. She bounded over to the speakers and turned off the music before turning back to Blake.

“Hi there! You must be Blake!” The girl peeled off a pair of gloves and took Blake’s hand in both of hers and shook it enthusiastically. “Yang told me all about you!”

The girl was still shaking Blake’s hand, and Blake was vaguely alarmed.

“I’m Ruby, Yang’s sister and co-owner of this fine establishment! Yang’s in the back! Come with me!”

All of this was said at a rapid-fire pace, and Blake nearly took a small step backwards. “Umm...”

Ruby grabbed her wrist and tugged her out of the kitchen, missing Blake’s flinch. Ruby pulled her out the room and across to another door, which Blake recognized as the same one leading to the back office where she had her interview. Ruby pounded her fist on the door and shouted - making Blake wince - “Yang! That pretty girl you won’t stop talking about is here!”

The door flew open and Yang stood in the doorway, cheeks flushed. “Th-thanks Ruby. I’ll take it from here.”

Ruby grinned, and Blake noticed it had a bit of a cheeky edge to it. She winked and bounced away back towards the kitchen and Blake turned to Yang with an eyebrow raised.

Yang rubbed the back of her neck, cheeks still flushed. “Um, sorry about that. I swear she’s not on anything, she’s just… like that.”

“That pretty girl?” said Blake, tilting her head.

Yang’s flush got worse and she looked away. “Well, I -”

“Yang.” Feeling oddly bold, Blake placed her hand on Yang’s forearm gently. “It’s fine. I’m teasing.”

Yang glanced down and her eyes widened.

Blake removed her hand and curled it into a fist. Yang looked back up at her and opened her mouth, but a sharp cough cut them off. Weiss stood in the office doorway, frowning suspiciously at them. “Well?”

Yang straightened and coughed. “Right.” She straightened her shoulders. “Come on, Blake. Let me show ya around.”

Blake felt her own cheeks warm, though she didn’t quite know why.

Chapter Text

“Okay so.”

Yang made a grand gesture around the room, spreading her arms out wide. “This is the main dining area.”

“We have the booths and the tables, which are numbered. The booths are one through six and the tables are seven through fifteen. Then the fireplace table. Pretty easy right?”

Yang pointed out each one as she went. “So you’re primarily going to be working the booths and the tables. People seat themselves, and some like to sit at the bar. You don’t have to worry about those, I’ll be taking their orders.”

Yang took Blake to a screen just inside the bar, with a cash drawer beneath it. “So this is where you’ll be putting in orders and running tabs. The bar has its own register on the other end, so this one is all yours.”

Yang quickly ran through the system, pointing out how it worked. Blake noted that it was very similar to the one she worked before back in school. She interjected with a question occasionally, but mostly stayed quiet.

“You already met Ruby and Weiss. Weiss mostly handles the books and our finances, but she’ll come out and help us cover the floor if we need her, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need help.”

Blake quirked an eyebrow. Yang gave her a bit of a sheepish smile and said, “I swear she’s great, just a bit prickly at first. I mean, she is dating my sister.”

“Really?”

“Yep. They’ve been dating for 4 years, believe it or not.” Yang shrugged, leaning on the bar. “She’ll grow on ya.”

“Ruby’s our cook and in charge of the kitchen, and all food orders you put in here will go straight to her.” Yang continued. “Ruby’s my business partner. We bought the space and started this place up after – after some personal hardship.” Yang’s smile faltered for a second then brightened back up, like a brief cloud passing in front of the sun. “I run the front of house and I’m technically your manager, so if you run into trouble you come straight to me. Our regulars are pretty chill, but we’ve had some trouble makers in the past.”

“Trouble makers?”

“Oh yeah. When we first opened this was kind of a rough area and some people thought they could push me and Rubes around.”

Yang crossed her arms, emphasizing the muscles in her shoulders and biceps. “I put a stop to that pretty fast. But some people still think they can come in here and mess around.”

Yang’s face turned serious. “So if someone is being a nuisance or if you ever feel uncomfortable, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Weiss or I can take over. This may be a business but in the end my top priority is the safety of my employees.”

But her serious face melted into a grin as she said “Plus I haven’t gotten to throw someone out on their ass in a while, and honestly I kinda miss it.”

Blake’s mouth went dry as her gaze traced the outline of Yang’s crossed arms and the way her tattoo rippled like the serpentine dragon was coming alive. She coughed and averted her eyes.

But not before Yang noticed, and her smile turned a bit smug.

“So. What size shirt do you wear?”

“Huh?” Blake’s gaze snapped to Yang.

“For your uniform?”

“Oh. Um, a small.” For now, a tiny voice in the back of her head unhelpfully interjected. One of Blake’s ears twitched, as if to shake off an irritating fly.

Yang waved for Blake to follow her into the small office, where she pulled down a tub from one of the shelves. “With or without sleeves?”

“Um..with?”

Yang muttered to herself as she flipped through the folded shirts, counting under her breath. “Aha! Here we go!”

Yang pulled the shirt out and presented it with a flourish. The shirt had short sleeves, plain black with the small rose logo on the left breast. She turned it, and the same logo was on the back along with the name of the bar in large print. “Ruby’s the one who designed it. Pretty cool right?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool.” It was, really. The design was elegant, but not too elegant that it was pretentious. “Where does the rose come from?”

“It’s our family name, Rose.” Yang handed over the shirt and closed the tub, the lid clicking into place. “On our mom’s side.”

“She must be proud of the two of you then.”

Yang paused, frozen in the act of placing the tub back in place on the shelf. Her gaze seemed to glaze over, staring at something in the distance.

“Yang?”

Yang seemed to shake herself, blinking rapidly. “Yeah. I think she would be.” she said quietly.

“Oh. Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean -”

Yang slid the tub in place with a grunt and waved off Blake’s apology. “It’s okay. It’s been a long time.”

She brushed the dust off her hands casually. “You can get changed in here if you like. Or we’ve got a bathroom if you’d prefer..?”

“No no, in here is fine.”

Yang shrugged and gave her a small smile. Blake thought it looked a bit forced. “Alright. Come on out out when you’re ready.”

Blake opened her mouth, maybe to apologize again or say something, but Yang swept out of the room before she could.

Now standing in the relative quiet of the office with only the faint whir of the ancient computer monitor on the desk, Blake had to fight the urge to kick the desk in frustration. Stupid, stupid….

Yang took a deep breath as she washed her hands in the small bar sink. She hadn’t thought about Summer in a while and wasn’t expecting the flood of memories. That horrible night when the officer knocked on their door, their father shutting down and drinking his pain away, holding Ruby through her nightmares…

I probably scared Blake when I froze like that, she thought, scrubbing her wrists extra thoroughly to get a smudge of grime from the office shelves off her skin. I’ll apologize when she comes out-

“You’re shameless.”

Yang didn’t look up at Weiss’s voice, continuing to scrub her palms. “I think we need to clean the office, those shelves are getting really gross.”

“Don’t deflect, Yang. I saw your little gun show.”

Yang turned the faucet off and toweled her hands dry. “Dunno what you’re talking about.”

She looked up to see Weiss at the register, counting out the starting amount of lien.

Weiss snorted. “So you’re telling me that you weren’t just flexing for Blake just now, bragging about throwing patrons out on their ass?”

“Aw, come on Weiss. A girl likes a little appreciation every now and then. I worked hard for these arms!”

Weiss looked up from counting, unimpressed.

Yang sighed, and shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, I know. No sleeping with the staff.”

Weiss frowned, her brow furrowing. She closed the register firmly. “Yang, I’m just telling you to be careful. I don’t need to remind you what happened with Neo...”

Yang stiffened and turned away from Weiss, turning her attention to the numerous bottles of liquor on the back shelves with a critical eye. “No. You don’t.”

Weiss went quiet behind her. Yang reached up and picked a bottle at random, pulling a cloth out of her pocket and wiping away imaginary dust.

“Yang.”

She felt Weiss’s cool hand place gently on her shoulder. “I’m just worried. I don’t want to see you go through that again.”

Yang shrugged her hand off and replaced the bottle, turning it so its label was facing out. She turned to Weiss’s concerned expression. “Yeah, I know. But I promise, it’s fine. I’m being careful.”

Weiss stared, the blue of her eyes making Yang feel like she was under an x-ray. Then Weiss appeared to find what she was looking for and she nodded, taking her hand off Yang’s shoulder. “Okay.”

Yang smiled cheekily. “You know, Weiss? It’s on days like this that I actually understand a little of what my sister sees in you.”

Weiss threw a scowl over her shoulder as she walked away. “Don’t push it, Xiao Long.”

Yang chuckled as she heard the door to the office opening and she turned to see Blake adjusting the shirt a little around her waist. “Blake! Looks great, does it fit?”

“Yeah.” Blake mumbled, still tugging at the hem of her shirt, and Yang frowned. The shirt did look a little tight around the waist…

But Blake straightened up and nodded. “I’m ready.”

Yang smiled approvingly. She pulled out a few menus and lay them on the bar top. “Let’s get started.”

Yang slid a full beer glass across to the young woman on the other side of the bar with a wink. “Don’t know how you can drink this stuff, Nebula, but we keep it in stock just for you.”

The blue haired young woman smirked and scooped up the beer, draining half of it in one go. “Damn, Xiao Long doesn’t like a good ginger beer? Someone call the press!”

“Nah, always been a cider girl myself.” Yang picked up a few empty glasses, throwing nods and smiles at patrons.

For a Tuesday evening the bar had filled up quick, all the tables and a few of the booths occupied. The buzz of conversation and the music playing over the speakers filled the space with life and activity. Yang spotted Blake’s dark hair weaving in between tables, darting back and forth from the register. She’d been keeping a close eye on her, but it seemed that Blake didn’t need the help. She was quick and efficient and moved with a grace the bartender hadn’t expected. She smiled and chatted at patrons and some of the regulars had already passed along compliments about “the new girl.”

“So… the new girl.”

Yang looked at Nebula, quirking an eyebrow. “Yes?”

Nebula held up her hands. “Whoa, down girl. She’s cute, but not my type.”

“Don’t let Gwen hear you say that.”

Nebula threw a fond glance at the dark haired woman seated at a nearby table chatting with two other women. “Gwen’s my only, she knows that.”

Yang swiped down a section of bar with a damp cloth. “Careful, I won’t replace your beer if you drool in it.”

“Fuck off Xiao Long.”

Nebula flipped her off as she grabbed her beer and headed back towards her table. Yang laughed as she turned to the next patron. “Hey there, what can I get ya?”

The next hour passed by much the same. The crowd faded a bit but there was still plenty of people to keep busy. Food flowed from the kitchen and empty plates came back. At one point Blake stood at the register counting change and Yang set a glass of water on the counter beside her. Blake looked at it and blinked.

“Drink it. You need to stay hydrated.” Blake gave her a grateful smile and drank the water down in a few gulps.

“How’re ya doing?”

Blake drained her water and breathed. “I’m doing good. People have been...nice.”

Yang nodded as she took the glass back. “Yeah, our Tuesday crowd is great.”

A sound suspiciously like the front door being kicked in rang out, making a few heads in the bar turn at the noise. Yang sighed. “Speaking of...excuse me for a moment. Keep it up!”

She left Blake at the register looking confused and marched toward the far end of her bar. “Nora!”

Nora Valkyrie bounced up to the bar, the door still swinging behind her. “Yang!! Guess what?”

“You’re finally going to stop kicking my door open?” Yang leaned over to the side and glared at her swinging door.

Nora glanced over her shoulder, a bit sheepish. “Oh, uh right. But no it’s not that!”

Yang crossed her arms. “Well what is it?”

Nora bounced up and down rapidly, biting her lip. But before she could speak, a slender dark haired man entered through the door much more serenely. Ren spoke in his usual calm voice, “Nora, you promised.”

Nora pouted. “But Reeeen...”

Yang narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Okay… are Jaune and Pyr gonna join you guys tonight?”

“Yeah, Jaune’s just outside helping Pyrrha out of the car.” said Ren, nodding toward the front door. “They’re really the ones with the news.”

Nora continued to bounce so hard she was almost vibrating.

“Oh? News?” But before Yang could start interrogating her two friends the door dinged open again, and Jaune swept in, stepping aside to hold the door open. Pyrrha entered behind him, skillfully pumping the wheels of her chair to maneuver through the tight space.

“So.” Yang leaned against the bar and tilted her head at the couples. “Nora and Ren here tell me you guys have been keeping secrets?” She grinned playfully.

Pyrrha glanced shyly up at Jaune, who rubbed the back of his neck. She turned to Yang with a huge grin and held up her left hand, a ring sparkling on her finger.

Yang gasped. “No. Way.”

Without even bothering to open the short door on the side of the bar Yang vaulted over it and grabbed Pyrrha’s hand for a closer inspection. “NO. WAY.”

“Yes!” Pyrrha said excitedly. “Yesterday!”

Yang released her hand and dramatically clapped a hand over her heart. “Oh my lady! Another hand has stolen you away from me! But I promise my love, my heart will always beat for you!”

Pyrrha giggled and fluttered her eyelashes. “Oh my dearest knight, how fate has torn us apart!”

Yang fell to her knees beside Pyrrha’s wheelchair and presented a (clean) white cloth from her pocket. “My lady, please take this favor so you may always have my heart with you!”

Pyrrha sighed deeply and dramatically slumped in her chair. “Alas, my love, I cannot. For my hand belongs to another.”

Nora snickered at their display and Jaune rolled his eyes fondly. “Are you guys done?”

Before Jaune could see it coming Yang lunged, grabbing him in a headlock and rubbing the top of his head viciously with her fist. “You sly dog! About damn time you put a ring on it!”

Jaune sputtered and tried to wiggle out, but Yang held him tight, laughing. Pyrrha rubbed the tears from her eyes as she giggled. “Yang, please let my fiance breath. I kind of need him alive?”

Yang released her grip on Jaune who rubbed his neck and coughed. Yang laughed. “Alright you guys, your booth is waiting for ya. You getting your usual round?”

Jaune began to reach for his wallet, but Yang shook her head. “Nope, drinks are on me tonight. You’re celebrating! Who’s DD-ing?”

Ren raised his hand. Yang nodded in acknowledgment. “Alright, Blake’ll be right with you guys.”

“Ooh, Blake? You finally hired someone?” Nora bounced in place on her heels.

“Yep.” Yang winked. “And it’s her first night, so be nice.”

“Oh, Yang, I always am.” Nora skipped off toward their usual booth with Ren close on her heels. Jaune took hold of the low handles of Pyrrha’s wheelchair and began to follow them. But not before Pyrrha twisted slightly in her seat and conspicuously blew a kiss at Yang, accompanied with a small wave. Yang pretended to catch it and tuck it into the pocket of her jeans and gave an exaggerated wink back.

Chapter Text

Blake turned the key to the front door, feeling it click to locked position. She breathed out slowly. The night had proven to be more taxing than she had first assumed. Her feet were throbbing and the twinge in her lower back refused to go away regardless of how she stretched.

But it was still a good feeling. Getting up and moving instead of doing what she would have normally been doing on a weeknight. Sitting around and fixing dinner for when Ilia got back from her shifts at the store.

Glassware clinked behind her, and she turned away from the door to see Yang washing glasses at the bar, chatting excitedly with her sister about their friend’s engagement.

Honestly the rowdy group had proved to be her favorite table of the night. The shorter redhead (Nora?) playfully tried to challenge Blake to an arm wrestling match every time she stopped by their table, stating something about “newbie initiation” while her friends shook their heads in amusement behind her. Their joyful energy was infectious and Blake even found herself playing along with whatever strange game that Yang and the other redhead had going on, dutifully carrying notes between the two “star crossed lovers”. It was all good fun, but Blake had to shake a mildly unpleasant feeling a few times whenever she brought a note back to the bartender and Yang would look past her and exaggerate a wink at the other girl.

Regardless of her weird feelings about her “flirting” with Yang, Blake found that she rather liked Pyrrha. She was friendly, asking Blake about where she was from and her hobbies, even showing Blake her engagement ring when asked. Her fiance Jaune was polite, if a little awkward. Ren didn’t say much, but Blake recognized a kindred spirit in his quiet calmness. Nora was his total opposite, and Blake had to gently discourage her from building a small pyramid out of empty shot glasses not only once but twice.

When they finally closed their tab for the night, Blake found herself with several new scroll numbers scribbled on a napkin and stuffed in her pocket, with a promise to “go out and hang” sometime in the near future.

The time on her watch showed close to 2am when the last patron finally stumbled out and left in a taxi. Blake yawned and stretched out the soreness of her joints.

“Tired?” called Yang from the bar. Ruby bounced back towards the kitchen humming and carrying a few stray plates.

“Yeah.” Blake hopped up on a bar stool and slid one of her shoes off to rub her sock covered foot. “Are things always that busy?”

“Nah, not usually.” Yang stacked a few more clean glasses in their places and turned away from Blake to start shuffling the tall bottles around and swap some of the empty ones. “Not for a Tuesday. I think there’s a game tonight or something, more people in town.”

Yang turned with an almost pensive look as she regarded the waitress. “You want something to drink? Normally I don’t let staff drink on the clock, but you earned it. Gotta be light though, we still got some work to do before the shift is officially over.”

“No, thank you. Uhh… alcohol doesn’t really agree with my stomach.” Blake laughed in a way she hoped sounded casual.

But Yang nodded, and gave her a small smile. “I can respect that.”

“Okay so.” Yang clapped her hands together in emphasis. “For closeouts we all have our own tasks. Weiss is closing out the books, Ruby’s cleaning the kitchen and taking stock, so it’s up to you and me to make the outer dining area spic and span for opening tomorrow.”

Yang slid out from behind the bar, headed toward the office. “That means we gotta sweep, take out the trash, wipe down the tables, dust, all of that.”

She cracked open the door and reached inside, snatching something in a quick motion before closing the door again. In her hand she held a small handheld plastic caddy with an assortment of cleaning products, spray bottles and dust rags. She gave Blake a bit of a sheepish look. “Weiss goes all ice queen on ya if you interrupt her counting too much. The cleaning stuff is kept on a shelf right inside the door, so you can just grab it real quick.”

She grabbed a broom leaning against the wall just outside the door and held both out. “So which one do you wanna do?”

“Uh, I’ll sweep.”

They got to work, Blake starting by the fireplace and Yang heading back towards the bar. Blake had just started sweeping up various bits of condiment packets and napkins from underneath the booth tables when the speakers above blasted out the beginning notes of an unfamiliar song, volume cranked up way louder than it had been during open hours. Blake looked up at Yang by the music player, startled.

Yang looked back at her and shrugged. “What? You thought this was going to be boring?” She had to almost shout over the music to be heard.

Yang started to sing along as the lyrics began. “These days, I put up a good front but I’m runnin’ out of money like I’m runnin’ out of love...”

The song was unfamiliar, but Yang’s energy was infectious, and Blake found herself tapping her foot along to the beat as she swept.

“Throw my hands in the air then I tell it like it is, sayin’ nah nah nah nah...” Yang swayed her hips back and forth as she swept her wet cloth over a booth table. “And it really ain’t fair but it is what it is...”

As the bartender shimmied past Blake she took her hand and gently spun Blake in a twirl, who couldn’t help the bubbling laughter that rose up from somewhere deep inside, somewhere that hadn’t had a reason to laugh in a long time.

They continued the various cleaning tasks, dancing along to what Yang referred to as her “making boring shit fun” playlist. With each song Blake felt her tired soul starting to lighten as Yang’s dance moves got sillier and sillier, culminating in Yang stealing Blake's broom for a moment to air guitar with it. Eventually a song came on that Blake actually recognized from her school days and she sang along, earning herself a delighted look from Yang before she enthusiastically joined in.

And for the first time in a long time, Blake forgot about the shadows that had been haunting her for so long. Shadows chased away by a fun beat and obnoxious dance moves.

Chapter Text

Over the next two weeks things settled into a routine. Blake gleefully spent her first paycheck on a grocery trip, stocking Ilia’s shelves full to bursting as well as several pairs of new pants (trying not to think about why she needed a stretchier waistband). Working nights left her exhausted, but the work felt good, like she was finally contributing to something.

Blake found herself growing comfortable at the bar. She started to recognize more and more regulars (including one particular feisty old woman who always came in right at opening and sat at the same table playing solitaire for hours, ordering cups of coffee and a bowl of the soup-of-the-day and insisting on reading Blake’s palm every time).

Her new coworkers proved to be an eclectic bunch. Ruby’s enthusiasm was almost infectious, and one evening before opening she invited Blake into the kitchen for a quick cooking lesson (“That’s quite a privilege.” Yang had said with a wink. “She must like you. Ruby’s pretty protective of her kitchen.”). Blake noticed that even Weiss seemed to be a little less cold, even offering a small smile when she handed Blake her tips for the evening.

But Yang… Yang was different.

She was perfectly friendly, but one night at the bar Blake suddenly felt butterflies erupt in her stomach when Yang laughed out loud at a sarcastic quip Blake had made. Yang snorted when she laughed and Blake decided it was the best sound in the world. Yang looked at her like she was important, like what she had to say mattered. It was a feeling that Blake had long forgotten – being listened too.

There was definitely a physical attraction there too, in no small amount. Blake knew that Yang was an attractive woman, and more than once she’d spotted a group of girls giggling and leaning a little too far over on the bar to get the bartender’s attention and felt the burn of what she now knew was jealousy in her gut.

One evening during a rush Yang had to slide past Blake in the tight space behind the bar when she was at the register and Blake caught a whiff of her light perfume. She had to take a moment in the office to breath after that.

Of course she knew exactly what was going on. You’re attracted to her and your hormones are all over the place. Get a grip. She’d tried to tell herself. Besides, why would she even want you? You’re a mess.

But it would take more than a pep talk while almost hyperventilating in a small messy office to get rid of the squirming in her stomach or the flush to her cheeks every time Yang said her name.

But despite Blake’s growing crush on her boss, things almost started to feel normal.

Almost.

The date on the calendar circled in red marker loomed closer and closer, like a storm cloud growing on the horizon during a sunny day. The brown paper bag still sat undisturbed where she’d left it.

It didn’t help either when one of the more unpleasant symptoms of her condition finally reared its ugly head.

“Just call in.” Blake heard Ilia say, her concerned voice muffled like she was underwater. “You can’t work like this.”

Blake tried to say she was fine, but she only groaned from her place kneeling beside the toilet. The cool porcelain felt nice on her overheated skin.

“I’m fine. It’s just a little nausea, is all.” Blake rasped, her throat sore from exertion. Almost to prove her wrong her stomach lurched again and Blake gagged over the toilet bowl, nothing left to come up.

“Blake...” Ilia said in that ‘I know you’re going to be stubborn about this but I’m going to try and convince you anyway’ tone.

“I’ll have some water and eat a few crackers, it’ll pass.” Blake spit into the toilet and shakily got to her feet to rinse out her mouth at the sink. Ilia still looked firmly unconvinced, but she eventually agreed to drop Blake off at the bar for her shift – with a few compromises.

And after only an hour into her shift Blake was already regretting her stubbornness.

“Hey, are you feeling alright?” Yang nudged her with an elbow. “You look a little pale...”

Blake turned her face away, letting her dark hair fall over her shoulder to hide her face. “I’m fine, just ate something that didn’t agree with me yesterday.”

“...alright. But if you if you need to sit down or something...”

“No, no. I’ll be alright. Moving around is helping.”

Moving around was not, in fact, helping.

Nursing a glass of water and nibbling on some light crackers did help, but the unsettled, queasy feeling lingered throughout her shift. She could feel Yang’s gaze on her all night, probably watching to make sure she didn’t puke on a patron or on the food. But Blake somehow managed to make it through to the end of the night without incident.

Blake swept a damp rag over a table, brushing off a few bread crumbs onto the floor to be swept up by Yang’s broom. The chemical smell of the disinfectant made the nausea come roaring back, making her lean on the table breathing heavily through her mouth.

“Hey, whoa, I’m serious. You don’t look good at all.”

Blake looked up at Yang, and the bartender suddenly seemed to realize what she said because her face paled a bit. “I-I mean you always look good, just not now – dammit, I meant to say you still look good, you just don’t look good good, like, well -”

“Yang.” Blake cut off her rambling, her tone a bit sharper than she intended. “I keep telling you, I’m fine. Let’s just finish up.”

Yang made a motion like she was zipping her mouth shut and tossed the ‘key’ over her shoulder.

The nausea faded and Blake got back to wiping down the tables. True to her word Yang stayed quiet, with only the rasp of the broom to fill the silence. But it only lasted a few minutes before Yang cleared her throat.

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing that tomorrow’s a Sunday right?”

Yang’s words were casual, but they hit Blake like a punch in the stomach. Sunday.

The last Sunday of the month.

That red circled date on the calendar suddenly thrust to the front of her mind, and the nausea finally rolled up and over.

Blake dropped the damp rag and clamped her hand over her mouth. She bolted for the small single stall bathroom by the kitchen not pausing at Yang’s alarmed calling of her name.

She barely managed to wrench back the lid to the toilet before she vomited the crackers and water into the bowl.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she crumpled to her knees holding the edge of the bowl in a death grip.

A gentle pressure on her shoulder, rubbing small circles, made her jump. Cool fingers swept her sweaty hair back from her neck. Her stomach cramped again and she sobbed, pressing her forehead to the cold porcelain.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.” The gentleness in Yang’s voice made the tears well up even more. Blake turned her head to the side to see Yang kneeling on the bathroom floor beside her. The sincere concern in her eyes, bare to the world and so honest, made the dam in Blake’s heart holding back so many emotions crumble and she flung her arms around Yang’s neck, sobbing into her shoulder.

She barely felt Yang tense in her arms. Slowly, uncertainly, Yang brought her arms up to hug Blake back.

She didn’t even hear Ruby’s voice timidly ask if she was okay from the doorway, or see the worry on Weiss’s face as she set a box of tissues down beside them. All she could do was cling tightly to Yang and cry, tears from what felt like years of buildup soaking the fabric of Yang’s shirt.

Each breath felt like she was breathing through a straw and her hearing sounded muffled, like cotton balls were stuffed in her ears. Yang gently detangled their arms and put both hands on Blake’s shoulders.

“Look at me Blake.”

Blake raised her bloodshot eyes to meet Yang’s, where she found her lilac eyes boring into hers like Yang was trying to see into her soul.

“Just breathe with me, okay? In through your nose… and out through your mouth...” Yang leaned forward to touch Blake’s forehead with her own. “Just focus on my breathing. I know you can do it...”

With foreheads pressed together like this Blake’s entire vision was taken up by Yang’s eyes, so close she could see the multiple shades of purple, from deep amethyst to pale lilac.

Yang took in a deep slow breath through her nose and Blake struggled to copy it. She blew out the breath once, inhale, twice…

Blake found as she breathed with Yang each breath got easier, and the tears slowed to a stop. Until she was finally matching Yang breath for breath, and she gave Blake a heartbreakingly beautiful smile.

“There you are. Does that feel better?”

Blake gave a trembling nod. The panic attack left her feeling weak and shaky, but her vision didn’t feel like she was trying to read a book from the other side of a train tunnel anymore.

“Blake?”

Blake looked up at Yang’s tone. Her eyebrows were knitted together, and she hesitantly reached out, slowly, giving Blake every chance to pull away. When Blake didn’t, Yang took her hand in a soft hold.

“You know, if you need someone to talk to, about anything, I’ve been told I’m a good listener.” Yang chuckled softly.

Maybe it was the moment they had just shared, or maybe it was Yang’s open and honest expression. Or maybe even the cathartic release of so many pent up emotions that only a good long crying session can do, but Blake felt a sudden strong urge to spill everything to this woman, to not hold anything back. So she didn’t.

“I’m pregnant.”

Chapter Text

“I’m pregnant.”

Yang blinked.

And blinked again.

That was not was she was expecting Blake to say.

Blake stared at her, slowly pulling her hand out of Yang’s lose grasp to twist nervously in her lap.

Yang could almost see her shrinking, like a wilting flower and dread filled her throat. The sight was absolutely heartbreaking.

Yang forcefully swallowed (her tongue feeling five times its size) and managed a reassuring smile. “Uh, congratulations? I think? I guess this isn’t the best time for congrats though...”

She nodded in the vague direction of the toilet bowl, and Blake barked a laugh, though it resembled a sob more than anything.

Yang slowly reached out her hand, watching Blake’s face for any kind of negative reaction. When Blake gave her a small nod, Yang began to rub small circles on her shoulder. “Are you feeling better? Do you need some water? Or juice?”

Yang hardly recognized her own soft tone, but Blake just looked so fragile – so different from the girl she’d gotten to know – like a single harsh word would cause her to shatter into a million pieces.

Blake looked back down at her lap and wiped the tears from one of her eyes with the heel of her palm. She sniffled, and gave a small nod.

“Okay.” Yang took her hand again and pulled Blake to her feet, reaching without looking to flush the toilet.

They made their way to the bar, where Blake slid up onto a bar stool and Yang set a small glass of amber liquid in front of her.

Blake raised an eyebrow and looked at Yang through still-bloodshot eyes.

Yang chuckled. “Relax. It’s just apple juice.”

Blake sipped slowly from her juice as Yang darted around her finishing up their cleaning chores. Every time Blake tried to get up Yang would wave her off.

(“You just puked your guts out. You need to sit and re-hydrate!”)

Surprisingly Blake didn’t protest too much, she just stared into her juice with a blank expression. Eventually Yang was finishing up with the last few dirty glasses behind the bar, when Blake finally spoke in a tired voice.

“Are you going to fire me?”

Yang paused in the middle of wiping the base of a pint glass. She turned to Blake and frowned. “Why would I fire you?” she said gently.

“Because I didn’t tell you? Because I could be a liability? Isn’t that what everyone says?” Blake’s tone sounded flat, monotone, like she was already resigned to it.

Yang set down the pint glass with a little more force than she intended. “Anyone who fires somebody for being pregnant is an asshole.”

Yang leaned her elbows on the bar top, angling down to look Blake in the eye. “While I do wish you could have told me earlier, I’m not going to fire you for this. You’re amazing, and frankly an asset to this place. I’d be an idiot to let you go for something so minor!”

Blake blinked, and her mouth hung open slightly. “You… think I’m amazing?”

Yang felt her cheeks suddenly burning and turned sharply back towards the rack of glasses. “Well, yeah. All the regulars love you, and you’ve been a great help here.”

“Oh.”

Yang glanced over her shoulder at the note of disappointment in Blake’s voice. She was staring into her glass again, shoulders hunched.

Shit. Yang gave herself a mental kick in the ass. “Wait, no, I didn’t mean-”

Yang raked her hand through her bangs and blew out a breath. She sighed, and propped her elbows back up on the bar’s edge. “Blake?”

Blake looked up at Yang through her eyelashes, and Yang felt her stomach swoop at the sight.

“I’ve only known you for a few short weeks, but I can see that you are an incredible young woman. You’re kind, and thoughtful, and strong. And..” here Yang swallowed, and lowered her voice to an almost whisper. “...and I can tell that someone has made you not believe all those things, made you see yourself as someone who doesn’t deserve those words.”

Blake’s ears flattened to her head, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Yang smiled, small and sad.

Blake pressed her face into her hands and her shoulders shook in a sob. “I… I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“What do you want to do?” Yang kept her voice soft. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Ruby peaking out of the kitchen door and mouth is she okay? Weiss’s pale hair appearing in the space above Ruby’s head. Yang shook her head minutely. Ruby’s expression turned sad, then thoughtful and she ducked back into the kitchen. Weiss lingered in the doorway, watching Blake. Yang could almost see the wheels turning in her head.

“I… I want...” Blake’s voice started out quiet, shaky. She sniffled again. Yang silently slid a napkin across the bar top and Blake took it with a grateful look.

“I want… to not be afraid anymore. I want… to make a choice for me this time. To bring something… good into this world. He just took so much from me...”

Yang had a pretty good idea of who he was, and had to look away for a moment to force down her anger. The thought of someone hurting Blake…

“So. I am going to make this decision for me. And no one else. I… want this baby. They didn’t ask for their father to be a -” Blake cut herself off, pressing her fist against her closed mouth and squeezing her eyes shut.

Yang glanced down at the wood grain of the bar top, swallowing back against the lump in her throat.

“Blake?”

Ruby’s hesitant voice broke the moment, and they both looked over to see her standing a small distance away, cradling a steaming bowl in her hands.

Ruby suddenly looked nervous with two sets of eyes on her at once, but she cleared her throat. “Blake, I happened to have some chicken noodle soup left over from today. I was going to throw it out, but I thought it could go to better use.”

Ruby hopped up on a stool next to Blake and set the bowl down in front of her. Yang caught a whiff of Summer’s familiar recipe and couldn’t help but smile.

Ruby twisted her apron in her hands. “It’s not much, but it’s homemade. And great for an upset stomach! Just ask Yang! She practically LIVED off this stuff when she had that bad bought of stomach flu.”

Yang gave a semi-playful scowl and batted in Ruby’s direction with her washcloth. “You swore you’d never talk about that again!”

Ruby easily dodged the half-hearted swat with a cheeky grin, and leaned in towards Blake. “She turns into the BIGGEST baby when she’s sick...” Ruby stage whispered into Blake’s ear.

Yang made as if to swipe at her again and Ruby hopped off the stool with a cackle.

Blake half-sobbed half-laughed at the sisters little display. She picked up the spoon and wiped another tear from her eye with her other hand. “I… thanks, Ruby.”

Ruby’s expression softened. “You’re welcome, Blake.”

Blake took a spoonful of soup and Yang watched her eyes widen. Blake took a much bigger second spoonful and Yang grinned. “It’s good right?”

“Yeah, it’s really good. Ruby, you made this?”

Ruby nodded, a note of pride in her voice. “Yup. It’s our mom’s recipe, with my own slight adjustments. Just about perfect for an upset stomach or a cold day.”

Blake eagerly agreed and slurped her soup noisily. She flushed and put her spoon back down at the sight of Yang’s gaze on her. Blake cleared her throat. “Sorry...”

Ruby laughed. “Don’t be! It’s a compliment! That’s nothing compared to Yang’s table manners!”

This time Yang’s washcloth did make contact with the back of Ruby’s head. “Hey!” she exclaimed.

“Don’t you have chores to finish?” Yang grumbled.

Ruby stuck her tongue out. “You’re no fun!”

But she hopped off the bar stool and made her way back to the kitchen, grumbling to herself.

Blake turned back to her soup, sipping much slower this time.

A silence fell between them, but it wasn’t awkward or tense. Blake sipped her soup and Yang hummed a tune under her breath as she stacked clean glasses and gave the bar top one last wipe down. Tomorrow was Sunday, but that didn’t mean chores could be neglected.

“So...” Yang spoke casually. “How do you feel? Better?”

Blake handed over the empty bowl to be washed and smiled at Yang. This one was still small, but not nearly as shaky.

“Better. I’ve got my first appointment tomorrow at the OB/GYN, and I’m still pretty nervous...”

Yang cleared her throat as she accepted the bowl and gave it a quick hand wash in the bar sink, instead of sending it to the kitchen to clog up the dishwasher. “Do you… are you...”

Blake tilted her head, ears perking up and eyes almost sparkling in the light, and Yang abruptly lost her train of thought.

“Do I…?” Blake prompted, and Yang had to give herself a mental shake.

“Doyouwantsomeonetogowithyou?” She blurted out. Shit.

Blake blinked. “I’m… sorry?”

“Do you want someone to go with you?” Yang coughed and looked away. “You know? For moral support? Because… you know… we’re closed tomorrow and… I’m free.”

Blake opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked down at her lap, brow furrowed.

“It’s okay if you don’t!” Yang felt panic that she’d overstepped somehow. “I’ll totally understand if you want to do this on your own!”

Blake blinked again, as if confused. “You would… do that? For me?”

“Well, yeah.” Yang shrugged and hoped to the gods Blake somehow didn’t notice how red her cheeks were. “I’m your friend. That’s what friends do, right?”

“Friends… right.” Blake looked back down at her lap. “I think… I think I’d like that. For you to come, I mean.”

“Alright.” Yang felt a genuine smile cross her face. “It’s a date!”

Blake’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline, and Yang held her hands up in the air. “Sorry, sorry, that was a bad joke.”

Blake gave a watery chuckle, and Yang felt her stomach do that awfully familiar swoop at the sound.

Oh she was in deep trouble.

Chapter Text

Blake scuffed her sneaker on the sidewalk, watching a small pebble roll away into the street. Resisting the impulse to check her watch. A glance up and down the street in front of Ilia’s apartment complex, but it remained empty.

She forced down the anxiety building in her stomach. She said she’d be here.

She thought back to the conversation with Ilia last night. Her friend had given her another talking to about going in for her shift while she was so sick, but she’d been surprisingly pleased when Blake told her about her agreement with Yang.

“I’m just glad someone’s going with you,” she’d grumbled while cranking up the heat in her ancient truck. “I know how stubborn you can be.”

Blake opened her mouth to object to that statement but was interrupted by another bout of nausea that had her gagging into the plastic bag Ilia had thrust into her hands as soon as Blake hopped in the passenger seat (“If you puke in my baby I’m kicking you out the door,” she’d said with a smile. Blake hadn’t been entirely sure if she was joking or not).

“And who knows. She is pretty cute...” Ilia had winked. Blake gaped at her like a fish over her plastic bag.

“What? All I’m saying is the bartender at Summer’s Place is well known around certain circles for being easy on the eyes. But you’ve probably noticed already...” Ilia wiggled her eyebrows (which happened to be flashing bright yellow).

Blake flushed and tried to hide her face behind her hair. “She’s not… bad looking I guess.”

Ilia threw her head back and cackled. “I’ve had a drink or two at that bar, that’s an understatement.”

Blake groaned into her plastic bag. “I’m not talking to you anymore.”

“Well, if you’re not going to hop on that I am. You got her number right?”

Blake jerked her head out of her sick bag to glare daggers at Ilia who just grinned back at her.

Ilia broke out into laughter as she turned away, pulling into her designated parking spot. “You – wheeze – you should see your face!”

Blake hopped out of the truck and slammed the door. “You’re terrible.”

“Aw, but you still like me!”

Thankfully the nausea had faded by the morning and Blake felt almost normal again. Ilia had easily gotten back into Blake’s good graces by promising more spaghetti, but her words still rang in both sets of Blake’s ears. Yang was attractive, that was undeniable. But Blake knew that she was nowhere near ready for any kind of relationship, so soon after… all that had happened. Blake still found herself looking over her shoulder when out by herself, anxious that she’d catch a glimpse of scarlet hair and a familiar sneer.

Bruises and broken bones long healed ached with a phantom pain during moments like this.

A faint rumble, like distant thunder, made her ears perk up and draw her out of her thoughts. She glanced up the road just as an obnoxiously bright yellow motorcycle came cruising around the corner onto her street. Blake’s jaw dropped.

The motorcycle eased to a stop in front of her and the rider pulled their helmet off, grinning at her and shaking out long blonde hair. Blake came to a sudden realization that she’d never seen Yang out of her uniform before, and the difference was stark.

A worn brown leather jacket, ridiculously tight pants, tall boots, a loose white v-neck t-shirt, and shiny aviators like she’d walked right out of a Biker Chic magazine. Blake suddenly felt a little self conscious of her leggings and hoodie.

Yang flipped her hair and dismounted (Blake had to wrench her eyes away from how the muscles in her thighs moved beneath her sinfully tight pants) and strolled over to Blake, an easy roll to her hips.

She tilted her aviators and grinned brightly at Blake. “Hey there, lil’ lady. Need a ride?” she said in an exaggerated accent. She wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.

Blake couldn’t help a giggle at the sight. Yang winked and pulled off her aviators to tuck them into the v of her t shirt. “Sorry I’m a little late. Traffic was a nightmare.”

Blake glanced down at her watch. “Only by ten minutes. We should be fine.”

“Alright, let’s get going!” Yang gestured to her motorcycle. Blake blanched.

“Umm… I’ve never...”

“Oh!” Yang blinked and smiled a bit sheepishly. “Right. I shoulda asked.” She hurried over to the vehicle and opened a hatch at the back, pulling out a black and red helmet. “Okay, so riding a motorcycle’s super easy. Especially if you’re not driving.” She gave a cheeky grin that prompted Blake to smile back. “This is Ruby’s helmet. It should fit you, she’s got a big head.”

Yang handed over the helmet. “So you’ll sit behind me and hold on and just lean when I do, alright?”

Blake gulped down her nerves as Yang swung a leg back over the motorcycle, gesturing for her to do the same.

The motorcycle was a lot wider and taller up close than it had looked at first, and it took a few tries to swing her leg over. The seat clearly wasn’t meant for two, so she found herself pressed close to Yang’s back. She very tentatively put hands on her waist, barely touching. The leather of her jacket wasn’t enough to conceal how solid her core was. She was glad Yang wasn’t facing her so she couldn’t see how red Blake’s face had gotten. She got a whiff of Yang’s familiar perfume.

Yang kicked the motorcycle to life and it growled like it was alive beneath Blake. She jumped and wrapped both arms around Yang’s waist as a reflex. Yang patted her forearm and said (almost shouted over the rumble of the engine) “You’re okay! I’ve got you.”

And Blake believed her.

After she got over the initial nerves, riding a motorcycle was surprisingly… fun. Exhilarating even. Adam had always told her that motorcycles were death traps and anyone who owned one was irresponsible, but riding with Yang was a different experience. The helmet pressed down on her ears in an uncomfortable way, but even that wasn’t enough to take the excitement out of her first motorcycle ride. They zipped through the heart of the city with ease, weaving through traffic like it wasn’t there. Blake squealed a laugh when they turned a corner a little fast. Then another. Blake couldn’t see Yang’s expression but she swore she could feel a chuckle through her torso. The wind was a little too cold, but Yang was very warm. Blake told herself that was only reason she curled closer and tightened her hold on Yang’s waist.

She almost didn’t want the moment to end, but eventually they cruised to a stop in a quieter part of the city. Blake thought the clinic looked a lot taller than it did in the pictures.

She dismounted first and pulled her helmet off, flexing the minute muscles in her cat ears to stretch out the soreness from being compressed too long. Yang pulled hers off and gave a low whistle at the tall white building. “Wow. This the right place?”

“Uh-huh.” Blake’s eyes skittered over the sign above the glass doors. Her nerves had come back with a vengeance.

“Hey.”

Blake looked over at Yang.

“If you want to go in by yourself, it’s fine. I can just wait for ya out here -”

“No!”

Yang blinked. Blake swallowed back the lump in her throat. “I… I want you to come in.”

Yang’s eyes softened with something Blake couldn’t quite place.

“Okay.”

Yang’s solid presence at her back almost felt like it carried her through the doors into the warm waiting room. It was simple, pale beige walls and potted plants and various magazines boasting their tips on decorating nurseries strewn about on low tables and chairs.

“I’ll find us a seat.” Yang murmured. One of Blake’s pointed ears flicked in her direction, acknowledging her words.

Without Yang at her back Blake suddenly felt like she’d shrunk down several sizes. That or the reception desk in front of her had grown to gigantic proportions. She gulped and twisted the hem of her hoodie in her hands.

Blake shuffled up to the desk where a younger man with smooth horns spiraling over his ears sat typing on a sleek computer. He didn’t appear to notice her.

Blake cleared her throat.

He glanced up from his screen and perked up. He gave what was clearly a customer service smile. “Hello. What can I do for you today?”

“I’m, uh..” her voice squeaked out at a higher pitch than she meant it, so she coughed again. “I’m here to see Dr. Scarlatina?”

“Ah, you must be her two o’clock appointment.”

The clicking of the keyboard sounded too loud to Blake’s ears.

“Ms. Belladonna?”

“Yes.” Blake swallowed.

If the receptionist noticed her nervousness, he didn’t show it. “Alright looks like you’re a little early. Just go ahead and fill out some paperwork for us and I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.”

He handed her a clipboard with a short stack of papers. Blake caught a glimpse of the nametag clipped to his shirt. Mata.

“Thanks.” Blake mumbled as she took the offered clipboard. It felt heavy in her hands as she shuffled back towards Yang, now seated in a simple plastic chair flipping through a magazine. Blake sat down heavily in a matching chair beside her and skimmed through the papers.

“Huh.” Yang peered at the magazine in her hands. “Did you know people are putting, like, spinning wheels and junk in their kids rooms?”

“What?” Blake looked up from writing out her first, middle, and last names to squint at Yang.

Yang tilted the page she had open in her lap to show Blake the article, Cool Ways to Decorate Your Nursery With Antiques! accompanied by an artsy picture of a refurbished spinning wheel beside a pink and white crib.

“I… don’t know how I feel about that.”

Yang snorted. “Yeah me neither. Sounds like a dumb way to get your kid cursed by a fairy or something.”

Blake pressed her lips together in an attempt to hide her smile and back to her paperwork.

For a while the only sounds were the scratching of Blake’s pen against paper and the flipping of magazine pages. The paperwork was full of basic questions about Blake’s health history, her age, weight, height, preferred gender pronouns, etc. Filling out the information surprisingly didn’t take too long and Blake shuffled back to the desk to return the clipboard to Mata. But not long after she plopped back down in her chair beside Yang a new problem made itself known.

Yang didn’t take long to notice Blake’s squirming, twisting her hands together and crossing and uncrossing her legs.

“You okay?” Yang said, closing the magazine in her lap (the third one she’d gone through in 15 minutes).

“Yeah, I’m just...” Blake’s eyes flickered over almost longingly to a nondescript door on the other side of the room with a familiar logo.

“Oh.”

Blake did not have to look over at Yang to hear the embarrassment in her voice. “I’m sure you have time to go quickly before they call you in...”

“I can’t.” Blake squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her legs again. “They need a...um… full bladder to do the ultrasound correctly, or something. I drank three glasses of water before you picked me up.”

Yang sucked air through her teeth in sympathy. “Ooh, ouch. Anything I can do?”

Blake inhaled once. Twice. “Distract me.”

“How?”

“Just… tell me a story. Something about you.”

“About me, huh? Hmm...” Yang bent over the side of her seat to place the magazine back in its stack. “Let’s see… I’m 24, I got my tattoo when I was 16, I have a dog -”

“A dog?” Blake’s ears perked up.

“Yep. Technically he’s the family dog but… I’m totally his favorite.” Yang smiled and winked conspiratorially. “He’s like super old now and lives with my dad on Patch – that’s an island just off the mainland, maybe I’ll show you someday. It’s small but cute. Got a little town and everything.”

Blake listened to Yang ramble on about anything and everything for another ten minutes, telling all about the little island town of Patch and her childhood there.

The sound of Yang’s voice and the way she described things like the smell of her mom’s cooking and looking at tidepools with her sister almost swept Blake’s nerves away, like the way the autumn wind blew the leaves down the street outside. She couldn’t help but stare at the way Yang’s face lit up, her eyes shined and the freckles on her nose and cheeks crinkle when she laughed at a memory. She forgot about her full bladder or where they were.

Blake didn’t realize she was leaning toward Yang until the sound of her name made her jolt upright in her seat.

A woman in nurses scrubs stood in the doorway beside the reception desk glancing down at a clipboard. “Blake Belladonna?” she called again.

“Uh, that’s me.” Blake stood up on shaky legs and heard Yang’s chair creak as she stood as well. Blake turned to look back at her.

Yang looked unsure, rubbing the back of her neck. “I can wait out here if you want. The atrocious décor ideas can keep me company.” she chuckled nervously and gestured toward the uneven stack of magazines beside her. Blake swallowed against the solid lump in her throat. Without a word she held out her hand, palm up. Waiting.

Yang glanced down, eyebrows furrowing. She looked back up at Blake, searching.

Blake gave her a tiny nod. And relaxed at the feel of Yang’s warm palm slipping into her own.

Chapter Text

The ticking of the clock and the crinkle of thin paper sounded like thunder to Blake’s ears.

The walls of the small exam room were decorated with various posters, illustrating anatomy and different levels of fetal growth. Blake flicked her eyes from one poster to the other, feeling nausea starting to climb up in her throat. The walls felt like they were shrinking, her vision narrowing down to a tiny pinpoint…

“Hey.”

Blake whipped her head toward Yang, ears flattened to her head.

Yang smiled and gave Blake’s hand a squeeze (she had almost forgotten she was still gripping it tightly). “Everything’s gonna be fine. I’m right here with you.”

The sight of Yang’s bright smile gave Blake a feeling in her stomach that she didn’t recognize, but the pounding in her ears and the nausea in her stomach eased.

She could have basked in Yang’s smile forever, but a quiet knock at the door broke the spell. The door clicked open, and the first thing that Blake saw was a pair of long brown ears before being followed by a smiling woman in tan scrubs. “Ms. Belladonna?”

“Yes.” Blake’s voice came out just a little higher pitched than she intended. She coughed into her free hand.

“Hello! I’m Dr. Scarlatina.” The doctor entered the exam room and pulled the door shut behind her. The doctor had a faint accent that Blake couldn’t quite place. Something north Mistralian?

Dr. Scarlatina took a seat in a small rolling stool and held out her hand. “Would it be alright if I called you Blake?”

“I guess so.” The doctor had a warm, friendly aura, and Blake felt herself relaxing despite herself. Yang squeezed her hand again. Blake reached out and shook the doctor’s hand.

Dr. Scarlatina shook Yang’s hand as well and turned to softly smile at Blake. “Nervous?”

Blake swallowed a thick lump in her throat. Was she that obvious?

“There’s no shame in being nervous, especially if this is your first. Believe me, I’ve seen it all.” The doctor chuckled, pulling out a familiar clipboard. “It says here that this is your first pre-natal appointment?”

“Uh huh.” Blake pulled harder on the thread.

“Did you take an over-the-counter pregnancy test before this?”

“Yes.”

“More than one?”

“Four of them.”

If the doctor was surprised at the number, she didn’t show it. “And when was your last period?”

“Three months ago.” Blake swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.

“What symptoms have you been having? Nausea, fatigue, soreness in your hips and breasts?”

Blake could almost feel Yang looking at her and felt a flush to her cheeks. “Yes.”

The doctor hummed thoughtfully. “Well, those symptoms certainly line up with early pregnancy. We can give you a blood drawn test to be sure? Or if you’d rather we can get the ultrasound fired up and I can take a look?”

“Can we just get the ultrasound done?” Blake squirmed pointedly in her seat.

Dr. Scarlatina grimaced in sympathy. “Ah, yes of course. That is the worst part. Wait here, I’ll be back in about ten minutes.”

The doctor left them alone. Blake forced her hand to unclench in her lap. A gentle nudge on her shoulder made her glance up at Yang’s face, filled with concern. “Hey. How are you feeling?”

Blake swallowed heavily. “I guess… it hasn’t really felt real up until now.”

Yang squeezed the hand she held. “Yeah, I think I get it. I mean, I can’t say I’ve been in the same situation – not to say that your situation is bad I just – I’m going to stop talking.” Yang flushed and cleared her throat.

Strangely enough Yang’s flustered rambling put Blake at ease and she couldn’t help but smile. The way the points of Yang’s cheeks tinted pink seemed to almost highlight her freckles and when Yang pulled her hair back over her shoulder Blake noticed how her blush had spread to the tips of her ears. Blake returned a shoulder nudge. “Don’t stop, I like to hear you talk.”

Yang’s ears flushed darker. “Um… you do?”

“Yeah.” Blake gave her a small smile. “It helps, you know, get me out of my own head.”

Something soft passed across Yang’s face. “Okay.”

Blake’s stomach fluttered like she’d suddenly swallowed a jar full of butterflies. She felt her own face starting to warm up and she shyly looked back down at the floor.

I’m so glad you’re here. Blake opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat.

A knock at the door saved her, and Dr Scarlatina’s long rabbit ears poked through the door when it cracked open. She smiled at them both (Blake almost imagined it was with a knowing edge) and opened the door wider, pulling a large cart behind her. “Alright so don’t be too alarmed at this thing, I know it looks like a torture machine.”

She wasn’t wrong, Blake noticed with a bit of wariness. The ultrasound machine was big and clunky, a thing of wires and buttons and screens perched on a rickety cart with squeaky wheels. Dr Scarlatina instructed Blake to lay back against the reclined exam chair and pull her shirt up to expose her abdomen. Blake tried to calm the rushing sound in her ears.

Yang’s hand in hers felt like an anchor in a squall.

“Alright, a bit of a warning, this’ll be cold...” The doctor squeezed a blob of clear gel onto Blake’s lower stomach and Blake couldn’t help a small squeak. It was cold…

“So, uh, what’re you doing there?” Yang leaned over the table curiously, still not letting go of Blake’s hand.

One of Dr Scarlatina’s long ears twitched in amusement. Clearly this wasn’t the first curious inquiry she had encountered. “Well this gel works as a lubricant to help the wand slide easily as well as allows the sound waves to travel easier, so we can look at your baby at different angles.” She held up a small handheld instrument and clicked a few buttons. The machine whirred in response. “This is the wand, it sends out a high frequency sound and picks up the echos to make a picture, which we’ll see up here.” She gestured to the largest screen, currently dark.

Yang nodded seriously, and Blake suddenly pictured an image of Yang scribbling furiously in a mental notebook like she was studying for a school exam.

“Alright, just take a breath for me, Blake...” Dr Scarlatina pressed the end of the wand gently but firmly into Blake’s lower stomach, sliding it across her skin. “There’ll be some discomfort but let me know if you feel any sharp pain.”

Blake blew out a breath, her cheeks puffing out, and thumped her head back onto the headrest to stare up at the ceiling. The wand moved across her skin (unfortunately pressing down on the source of her physical discomfort) and she closed her eyes. She heard the click of more buttons, the whir of the machine, Dr Scarlatina humming thoughtfully. She tried to focus on the sound of Yang’s breathing beside her, but thoughts buzzed in her head like angry hornets. Thoughts of the doctor not finding anything, that she was stupid and read the tests wrong somehow, that the weeks of anxiety and stress had been for nothing…

“Ah there it is!”

Blake’s eyes shot open and snapped to the screen, now a blur of gray instead of blank darkness. At first she couldn’t quite make sense of what she was seeing. The screen looked like a smear of black and gray, moving and shifting like a stormy sea. Dr Scarlatina clicked a few buttons and the image zoomed in. She angled the screen and pointed a finger along the shapes. “Alright here’s the head and torso. That little nub is an arm -”

As the doctor trace her finger on the screen, a shape began to form. It was almost alien like, with a bulbous head and a short torso. As Blake watched the shape stirred, kicking out a stubby leg and wiggling side to side.

“Oh looks like we’ve got an active one!” said the doctor cheerily as she re-positioned the ultrasound wand. “Let’s see...” She clicked a few buttons on her control panel beneath the screen, and suddenly a loud sound filled the room.

It sounded like a fast, rhythmic whooshing, like swishing water. Blake’s ears perked up tall at the sound.

“Ahh, now that’s a strong heartbeat.” said Dr Scarlatina, smiling to herself as she made notes on another clipboard.

Blake stared at the screen. All the anxiety and worry that had been eating away at her over the last month and a half seemed to be fading away, like sand slipping through her fingers. Swept away by that loud whooshing sound, the baby’s heartbeat.

Her baby’s heartbeat.

It filled her ears, almost matching her own pulse but at a faster pace. Up until this moment the baby had almost been an abstract concept, something she knew was coming but had felt far, far away. To see it now, up on a screen but so real… Her eyes burned suspiciously.

“Wow.”

Blake finally turned away from the screen at the sound of Yang’s voice, half whispered like she hadn’t meant to say it aloud.

Yang stared at the screen, her mouth hanging open and lilac eyes wide with wonder. She seemed to feel Blake’s eyes on her, because she blinked and met Blake’s gaze with a small smile and a pink tinge to her cheeks. “That’s… really cool.”

Blake gave a watery laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”

“It looks like you’re about ten weeks along, Blake. That’ll put your due date at about mid June. We can get a more accurate date at your next appointment.” Dr Scarlatina clicked a few more buttons, and the image on the screen froze. Taking pictures, Blake realized.

“Alright, I’m just going to print out some pictures for you, and we’ll set up another appointment for you next month. You’re just about getting into your second trimester, so the nausea should start to ease up in the next few weeks. Until then, light foods like soups and crackers should help. I’ll go ahead and write you a prescription for some pre-natal vitamins, and here’s some information on recommended nutrition. You can go ahead and wipe that gel off now.” The doctor said with a chuckle, handing over a box of tissues. Blake took it in a daze, her eyes back on the image of her unborn child, still frozen on the ultrasound screen.

The next 20 minutes passed in a blur, a folder of paperwork pushed into her hands and a gentle hand around her shoulders steering her out of the exam room. They exited out onto the street (after a much needed stop at the restroom) and Blake cracked open the folder in her hands. Tucked right against the seam was a bundle of gray and black photos. Almost in a trance she reverently plucked off the top picture and traced her thumb across it.

A sudden wind blew, much colder than it had been earlier. A soft weight around her shoulders brought her back to the moment and she blinked, Yang’s soft lilac eyes coming into focus.

“Hey, how ya doing?” She squeezed Blake’s shoulders.

“I… I think I’m okay. For the first time in… a while.” Blake tucked the folder under one arm and tightened Yang’s jacket around her shoulders. “Here.”

Blake held the black and white photo out to Yang. Her eyes widened and she gingerly took the glossy paper. “Really? For me?”

“Yeah. Put it up in the office or something. She gave me more copies.” Blake shifted the folder under her arm for emphasis.

“Wow.” The soft tone was back in Yang’s voice as she looked down at the photo in wonder. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Blake watched as Yang carefully tucked the photo into a small bag hanging off the side of her motorcycle. Blake took her quiet offer to tuck her folder of paperwork in the same pocket and swung a leg over behind Yang.

“So, uhh..” Yang didn’t kick the bike on immediately, but instead turned to peer at Blake behind her. “You hungry? I know this great little pizza place just a couple blocks from here...?”

“Yang.” Blake watched the tips of Yang’s ears turn pink under her bright yellow helmet. “I’d love to go eat pizza with you.”

The bright smile Blake got in response felt like the sun had broke through the clouds and chased away the autumn cold.

Chapter Text

Blake pushed open the door to the bar, hearing the familiar jingle of the bell above the door frame and humming a song she’d heard on the radio earlier that day under her breath. The bar looked empty, but her ears picked up the clink and clatter of dishes as well as Ruby’s usual rock music blaring from the kitchen. She took a breath, about to call out, but she paused. Something was… different.

Blake breathed again, pulling in the smell that drifted from the cracked door to the kitchen. It smelled warm and… familiar?

The scent tickled something in the back of Blake’s mind, a dim bell like a distant ship’s horn through thick fog. It summoned images of palm trees, sandy beaches, and an ocean breeze playing with her hair like a loved one. Of warm wood paneled walls and even warmer hugs.

Blake stood by the doorway for what seemed like ages, breathing in the heavenly scent with her eyes closed, but the creak of the kitchen door broke the spell and Ruby poked her head out. “Blake? Is that you?”

“Yeah.” Blake gave herself a small shake and she took a few steps further in, setting her small purse on the bar top. “What is that smell?”

“Oh!” Ruby brightened, her gray eyes almost shining in the light. “That reminds me! I have something to show you!”

Ruby disappeared back into the kitchen and Blake followed. Feeling like the scent on the air was beckoning her with a curled finger.

Ruby’s kitchen was a storm of chaos, various bubbling pots and plates of vegetables waiting to be chopped for pre-shift prep work crowding the counters. Ruby darted from place to place with the grace of a dancer, a bright red dish cloth tucked into her back pocket flapping behind her like a cape. Her short choppy hair held back by a faded red baseball cap.

Ruby paused in front of one of the largest pots Blake had ever seen – large enough for Ruby herself to squeeze into if she tried – and lifted the lid to dip a ladle in and stir in a slow clockwise motion. A cloud of steam floated up from under the lid and that enticing smell got stronger.

“So, you know I like to experiment and add onto the menu, especially with our specials and soups.” said Ruby, watching intently as she stirred with her brow furrowed in concentration. “Since you started working here, I’ve been doing some research on Menagerian dishes.”

Ruby lifted a ladle full of a chunky red-orange stew and poured it back into the pot, inspecting it closely like she was trying to read a manuscript in another language. “A bit more complicated than I’m used to, but I’m always up for a challenge.”

Apparently she found what she was looking for, because Ruby gave a decisive nod. She snatched a clean bowl from a nearby stack and poured in a few ladles of stew.

She thrust the bowl into a bewildered Blake’s hands and steered her out the kitchen door. “It was hard to track down some of the ingredients, but I think I’ve finally cracked it.”

Blake let herself be guided along with the bowl of stew warming her hands. Bringing to mind a distant memory of a similar scene in a familiar place...

Blake sat down on one of the bar stools and Ruby hopped up beside her, still chattering away and seemingly oblivious to Blake’s silence. “The meat is a local fish, you know, so it might not be wholly authentic, but I found some real Menagerian tomatoes down at the farmer’s market in the Faunus District! I usually go to the one at the park on Sixth Street, but I’m definitely going back to this one! I met this super nice faunus lady who has a stall where she sells all these different herbs and spices, some I’d only ever read about! We talked for like forever and she had some great tips for cooking Menagerian dishes!”

As she listened to Ruby’s chatter Blake picked up a spoon and (with an only slightly shaky hand) scooped up a spoonful of stew. The flavors exploded on her tongue, the tartness of the tomatoes blending with the burn of spice that traveled down to her core, warming her from the inside out. Suddenly, she was back on Menagerie, sitting beside her father at a familiar dining table sharing happy smiles and real laughter. Her mother setting bowls of spicy fish stew down in front of them, planting a kiss on Blake’s forehead and laughing at her husbands pout at not getting a kiss himself. A scene that might have actually happened, or might have been imagined.

A feeling she thought long lost blossomed in Blake’s chest and the image of the bar top in front of her blurred.

“So then I said – Blake? Are you – oh!”

Ruby didn’t get to finish the rest of her sentence when Blake threw her arms around her neck and buried her face in the shorter girl’s shoulder.

After only a moment of hesitation Ruby gently returned the hug and patted Blake’s shoulder. “Blake?”

Blake’s breath hitched and her eyes burned and all she could do was squeeze tighter.

She heard the sound of the office door opening and Yang gasp.

“Whoa, hey what happened?”

Yang’s familiar hand lay on Blake’s back and she finally straightened up, rubbing her eyes and fighting back sniffles.

“I dunno! She just started crying and I -” Blake picked up a note of panic in Ruby’s voice.

“No, no, I’m fine, I’m fine. I -” Blake scrubbed hard at the tears on her cheeks, willing them to disappear. “Stupid hormones...”

“It’s not stupid.” Yang spoke firmly and tucked Blake against her side. “What’s wrong?”

Blake swallowed against the small lump in her throat and took a breath. “It’s just… my mom used to make this.”

Ruby sucked in a sharp breath and her lip wobbled. “Oh my gosh, Blake… I’m so sorry I didn’t know...”

Blake vehemently shook her head. “No, no, it’s not your fault. I’m just being silly...”

“No, you’re not.” Yang gently squeezed her shoulders.

“Maybe I should take it off the menu tonight...” Ruby said quietly.

“Don’t you dare.” Blake pulled her bowl of stew close in a protective gesture and took another stubborn spoonful. Closing her eyes and moaning.

Ruby perked up. “Is it good? Did I do it right?”

Blake took on an exaggerated ponderous expression, rubbing her chin like a philosopher. “Hmm… it could use a little more heat, but that’s just me.”

Ruby laughed, her melancholy chased away like rain clouds. “Well, if you want me to burn our customers tongues... Sienna at the farmer’s market said the same thing – something about us humans having different taste buds. Not too sure I believe her, but she’s the expert!”

Ruby hopped off the seat and bounced away to the kitchen, humming along to a song that blasted from her kitchen radio.

Blake watched her go until the smell wafting up from her bowl became too tempting and she dipped her spoon in several more times until it scraped the bottom. Blake dragged her spoon along the edges to get every last drop and heard a chuckle to her left, glancing over to see Yang watching her. Blake blushed and put her bowl back down.

But there was nothing but fondness in Yang’s eyes, not a hint of scorn or disgust.

“She’s really something, ain’t she?” Yang jerked her chin toward the kitchen door.

Blake followed her gaze. “She really is. That was almost as good as back on Menagerie.”

Yang took Blake’s empty bowl and spoon and stepped behind the bar to wash it in the sink. “She could be working at a five-star place anywhere she wanted. Even studied at a fancy culinary school up in Atlas.”

Blake leaned both elbows on the bar top. “So why isn’t she?”

Yang shrugged. “This is where she says she wants to be. This place is special… to both of us. But enough about me.” Yang placed the now clean bowl under her counter. “Tell me about your parents.”

“Why?”

Yang shrugged again, taking her dust rag out from her pocket to start wiping bottles. “Just curious. You don’t really talk about them very much.”

Blake hopped off her own stool to grab her own rag from the clean stack at the end of the bar. “Not much to say.”

“Do they know about the peanut?”

Blake looked up from swiping her rag across a table. “Peanut?”

Yang turned quickly back to her bottles, but she wasn’t fast enough to hide the bright blush across her freckled cheeks. “Uhh, that’s what I’ve been calling the kid. Since your appointment. Kinda looks like one, in the picture, you know.”

Yang looked back up from her too-intense inspection of a whiskey bottle. “I’ll stop, if you don’t like it…?”

“No, it’s okay. I like it.” Blake tilted her head in thought. “Peanut.”

“Let’s just hope they aren’t allergic or something.”

Blake continued with her preshift prep work in silence for another few minutes. Yang didn’t push further, but Blake could feel her eyes on her.

“They don’t.”

“Hm?” Yang paused in the action of scribbling numbers down on a small notebook.

Blake plopped the soiled rag into its designated bucket and sat down heavily on a bar stool. Putting her head in her hands. “They don’t know. I haven’t spoken to my parents in a long time. Not since I – I left.”

“Why not?” Yang’s tone softened, a gentle nudge instead of a demand.

Blake looked up through her hands at Yang, now leaning on the bar top to watch her. “We… we had a huge fight that night. They thought my decision to move to Vale with him – with Adam – wasn’t a good one, and they tried to warn me about what kind of person he was. But I was so blind. He had his hooks in me so deep...”

Blake sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a stack of napkins nudged within range, and she snatched one to noisily blow her nose. “I said such terrible things to them. I don’t think they even want to see me...”

“Blake, I’m sure that’s not true.” A warm hand reached across the bar top to squeeze her forearm. “Have you thought about calling them up?”

“Of course I have. But -” Blake gave a full body shudder. “All I did was prove them right. Adam was a terrible person and now...” Her head hung low, defeated. “They would be so ashamed of me.”

Yang stayed quiet, but left her hand on Blake’s arm. Another soft squeeze, then “Hey. Come on, I wanna show you something.”

Blake blinked. Yang stepped around the bar and gestured, and Blake heaved up from the stool to follow.

Yang led her toward the back of the bar, to the fireplace (unlit for now) and the cozy armchairs. But she turned instead to face the wall beside the fire pit and crossed her arms loosely. Blake stood beside her, and followed Yang’s gaze to a nondescript picture frame, hung on the wall about eye level. The frame was simple, the same dark wood as the wall behind it. Blake glanced back at Yang, who nodded towards the portrait. Blake took a step closer.

It was a candid shot of a woman, who Blake initially thought was Ruby. But no, the shape of the brow and chin were slightly different, and the presence of laugh lines betrayed her age. She had been caught mid laugh, standing at a counter top frozen in the action of chopping some mystery vegetable. With an oddly familiar baseball cap perched on her head.

Underneath the portrait, a well tended plaque read:

In Loving Memory of Summer Rose

A Light Like No Other

“Is this…?”

“That’s Mom, yeah.”

Blake looked back over her shoulder at Yang. “She looks happy.”

“She was. The happiest person in the world, it seemed like at times. Being around her was like being around the physical embodiment of sunshine. All this?” Yang stepped closer to join Blake at the portrait but gestured at the entirety of the bar behind them. “This was her dream. Talked about it all the time, about how she was gonna buy this old building and create a place where everyone could feel welcome, a place where anyone could find a listening ear.”

Blake looked back at the portrait. “How old were you?”

Yang sucked in a quiet breath. Then breathed out.

“I was eight.”

“Yang...”

“Ruby had just turned six. I think she was a little too young to really understand what was going on. At least at first.”

“What happened?”

Yang breathed out slowly through her nose before answering, voice quiet but steady. “She went out one night to pick up dinner. Someone mugged her and left her in the street. All for the twenty lien in her pocket.”

“Oh Yang, I’m so sorry.”

Yang shrugged, but Blake caught a faint shudder in her shoulders. “Don’t be. It happened a long time ago.”

Yang abruptly spun on her heel and strode back to the bar. Blake let her eyes linger on the portrait of the smiling woman for a heartbeat longer, then followed.

“When I turned eighteen, Dad sat me down and handed me Mom’s life insurance check. Told me I could do what I wanted with it. So, Ruby went to culinary school and I went for my business degree.” Yang poured a glass of water and chugged it back in a few gulps. “There was enough left after graduation to buy this place, and five years later here we are.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, it’s quite a story, huh?” Yang’s grin was rueful. “Ruby says she feels like Mom’s still here with us, letting us know how proud she is. Sometimes, I’m even inclined to agree.”

Yang set her glass down and met Blake’s eyes. “I guess what I’m trying to say here is to… not take stuff for granted. I would give all this up in a heartbeat to have my mom back, even just for a moment.”

“...you think I should call my parents.”

Yang shrugged. “I think it’s up to you. It’s worth taking a chance, don’t you think?”

She walked away, catching Weiss emerging from the office to count out the bills for the registers. Blake stared at her back, lost in thought.

Chapter Text

“Here you are, Ms Calavera.”

Maria Calavera peered through her thick glasses down at the cup Blake placed before her and rustled her newspaper. She then looked up and blinked, silver eyes magnified to nearly three times their size. “Ah, thank you dear. And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Maria?”

“At least one more time, Ms Calavera.” Blake grinned at the older woman and set down a napkin with a small stirring spoon. “Would you like to order some food? You’re here a little later than your usual time.”

Maria turned the page of her newspaper and shook it out. Blake knew for a fact she’d read it at least five times tonight. “Hmm… what’s Ruby experimenting with these days?”

Blake slipped her notebook out of her pocket and clicked her pen. “She’s got a new pasta dish that I been getting good responses too. To much garlic in it for me though.”

Maria scoffed and plucked a sugar packet from the small wooden box beside the condiments. “My dear, I lost seventy percent of my sense of taste years ago, the more garlic the better. I’ll have a small plate of that.”

Blake chuckled as her pen scratched across the page. “I’ll tell her to lay it on thick then.”

Maria huffed and turned back to her newspaper. “And tell that girl that she doesn’t have to be such a stranger! Feels like I haven’t seen my grandniece in ages.”

Blake laughed out loud at that. “I sure will!”

It had been nearly two weeks since Blake’s ultrasound, and that little black and white photo was now proudly taped to the corner of the computer monitor in the office. She’d gotten an enthusiastic congratulations from Ruby and a nod from Weiss.

Weiss. Blake had gotten to know the two sisters almost like her own, but the accountant was still a mystery. It seemed Weiss was a bit of an introvert, quiet and serious. Blake could count on one hand how many times she’d seen her smile, and there were times where she’d caught Weiss watching her. Not with any particular maliciousness (Blake had learned to recognize those looks from a mile away) but simply… observing. Almost like she was looking for something.

But what she was looking for, Blake didn’t know.

The weather outside grew colder and grayer as winter truly set in, drawing more people into the warmth and laughter of Summer’s Place like moths to a flame. Rain made the sidewalks glow, and the gas fireplace at the back end of the bar was turned up high to warm the numerous bodies huddled near it.

Loud exclamations from the direction of the bar made her look up just in time to catch Yang spinning an empty mixing cup on one finger to the delight of patrons who then gave scattered applause when Yang tossed the cup in the air with one hand and caught it with the other.

Almost if she’d felt Blake’s eyes on her Yang looked in her direction and grinned widely. She bowed to her audience, but kept her face turned in Blake’s direction – as if she was bowing to Blake alone.

Blake felt her face warm up as she slid in front of the register to enter Maria’s order.

“Excuse me.” Weiss squeezed past her balancing a tray of full drinks. Weiss had been joining Blake out on the floor more often these days, but Blake suspected that had more to do with Yang trying to lighten her work load than the bigger crowds. She’d have been insulted if she wasn’t so appreciative of the extra help.

The ringing of the little bell above the door made her ears swivel towards the front and even from her place at the register she felt the cold air rush in. A group of young men piled in, shaking rain off their hair and laughing. A few patrons near the door gave them some good-natured shouts to close the door and they obliged, slamming the door shut and shoving each other toward an empty booth.

Blake allowed herself a little sigh and made to go greet them, when a pale arm shot out in front of her – blocking her path.

“Let me take this one.” Weiss balanced her tray expertly on one hand and Blake saw her eyeing the newcomers with – wariness? “They’ve caused some trouble in the past and they’re less likely to mess with me.”

Blake forcefully pushed down the anger that rolled in her gut. “I think I can handle it.”

Weiss raised an eyebrow. “Can you?”

Instead of answering Blake pushed past her, dodging the tray in Weiss’s hand and tried not to make it look like she was marching off in a huff. Weiss let her pass and Blake felt that analyzing gaze tingling on the back of her neck again but she refused to turn and look back.

“Evening, gentlemen.” Blake held her trusty notebook and pen at the ready and fixed a smile on her face. “Bit of a cold night isn’t it?”

One of the men – tall, broad shouldered, close cropped brown hair stuck up in the front – eyed her up and down and grinned. “Well hey there, gorgeous. Haven’t seen you around here before.”

Blake’s smile froze on her face and it took every bit of concentration to keep her ears from pinning flat against her hair. She gave herself a little mental kick for letting her damn pride reject Weiss’s offer. “Uh, yes. I just started about 2 months ago.”

“Well, I’ll make sure to go easy on ya.” he laughed loudly, looking back at his friends who all joined in.

Blake narrowed her eyes and just barely kept her lip from curling in a snarl. “I think I can manage.”

The group placed their drink orders and Blake walked back towards the bar a little too quickly, suddenly craving Yang’s presence. Yang had a small break in orders and looked up with a smile, but her smile faded when she caught sight of Blake’s expression.

“What’s wrong?” Yang frowned and did a quick scan of the room. Blake noticed her eyes freeze and narrow on a certain booth.

Blake squared her shoulders and breathed deeply. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Yang’s eyebrows pinched together. Her gaze flicked over to the booth again, then back to Blake. Her mouth tightened, but she sighed and her shoulders slumped. “Cardin and his buddies are a bunch of idiots, but it’s been a while since I had to threaten to kick them out. Just let me know if they get too rowdy, alright? Cardin knows I won’t tolerate his bullshit.”

Blake nodded sharply and handed over their drink order. Then spun on her heel and marched over to the kitchen window where several orders sat awaiting her.

Over the next hour Cardin and his friends got louder and louder, but other than a few other comments here and there they seemed to be well-behaved – something Blake suspected had a lot to do with Yang watching them like a hawk from her place behind the bar.

What cheered her up considerably was the appearance of Jaune and Pyrrha, on their own this time and bundled up in thick winter coats.

Pyrrha pulled her damp red hair over her shoulder as soon as Jaune helped her out of her coat and wove it into a thick braid with deft fingers. “Brrr, it’s a cold one out there.”

Blake chuckled as she set their empty water glasses down on the tabletop and plucked a full pitcher from a nearby station. “Aren’t you from Argus? I heard it gets even colder up there.”

Pyrrha smirked. “Well, Vale’s been a bad influence on me. Keep the coffee coming.”

Blake liked the young couple, regular patrons either by themselves or with their friends. Jaune was a bit clueless but sweet, and clearly head over heels for his fiance and Pyrrha seemed to go out of her way to befriend Blake. She’d surprised Blake with her knowledge of a few lesser known faunus authors, and Blake learned that Pyrrha was taking online classes to earn her law degree. Jaune worked at his family’s grocery store, a local place called Arc’s that also supplied the bar with most of their stock.

A sharp whistle cut off their conversation, and Blake turned to see Cardin snapping his fingers in her direction impatiently. Blake plastered on a smile and nodded to acknowledge him, then turned back to Jaune and Pyrrha with a frown. “Excuse me, let me just take your drink orders real quick and I’ll be right back. Having your usual tonight?”

Jaune frowned in Cardin’s direction. “Is he bothering you?”

Pyrrha leaned over on one arm to peer around Jaune, also frowning. “Do you need me to run over Cardin’s toes? I’m good at running over toes.”

That brought a small smile to Blake’s lips, but she shook her head. “I do appreciate the offer, but I can handle a couple of difficult customers.”

She quickly scribbled down their drink orders (a Shirley Temple for Pyrrha and a coke for Jaune) and took her time shuffling over to Cardin’s booth, taking extra care to check in on every patron along the way.

At last she stopped, eyeing the numerous empty glasses with wariness. “Anything I can do for you, gentlemen?”

“Yeah.” Cardin slurred and waved an empty glass in the air. “Go ahead and get us another refill, kitten.”

Blake barely kept her mouth from twisting into a snarl at that and instead plastered a generic smile on her face. “I’m sorry sir, but I believe you are too intoxicated and I’m making the decision to cut you off.”

The other three men around the table groaned, but Cardin’s eyes narrowed. He wobbled unsteadily to his feet. “I don’t think you heard me, sweetheart.”

Blake felt a sliver of a familiar fear tighten in her chest. Not too long ago she would have automatically flinched and cringed away, but something else hardened her spine. Something that spoke in a voice Blake hadn’t heard in years – enough, no more.

Blake pinned her ears back and straightened to her full height. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware you had problems with your hearing – I’ll speak a little slower. I’m. Cutting. You. Off. Sir.”

One of the other men stood as well and reached out to grip Cardin’s arm. “Come on man, it’s not worth it. You know what Xiao Long said -”

Cardin shook him off. “Fuck Xiao Long. This little bitch needs to learn a lesson.”

Blake saw it happen in slow motion – the taller man drew back his fist and swung it toward her face. Sloppily, clumsily. Blake ducked, but Cardin swung wide, overextending himself and tripping over his feet. He stumbled, once, twice. Then went down hard, knocking his chin on a nearby (thankfully unoccupied) table. He lay still, still conscious but clearly dazed.

Blake stared down at him, trying to will her racing heart to calm. She looked back up at the table and the frozen faces of Cardin’s companions. She cleared her throat and forced her voice to stay steady.

“So. Which one of you is picking up his tab?”

“And tell that idiot when he wakes up he just earned himself a six-month ban. And if I see his face in here even one day before that ban is up then it’ll be a permanent one!”

Yang hissed her words as she glared down at Cardin’s sprawled form on the damp sidewalk where she’d dumped him. Russel and Sky bent down to heave his arms over their shoulders to start dragging him toward the open door of their cab. Russel nodded sheepishly. “Yes ma’am. It won’t happen again, ma’am.”

Yang bared her teeth. “It better not, or you’ll all be sharing his ban.” She slammed the door in their faces a little too hard and the glass panel rattled in its frame.

Yang stood for a moment and stroked her hand down her face. She breathed harshly out her nose and raked back her bangs. Thirty minutes to closing and the bar had mostly cleared out, with only a few patrons lingering to nurse their last drink. She spotted Blake, standing near Pyrrha and Jaune’s table to close them out. Pyrrha reached out to hold her hand in a clear gesture of support and Jaune was nodding in response to her words. At this angle Yang couldn’t see Blake’s face, only the back of her head and her pointed ears, currently at a drooping angle.

She desperately wanted to check on Blake, to make sure she and the baby were alright, but duty called her back to the bar to take care of her last customers, so she settled for watching Blake from across the room – trying to read her face for any signs of distress.

Weiss sidled up to the register to close out the last of her tickets and hummed. “She’s certainly tougher than she looks.”

Yang glanced over at her. “What made you think she wasn’t?”

Weiss looked up from counting back change and raised an eyebrow. “Nothing.” Weiss slid the register drawer shut with her hip and an air of finality and nodded. “I like her.”

This made Yang’s own brows shoot to her hairline, then a smile spread across her face. “Oh? Is that a little thawing I see in the famous ice queen?”

Weiss glared, but it lacked its usual bite. “Quiet, you.”

Weiss glided off to the kitchen with her usual grace, no doubt to “help” Ruby with her closing chores. Yang snorted, then started plucking the last few empty glasses off the bartop and closing out the last tabs.

It took another half hour until Yang waved cheerfully at the last patron and flipped the sign on the inside of the door to Closed. She turned to see Blake carefully easing into an empty chair with a grimace and Yang tried not to make it look like she was fretting as she hurried over. “Are you alright?”

Blake looked up at her and blinked. “Yeah, I’m alright.” She slid her shoe off gingerly and rubbed her socked foot. “Swollen ankles, you know.”

“Oh, right.” Yang rubbed the back of her neck and slid down into the chair across from Blake. “And is everything okay? You know, with the baby?”

Blake’s hand moved to cup the swell of her lower belly, still not quite noticeable behind her baggy shirt if you weren’t looking for it. It was more prominent when she was seated, Yang noted. She watched Blake stroke her hand across the swell. “Yes, I think so. Cardin didn’t even come close with that clumsy swing.”

Yang frowned and glared back at the door, even though the man in question was most likely far away by now. “Ugh, I’m sorry about that idiot. I shoulda told you to cut him off way earlier than that -”

“Yang.” Blake cut her off. “I told you, I can deal with creeps like him.” She straightened in her seat and smirked. “But I gotta admit, seeing him go down like that did a lot to cheer me up.”

Yang returned her smirk with one of her own. “You handled that very well. Even Weiss approves.”

Blake raised her eyebrows “Really? I was starting to think she didn’t like me...”

Yang’s smile faded just a little bit. “Weiss is… just a little tough on the outside. She’s protective of me and Ruby, and for valid reasons. She’s kind of like you – a walk-in off the street, when Rubes and I first started this place. She needed a job and we needed someone to help with finances.” Yang shrugged. “The rest isn’t really my story to tell.”

Blake looked at her in quiet contemplation, then nodded. “Alright.”

Yang cleared her throat once. “Um, Blake? Would it be okay with you if I drove you home?”

Blake frowned slightly. “You don’t have to...”

“I know. I don’t think Cardin or his cronies would try anything, but it would make me feel better if I knew you got home safe tonight.” Yang stood from her seat and brushed non-existent wrinkles out of her jeans. She held out a hand, palm up. An offering. “What do you say?”

Blake regarded her open hand for a single heartbeat, an unreadable look in her eyes. Then her face softened, just the slightest bit. “Okay.”

Blake tugged Yang’s jacket closer, soft fleece and the faint smell of woodsmoke tickled her nose. The heat of Yang’s skin and the jacket chased away the worst of the cold and she unashamedly squeezed her arms tighter around Yang’s waist. She thought she heard the sound of Yang’s chuckle over the icy air and the roar of a motorcycle engine, but it was lost to the wind somewhere in the miles behind them.

The rain had let up temporarily, but the swollen dark clouds above them – barely visible in the dark night sky – threatened to continue the deluge at any moment. Blake breathed a sigh of relief when they turned onto her street and she caught sight of Ilia’s apartment – she’d never ridden a motorcycle in the rain but didn’t feel inclined to change that, no matter how pleasant the company.

Yang helped her dismount and declined Blake’s offer to return her jacket with a shake of her head. “Keep it. I run hot anyways and it’s freezing.”

As promised icy raindrops started to patter atop their heads and Blake couldn’t help a laugh as they rushed together for the shelter of the awning, hand in hand.

After their chuckles died down, Blake found herself strangely reluctant to enter the building, knowing that it would bring this moment to an end. A moment when she could just admire the way raindrops clung to Yang’s eyelashes and glistened like diamonds on her skin and the way laughter still bubbled up in her chest – making her feel like if she didn’t find some way to anchor herself she’d float away.

Yang seemed to notice the change in the air and she met Blake’s eyes, her own half-lidded. Blake caught her eyes flick downward, then back up.

If asked Blake couldn’t say who leaned in first, but suddenly Yang’s face was a lost closer. Her warm breath brushed over Blake’s lips, feather light. Yang hesitated there, frozen.

A silent question in her eyes.

A question Blake answered by closing the distance between them.

Yang tasted like rain, Blake decided. Rain and warmth.

Chapter Text

Blake stared down at the screen of her scroll. She’d saved the number to her father’s office on Menagerie weeks ago, but had so far done nothing but memorize it – tracing the numbers with her eyes over and over again. Her stomach churned when she thought about it sitting untouched in her contacts for that long, nausea strong enough to trigger a few more sick episodes that she couldn’t blame entirely on the baby.

Scenario after scenario played on repeat in her head, from heartfelt reunions to being abruptly disowned.

If they haven’t already done that, after what you said to them a venomous voice whispered in her mind. Blake flinched.

“Hey, you doing okay?”

Yang’s voice from the driver’s seat made Blake jump a little. She looked up from her scroll to see they were stopped at a red light, and Yang was watching her with concern.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” Blake slid her scroll closed and stuck it deep in her pocket, hopefully deep enough to keep it from burning a hole in her leg.

Yang looked at her for a bit longer, but the light ahead flicked to green and she had to turn back to the road. “And how’s Peanut?”

Blake couldn’t help a fond roll of her eyes and her hand went to her stomach. “Good, I think. Still not sure about their nickname, though.”

Yang’s grin was bright as the sun and Blake found herself struck once again by how pretty she was. With the weak autumn day sunlight streaming through the van windows and highlighting the freckles on her nose, it was easy to forget they weren’t exactly alone.

“Awww, Peanut?! That’s the cutest thing ever!”

Ruby’s high pitched squeal from the backseat made Blake cringe, and Yang threw a half-hearted glare in the rear-view mirror at her sister. “There’s still time to turn around and leave you at the bar with Weiss, you know.”

Ruby leaned forward to prop her elbows on the back of Blake’s seat, smirking. “Uh huh, then you’d just end up getting lost. I know what your sense of direction is like.”

Yang opened her mouth to retort, but suddenly slammed her palm on the horn and made a rude gesture at the car in front of them. “Good gods, use your damn turn signal! Did you get your license out of a fucking cereal box?!”

Ruby made an exaggerated gasp. “Yang! Watch your language, there’s a child in the car!”

Yang twisted her mouth and glared at the offending vehicle. “Peanut can’t hear me.” Then she blinked, and glanced sideways at Blake. “Um, can they?”

Blake smirked slightly. “No, they won’t start hearing things until about eighteen weeks, according to Dr Scarlatina. You’ve still got some time.”

Yang’s smile had a bit of a cheeky edge to it. “Well, that’s a fucking relief.”

Ruby’s hand shot out from the back seat to lightly whap her sister on the back of her head. “Yaaaang. It’s the principle of the thing!”

Yang reached back blindly to try and return Ruby’s swat, but Ruby nimbly dodged Yang’s wild swipes. “Blake! You gonna help me out here?”

Blake watched the sisters squabble with growing amusement. “Ruby’s got a point, Yang. You’ve got barely two weeks of swearing left, you might want to start working on reigning it in now.”

Yang slumped her shoulders and huffed in an exaggerated playful fashion. “Okay, fiiiine. Mama’s orders.”

Blake turned her head to look out at the buildings around them to hide the redness of her cheeks. It was still strange to think that she’d be a mom in just a few short months. Her hand automatically traced circles through her light sweater. Her belly, now – at sixteen weeks – prominent and near impossible to hide without baggy clothes on her slim figure.

Your baby is the size of an avocado! her book had proudly proclaimed. She’d shyly inquired at her last appointment with Dr Scarlatina when she might start feeling movement, and the doctor had smiled and said that it might be a little early for movement, but to keep a lookout for it.

“It might feel like small popping or swishing, or even like bubbles in your lower belly.” The doctor said, her keyboard clicking away in the quiet exam room. “It’s certainly going to be a much longer time before movement can be felt from the outside, but you could start feeling movement as early as tomorrow. But since this is your first pregnancy, it could be as late as twenty weeks. So don’t stress if you don’t feel anything just yet.”

At this Dr Scarlatina slid another folder of papers across the counter top with a smile. “According to your ultrasounds, your little one is pretty active already so I’m not concerned. Just keep taking your vitamins, everything looks good.”

“Alright we’re here!” Yang’s cheerful voice brought Blake back into the present and she peered out the window.

The parking lot was already half full with vans and trucks and people offloading various baskets of fresh produce and handmade crafts to sell. This farmer’s market was clearly smaller than the one uptown, and their large white van got some odd looks when they pulled into the parking lot.

“Alright, got the grocery list?” Yang slid the key out of the ignition and shoved it into her pocket.

“Got it.” Blake held up the folded paper and lightly waved it back and forth.

“Alright, cool. First we go talk to Sienna, then pick up the stuff for tomorrow night. Got it?”

“Got it.” Ruby and Blake said in sync.

Yang twisted to peer a little harder at Ruby. “You know what you need? We don’t have time to linger, I mean it.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “Yeah Yang, I know.”

“Uh huh. I’ve heard that before.”

Ruby didn’t respond, but stuck her tongue out and slid open the door to hop out onto the parking lot.

Blake fumbled with her seatbelt a bit, then went to open the door when the handle disappeared out from under her hand and Yang stood in its place, a wide grin on her face.

“After you, miss.” Yang held out her hand for Blake to take it, an offering.

Blake considered the hand, then returned the smile and let Yang help her out of the car. “Thank you.”

Yang’s smile softened, and her fingers curled around Blake’s. “You’re welcome.”

Something between them had shifted since that night they kissed in the rain, but neither of them had voiced it. Small touches when passing each other at work, warm smiles from across the room. Yang had taken over the duty of escorting Blake home every night (an arrangement that Ilia hadn’t objected to) and they exchanged a warm hug at the door of the apartment building and wished each other goodnight.

But Yang hadn’t kissed her again.

Blake sometimes caught a look in her eyes in those moments, the same look she’d had before that moment in the rain. But she always pulled back, maybe kiss Blake’s forehead or cheek, wish her a quiet goodnight, then watch as she entered the building without being struck by a meteor, or whatever it was she was looking out for.

And it was driving Blake insane.

Ruby led them through the market with the air of a ship captain, sometimes hopping in place to see above the heads of the crowd. Blake and Yang were content to follow behind at a more leisurely pace, hands still entwined together and swinging between them.

At first they’d gotten some odd looks from the mostly-faunus market shoppers, but Blake suspected her presence had something to do with the fact none of those looks were hostile. She’d even teased Yang about it the other day, back at the bar when Yang asked her if she wanted to come.

“Oh? Is it because I happen to be a faunus?” Blake had smirked at a suddenly flustered Yang.

“What? No, of course not! I just thought, maybe, we could go get some breakfast together afterward or something?” Yang’s blush grew brighter. “Unless you want to stay and help Weiss with the paperwork…?”

“No.”

Blake smothered a laugh at Weiss’s flat answer from the depths of the back office behind a teetering stack of tax forms.

The woman in question peered out from behind her paperwork with a glare. Blake had learned early on that Weiss was touchy at best about her paperwork, and everyone else just let her have her space. For good reason.

So here she was, spending her Sunday morning at the farmer’s market with Yang, and it was surprisingly pleasant. The weather wasn’t too chilly, Yang’s hand was entwined in hers, and the hot tea Yang had bought her as an apology for the early hour had done a good job of warming her up.

Ruby’s shout turned them toward a semi enclosed and richly decorated tent that they nearly walked right past, and Ruby ducked gleefully inside when they approached.

Inside the tent the air was considerably warmer and heavy with the scent of spices.

“Ah, little red. I thought you might be back.”

Sienna Khan stood behind a table draped with red cloth and covered in assorted bottles and boxes. Her golden yellow eyes cut sharply to Yang, and narrowed just slightly. “And you brought friends…?”

“Sienna hi! This is my sister, the one I told you about!” Ruby bounced on her heels and eyed the boxes on the table. “Ooh, is that the new shipment?”

Sienna finally looked away and back to Ruby. Her smile had an endearing edge to it. “Why yes it is. I’ve got a few samples, if you’d like to try?”

Ruby eagerly nodded.

Yang softly cleared her throat and stepped forward to hold her hand out. “It’s very nice to finally meet you, ma’am. I’m Yang Xiao Long, co-owner of Summer’s Place and Ruby’s older sister.”

Sienna tilted her head and one of her striped ears twitched, but she returned Yang’s greeting, taking her hand for a shake. “I’ve heard of it. Haven’t been myself, but I have friends in the business.”

Yang nodded and released her hand. “Well, you know my sister has been buying from you for a while now, but I’ve come to ask if you’d be interested in a more regular arrangement?”

Sienna’s yellow eyes flicked to Blake, as if noticing her for the first time, then back to Yang. She leaned her chin on a closed fist and blinked slowly. Blake had a sudden image of a large cat crouching to pounce. “I’m listening.”

Sienna proved to be quite a shrewd business woman, and she and Yang haggled for nearly an hour (with Ruby occasionally cutting in) before finally settling on a deal. Ruby left for the van with a bounce in her step and a large box of spices and herbs cradled in her arms like a priceless treasure chest.

Sienna turned back to them both after watching Ruby go. “I’m not signing anything permanent for at least thirty days, but I think we have an arrangement.”

She and Yang shook hands again. Yang nodded like she was tilting the brim of an imaginary hat. “Of course ma’am, it was a pleasure doing business with you.”

Sienna snorted, the first non-professional expression she’d made in their presence. “You’re certainly respectful – for a human. You’d be the first I’ve made a deal like this with, and that’s quite an accomplishment, I assure you.”

Sienna finally turned her full attention to Blake, this time with a noticeably warmer smile. “I apologize my dear for being rude, but business comes before pleasure I’m afraid.”

Blake blinked and returned her smile. “Oh, it’s quite alright. I knew what I was getting into.” With this she playfully shoved Yang’s shoulder with hers.

Yang grinned sheepishly. “Sorry babe, I just kinda got tunnel vision.”

Sienna arched an eyebrow slightly. “Forgive me, but you seem familiar to me. Do you happen to have family back on Menagerie, by any chance?”

Blake’s expression froze on her face and scroll in her pocket suddenly felt like a lump of lead. “I – no. I haven’t lived there since I was a kid.”

Sienna narrowed her eyes and Blake had a sudden flashback to being scolded by her primary school teacher for hiding an open book in class. “Hmm, perhaps I was mistaken.”

Blake’s gut still churned as they left the tent back out into the market. The crowd had gotten larger as the morning wore on, and Blake found herself almost subconsciously pressing closer to Yang’s warm side.

Yang slipped her arm around Blake’s waist. “You doing alright?”

Blake leaned her head briefly on Yang’s shoulder as they making their way back to the car. “I think so.”

Yang hummed. “Thinking about your parents?”

Blake considered deflecting, but her shoulders slumped and she sighed. Yang knew her too well. “Yeah.”

Yang didn’t respond, but the squeeze she gave Blake said a lot more than words could.

They walked in silence for a bit further, keeping an eye out for Ruby’s distinctive red hair, before Yang tugged her to a slower pace. “Hey, I think I saw a hot chocolate stand over here. I’ll buy.”

Ruby only complained at how slow they were for few minutes before she was mollified with a bribe of hot chocolate.

“With extra whipped cream just like you like it.” Yang had said. Blake thought “extra” was a bit of an understatement to describe the blob of whipped cream oozing out of the lid’s opening like sugary lava out of a paper volcano, but she chose not to comment on the crazy look in Ruby’s eyes when she made grabby hands at the hot drink.

They plunged back in to complete the shopping and it was nearly past midday when they finally loaded everything back into the van. The strange looks they were getting from the vendors vanished quickly when they saw how much Yang and Ruby were buying, and they got nothing but huge grins and cheerful waves when they left with arms full of fresh produce.

Back in the van, Blake tuned out Yang and Ruby’s familiar excited chatter and pulled out her scroll again. Chief Belladonna’s office number glared back at her from her contacts list – just like it had the last dozen times she had done this, trying to work up the courage to just press that dial button and talk to her father for the first time in nearly ten years.

Blake let her head fall back against the seat and closed her eyes as they pulled out of the parking lot.

This wasn’t going to be easy, but when was the last time anything in her life had been easy?

Chapter Text

If asked why she preferred tea over really anything else, Blake wouldn’t have a straight answer. The few times Ilia had asked before she finally gave up Blake would give her a different response every time.

I like the taste.

The smell is familiar and comforting.

It’s warm.

Blake carefully dunked her tea bag, once, twice, three times. Then pulled it out and tossed it into the waste bin beside the sink. A dash of honey and it was done. Blake wrapped her hands around her mug and drifted into the living room, her place of refuge for the last several months.

In spite of the calm her familiar tea ritual brought her, her eyes were immediately drawn to the scroll, sitting innocently on the coffee table like it didn’t have the power to upend her entire carefully reconstructed world and send it tumbling down like a child’s block tower.

She took a slow sip of her tea and eyed the scroll as she sat down slowly on the couch. Yang’s earlier words rang in her head, dropping her off after their morning at the farmer’s market. Blake quietly spoke her intentions, and Yang gave her a serious nod.

“I understand that you wanna do this by yourself, but you can call me anytime if you need someone to talk to.”

The pure honesty in Yang’s words and her sincerity were comforting to Blake in the moment, but now, here, alone in Ilia’s tiny apartment with all of her meager possessions surrounding the couch she’d been living on for the past four and a half months, suddenly the prospect of facing the demons she thought she’d left behind seemed as daunting as a looming mountain.

Blake blew out a breath slowly, watching the steam from her tea swirl, before straightening in her seat and mentally gritting her teeth.

The faster you do this the faster it’ll be over. Like ripping off a bandaid.

Blake studiously ignored how her hand was shaking as she carefully set her mug down on the coffee table (hearing the ghost of Ilia’s insistence that she use a coaster and dutifully sliding one over) and picked up the scroll, carefully, like it was made of the most fragile glass. Or an angry venomous snake, either one.

It was almost robotic, the sliding of her finger across the screen to open her contacts, touching the name near the top of the list. A small window popped up, one last option to reject the call and ignore it for another day, but Blake made herself click the green button, accepting her fate.

Blake held the scroll to her ear. One ring, two, three…

A click. “Chief Belladonna’s office? How can I help you?”

The tight knot in her chest loosened a small amount. The pleasant female voice was unfamiliar.

“Uhh… yes hello. Is… Chief Belladonna in today?”

“I’m afraid not.” The voice continued, professional and polite. “He’s out of the office for the rest of the day to celebrate his anniversary with his wife.”

“Oh.” That was today, wasn’t it?

A brief pause. “I can take a message, if you like?”

“… yes? I mean, yes I would like that.”

Another pause. “And may I ask what you’d like your message to be?”

“Um… just tell the chief that… it’s Blake. And… I’m sorry.”

If the name was familiar to the woman on the other end, she didn’t show it and her polite professionalism didn’t waver. “Alright, I will pass that message along. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“...no. No that’s it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll pass your message along to the chief as soon as possible.” A click, then dial tone.

Blake set the scroll back down on the coffee table with partially numb fingers.

She found herself swallowing harshly against a sudden lump in her throat, and the image of her now quiet scroll began to blur and shake, narrowing into a pinprick like she was looking through a narrow tunnel.

Blake closed her eyes and took in several deep breaths, hands curled into fists in her knees. The careful breaths – counted silently in her head – helped her vision grow slightly clearer, and the sight of the scroll sitting innocently on the coffee table grew sharper.

“Call me anytime if you need someone to talk to.”

Blake frowned, but the shaking in her hands and the knot in her chest and the fluttering in her belly compelled her to reach for the scroll again.

“I’m telling you, if he doesn’t wanna pay full price than he can get the reduced service.”

Ruby frowned. “But it’s already such a small catering job anyway. Reducing it would make it almost non-existent.”

Yang shrugged. “The man is demanding a fifty-percent discount because he didn’t think to order enough napkins. He’s lucky we’re still servicing him at all, after how he spoke to you on the phone.”

Ruby’s frown didn’t go away, but Yang spotted a spark of anger in her eyes. “Hmm, you might be right. He is lucky he wasn’t here in person. I’d a given him some choice words about treating people with respect.”

Yang snorted, and in an effort to lighten the mood ruffled the tuft of hair that stuck up at the top of Ruby’s temple. “Sure you would have, pipsqueak. I think we’d have better luck letting Weiss lay into him.”

Ruby ducked out from under Yang’s hand, pouting. “But Weiss is shorter than me.”

“Uh huh. And about five times as ferocious.”

“I can be ferocious!” Ruby did her best to arrange her face into what she thought was a fierce expression.

“No you can’t.” Weiss said dryly as she exited the office to join them at the bartop. “And what’s this about me being shorter than you?”

Ruby swiveled in her seat to grin sheepishly at Weiss. “Uh, we were just talking about you being… umm… small but mighty?”

Weiss turned the full power of her glare on her girlfriend, who sank into her seat.

“Ah come one, Weiss. You aren’t very gifted in the height department...” Yang shrugged, pulling out her scroll to flip absentmindedly through her emails.

Weiss switched her glare to Yang, but the bartender just shrugged and threw in a cheeky wink, having long grown immune to Weiss’s icy stares.

Weiss opened her mouth, probably to say something dry and sarcastic, but the scroll in Yang’s hand lit up, vibrating with a suddenness that made Yang jump. Blake’s shy smile lit up the screen, a picture Yang had snapped on her first night at the bar specifically for her contact.

Yang’s brow furrowed, but she answered without hesitation. “Blake?”

“Yang?”

Blake’s voice came out in a gasp, shaky and rough. The bottom dropped out of Yang’s stomach.

“Blake? Blake are you okay?”

“I – I’m not sure. Can you come over?”

“… of course.”

Yang glanced up at Weiss and Ruby. Weiss nodded once. “Go.”

She tried not to let her mind instantly spiral into worst case scenarios, but soon enough not even the familiar thrill of Bumblebee rumbling beneath her could keep the images flashing through her head. Some were memories – the cop at the door that rainy night, the phone call from a frantic Nora that something bad had happened and Pyrrha was in the hospital...

Yang blinked and suddenly she was driving down Blake’s street, the apartment complex coming into view. She practically skidded to a stop and the wheels squealed their disapproval. She tore her helmet off, just barely remembering to yank the keys from the ignition before jogging to the lobby doors.

She pulled the scroll out of her pocket, shooting a quick text.

Hey. I’m here. Can U buzz me in?

Yang stared down at the screen, the pit in her stomach yawning ever wider, until a single message popped up in response.

Yes.

A few moments passed, until a beep accompanied by a small green light on the board beside the door. Yang quickly noted the number beside the light and pulled the door open. Struggling to make it look like she wasn’t running, Yang forced herself to slow. Watching the light for the elevator slowly tick down to the bottom floor was maddening, but the doors finally rattled open and Yang stepped inside, trying to calm her restless energy by rocking back and forth on her heels. Frantic was the last thing that Blake needed right now.

A ding, the doors slid open and Yang stepped out, slightly calmer this time. Unit numbers flashed by until she came to the number she’d memorized beside the light, and rapped her knuckles on the door.

Silence.

“Blake? Blake are you there? It’s me. Can you let me in?”

Another beat of silence. Then, a muffled voice.

“It’s open.”

The knob turned easily under her hand, and she creaked the door open.

Ilia’s apartment was small, but neat. A hallway off the left most likely leading to the bedroom and bathroom, and a seating area to the right.

“Blake?” Yang called, keeping her voice low.

“In here.” To the right.

Blake sat on the couch, knees curled up to her chest and a colorful blanket draped over her shoulders. She didn’t look up at Yang, instead staring blankly at her scroll on the coffee table.

A familiar lump rose up in Yang’s throat. “Hey, are you okay?”

Blake very faintly shook her head.

Yang approached her cautiously and gingerly sat down on the couch beside Blake. Very slowly, like Blake could bolt at any moment, Yang reached out and took her hand.

“Okay. Blake? If you can hear me go ahead and squeeze my hand.”

A squeeze.

“Good. Now I want you to listen to my voice okay? Feel my hand, squeeze if you need to.”

Another squeeze. A shaky breath, then another.

“Come back to me, Blake.”

Another squeeze and a sigh. Blake’s shoulders slowly lowered from their hunched posture and relaxed. Yang started humming a tune under her breath. Blake tilted slightly in her seat until her head was leaning on Yang’s shoulder.

“Yang?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

Blake breathed in, then out. “I’m sorry.”

Yang shook her head. “Don’t be.”

Blake pressed slightly closer. “I don’t know what happened.”

Yang hummed. “You were disassociating, I think. Happens to me too, sometimes.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. When I think about Mom.”

“Oh.”

They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes. Yang glanced at the scroll on the coffee table. “What happened?”

Blake shifted, pulling her head away. Yang instantly missed her.

“I… I called my dad.”

Yang’s throat tightened. “Yeah?”

Blake frowned. “He… he wasn’t there. I left a message with his secretary.”

“I see.”

Another beat of silence. Then Blake started talking.

“I ran away when I was barely seventeen. He… Adam… had convinced me that Mom and Dad weren’t doing enough, that they were cowards. They had started a faunus civil rights movement, you see, and Dad wanted to disband it and start over. Our… public image wasn’t great, because some felt like the movement was too passive and wanted to be more... aggressive.”

Blake narrowed her eyes. “Adam was… very persuasive. Me and Dad got into a bad argument. We both said some things we didn’t mean, things that were purely spiteful.”

Blake buried her face in her knees. “I… I thought they hated me. So Adam convinced me to run away, to the mainland where we could be what we wanted to be. Be free.”

Yang watched the Blake’s ears pin back against her head.

“I haven’t spoken to them since that night.”

Yang carefully slipped her arm around Blake’s waist, giving her room to pull away. When Blake didn’t move, Yang pulled her closer. Blake returned to her previous position against Yang’s shoulder. “Blake you were seventeen. You were a kid. We all say and do dumb shit when we’re kids. I know I have.”

“Really? You?”

“Yep.” Yang huffed a small laugh. “I was – let’s just say running with a bad crowd as a teenager. Got into some trouble. Then Pyrrha had her accident and… it kinda shook me. Reminded me that the people I care about could just disappear one day.”

She felt Blake shudder against her side.

“Thanks. For coming over.” Blake spoke in low tones. “For being here.”

“Of course. I care about you Blake.” Yang couldn’t resist and pressed a kiss into Blake’s hair.

Blake sniffled. “Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why do you care? Why me?” Yang’s heart broke at the small, defeated tone in Blake’s voice.

“Blake...” Yang pulled back slightly. Blake wasn’t looking at her, instead looking down at her twisting hands. Yang gently tilted her chin up with a single finger. “I care because you’re the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met. I care because it feels like I’ve known you for a lifetime. I care because I admire your strength and courage.”

Blake met her gaze with watery eyes. “You think I’m strong?”

Yang smiled softly. “The strongest woman in the world.”

Blake finally smiled, and Yang did a mental celebratory dance. Yang leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.

Blake leaned closer and nuzzled her face into Yang’s neck, and Yang pulled her close – marveling at how perfectly she fit.

They sat together for a few more moments, then Blake gave a soft gasp and pulled away. Her hand shot to splay across her belly.

“What is it?” Yang said, alarmed.

“I… I think the baby is kicking.” Blake almost whispered, as if afraid that speaking too loud was blasphemy.

“Whoa, really?” said Yang. “What… what does it feel like?”

Blake wrinkled her nose. Yang had to force herself not to clutch at her heart at the cuteness of the gesture.

“It feels… like bubbles. Or maybe a tapping.” Blake moved her hand to tap lightly on the side of her belly. “Right here.” Blake laughed wetly. “And I thought it was just nerves.”

“Wow.” Yang grinned. “Talkin’ to your mama already, Peanut?”

Blake chuckled and started drawing small circles through her shirt with a fingertip.

“Hey.” Yang said, perking up. “What do you say we go get ice cream? Ice cream makes everything better.”

Blake smirked slightly. “You just want ice cream.”

Yang shrugged and made to get up, grinning. “Maybe. Do my motivations matter? I mean, it’s ice cream.”

“Wait.”

Yang paused mid motion. She turned to look at Blake, who avoided her gaze and chewed her lip. “There’s… something I want to do first.”

Slowly, achingly slowly, Blake took Yang’s face in her soft hands. Yang felt like a deer frozen in bright lights as Blake leaned forward and pressed her warm lips to Yangs.

Yang had been dreaming about kissing Blake ever since that night in the rain. Almost against her will she melted into the kiss, just barely tasting Blake on her tongue.

The moment was far too short in Yang’s opinion. Blake pulled away before their kiss got deeper, and she stared into Yang’s eyes. “Was that okay?”

Yang let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “I – yeah. Yeah that was more than okay.”

But the furrow between Blake’s eyes didn’t smooth over. “It’s just… you haven’t kissed me since that night. And I thought… maybe you’d regretted it.”

“No way. I couldn’t regret you.” Yang mirrored Blake’s hands, cradling her face to lean their foreheads together. “It’s just… well I’m technically your boss. I’m sure there’s some… ethical issues there.”

Blake quietly scoffed. “You could always fire me, if that would take the edge off.”

Yang pouted. “And not be able to see your face every day? Talk about a bummer.”

“I’m kidding.” Blake wound her arms around Yang’s neck and boldly pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “That would be a bummer, wouldn’t it?”

Oh, dear gods. Yang mentally swore. But Blake pulled away and there was that damn smirk again. “Now, I believe you promised us ice cream?”

Chapter Text

“Hey Blake, wanna help shave the coconuts?”

The utter oddness of Ruby’s question had Blake blinking for a moment, then looking up from the stack of lien she’d been counting out into the register. “Huh?”

Ruby plopped down onto a bar stool and cheerily spun in a circle. “For tonight’s dessert special? Yang’s allergic and Weiss hates it.”

“Because you are a madwoman with your knives.” Weiss spoke up from across the bar, not even bothering to look up from her ever present paperwork. “You’re gonna lose a finger one of these days.”

Ruby scoffed. “All the best chefs have missing fingers.”

Blake slid the register drawer close and hummed. “I’m pretty sure it’s the opposite...”

Ruby exaggerated a hushing motion, finger to her lips and a wink, then hopped off the stool. “So you wanna come help?”

Blake couldn’t help a smile at Ruby’s antics. “Sure.”

“Gods help you.” Weiss muttered when they passed her table.

The kitchen was much the same it always was, little more than an hour from opening for the evening. Steamy from boiling pots, piles of chopped vegetables ready to be put into various dishes. As they entered the ding of a timer went off, and Ruby darted off into the depths behind the stainless steel racks and countertops.

Blake spotted the small mountain of half-shell coconuts and pulled over a small three legged stool. The more her pregnancy progressed, the more her center mass shifted as her belly grew and she found that standing in place for prolonged periods of time made the pain in her lower back that much worse. She’d resisted when she’d first noticed the strange increase of stools and chairs scattered in convenient locations around the bar, but had to admit it was nice to be able sit down when the protesting of her feet and back grew too loud to ignore. Yang had shrugged a tad sheepishly the first time Blake pointed it out.

“Doc said you need to be taking breaks more often anyway,” was her excuse.

Blake pulled over the first coconut half and picking up a small curved knife to begin scraping at the soft white flesh. A familiar motion, one that called to a half-forgotten memory of cleaning fresh coconuts with her mother in the heavy, humid weather of Menagerie.

Blake allowed herself a small sigh. It’d been just one day since the call to her father’s office, but every hour her scroll stayed silent the more unwelcome thoughts intruded, thoughts in a familiar voice, a little quieter than it used to be but still very much present.

They don’t want to talk to you.

You were a horrible daughter, why would they want you back?

“Sorry about that, had to check on the broth.” Ruby returned, skidding in her sneakers.

“No problem.” Blake held up the half-finished shell and the knife to show her. “I already started.”

Ruby’s eyebrows only rose a fraction before she grinned. “You’ve done this before.”

Blake shrugged with a small smile. “My mom used to make these coconut cake balls, she’d always recruit me to help.”

Ruby’s grin widened. “I knew I liked you.”

They worked in friendly silence for a while, Ruby wordlessly sliding over a large metal bowl to place the shaved coconut meat. True to Weiss’s word, Ruby flipped and twirled her knife with barely a care while Blake watched with some trepidation.

Ruby noticed her eyeing the spinning blade and smirked. “Learned a few tricks back in school. You’d be surprised how many culinary students are into knife throwing.”

“Knife...throwing?”

“Uh-huh.” Ruby finished her coconut half with a flourish. “I could teach you if you like.”

Blake couldn’t help a small smile at Ruby’s sincerity. “Maybe.”

Ruby gave a small fist pump. “Yes!”

Blake chuckled, and with the sound there was a fluttering sensation in her belly. Blake shifted in her seat, automatically reaching down with her free hand to touch the spot where she felt the movement before reaching to grab another shell.

Ever since noticing it for the first time it became almost impossible to not notice. It seemed to grow stronger when she was eating, or made a sudden movement or a loud noise. She knew from her book that it was a little early for the baby to be hearing things, but she felt like the movement seemed to respond to her voice, or to loud noises. She’d asked Dr Scarlatina in a phone call, and the doctor had agreed.

“The science isn’t exact, and this is around the time your baby will start hearing things outside the womb. Every pregnancy is different. I do encourage you to start talking to the baby, maybe turning on some music. It helps them develop.”

“Is it moving?”

Ruby’s half-whisper pulled Blake out of her thoughts. “Yeah.”

Ruby’s nose wrinkled slightly. “Does it feel weird?”

Blake couldn’t help a small laugh. “Kind of. Like someone is poking me from the inside.”

The wrinkle grew deeper. “That is weird.”

Blake picked another coconut shell from the steadily shrinking pile. “Doctor Scarlatina says it’ll be some time before you can feel it from the outside, but meanwhile I’m dealing with someone tap dancing on my belly button.”

Ruby tilted her head and made a face. “I just had the weirdest mental image...”

Blake laughed again, louder this time. “You and me both.”

Ruby threw a glance at the clock above the door. “Looks like we’ve got another half hour before opening. You good to stay and help me finish up?”

Blake nodded. Ruby kept up a steady stream of chatter this time, seeming content to just talk. She told Blake about the small apartment she, Weiss, and Yang shared and how she and Weiss were shopping for their own place (“I’ll throw a couple listings your way, if you want!”) and the dog she wanted to get eventually. About her uncle and father, who Blake still hadn’t met.

Soon the repetitive motion of carving the coconuts and nodding along to Ruby’s voice lulled Blake into a sense of calm, so much so that when her scroll vibrated in her pocket she barely glanced at the screen before answering. “Hello?”

“Blake?”

The knife fell onto the table from numb fingers. “Dad?”

A short pause on the other side of the line. “Blake.”

The utter relief in her father’s familiar warm voice, just as gruff as she remembered, made a heavy lump rise up in her throat and her vision blur. Before she knew it she was sobbing, only just managing to cling onto the scroll in her hand like a lifeline.

“Blake, sweetheart...” Ghira’s voice echoed through the speaker, trying to sooth but only making the tears flow faster.

Hands wrapped around her shoulders, gently steering her through the kitchen doors and out onto the floor. Blake blinked back her tears and Ruby’s concerned face swam into view.

“The office is more private.” Ruby spoke, keeping her voice low. Blake appreciated it.

She caught one glimpse of Yang behind the bar, taking half a step towards her with one hand reached out in concern. Blake shook her head through her tears, and Yang frowned but nodded.

Ruby lead her into the office and left, flashing an awkward thumbs up before closing the door behind her.

Blake only just realized her father was speaking through her tears.

“Blake, baby, I’m so sorry. I -”

Blake shook her head before realizing Ghira couldn’t see her. “No, dad. It’s all my fault.”

“No Blake, none of this is your fault. Things happened and were said that… neither of us meant.”

Blake sniffled, plopping down into the small office chair before her knees gave out.

“I’m… so glad you called, sweetheart.” Ghira spoke with that tone of fondness, and something ached in Blake’s chest.

“Me too.” Blake let her head slump in her hand.

“Are you alright? Are you safe? Where are you?”

“Still in Vale.” Blake swallowed thickly. “Dad… you were right about him. I was so stupid and selfish and -”

“No, no sweetheart don’t think like that.” Ghira soothed. “Don’t blame yourself, I -”

Her father’s voice cut off with shuffling sounds and a muffled ‘give me the scroll’ and suddenly her mother’s voice came through the speaker. “Blake? Blake honey?”

Her mother’s voice prompted another round of tears and apologies. Blake let the tears flow down her face with wild abandon – she couldn’t believe that she’d forgotten what the sound of her parent’s love felt like…

“Are you safe? How have you been doing?” Kali asked. “I’m putting you on speaker.”

“Things have been… tough, but I think I’m in a good place. I’ve got somewhere to stay, and I’ve got a good job. Even with everything going on, and with the baby coming -”

“Baby? What baby?”

Blake almost clapped a hand to her mouth. Gods, she hadn’t meant for that to slip out so soon. “I… um...”

A short pause on the other side of the line, then… “You mean I’m going to be a GRANDMA?!”

Blake cringed and pulled the speaker away from her sensitive ears.

“I’m getting on the next boat to the mainland. What’s your address? You said Vale? Going to have to get plane tickets too...” Her mother’s voice faded, growing distant as she stepped away from the scroll. Blake could clearly picture her frantically running through the house stuffing articles of clothing into a suitcase.

“Mom, Dad, you don’t have to come here...”

“Ah, I think your mother has already decided.”

Blake sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. But despite everything, she couldn’t help but smile. Her parent’s voices were warm and familiar – their clear concern and love felt like sinking into a warm bath after a long day, and she could already feel their arms around her. “Well, I’m not going to say no… it’d be… really nice to see you again.”

“Oh Blake. We love you no matter what, you know that right?” Ghira’s voice softened, and Blake could almost hear the familiar deep rumble she used to listen to as a small child.

“I do now.”

Her ears pricked up at the sound of a quiet knocking at the office door, and Yang poked her head in. “How’s it going?” she mouthed.

Blake’s eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. “Oh. Umm. Mom, Dad? Can I call you back later? I’m at work right now...”

“Oh! Of course! We don’t want to keep you. Call us back as soon as you can, okay?”

Blake blinked back tears that sprang to her eyes again. “I will.”

Then the line went dead, and she let the scroll fall into her lap.

Yang stepped into the office and quietly closed the door behind her. “How’d it go?”

Blake swiped at the tears on her cheeks, slightly embarrassed. “It – it went great. They’re going to come here to visit.”

Yang perked up. “That’s great! I’ll even give them a discount at the bar.” She winked playfully, prompting Blake to give a watery laugh in return. Yang held out her arms in silent invitation, and Blake didn’t hesitate to step into her embrace.

“Stupid hormones.” she sniffled, drying her eyes on the fabric of Yang’s tank top.

Yang squeezed her tightly and rested her chin on the top of Blake’s head. One of her hands crept down to lightly poke Blake’s belly. “You quit makin’ your mama cry, ya hear?”

Blake rolled her eyes, but let Yang hold her for several minutes more. Until a knock on the door and Weiss stuck her head in, frowning. She raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on their embrace. “You do know it’s like, five minutes after opening right?”

“Shit.” Yang pulled away and stared at her watch. “Damn thing died again.”

Weiss pursed her lips skeptically. “I’m just going to go ahead and unlock the doors.”

Yang rubbed the back of her neck, awkward. “Yeah, you do that.”

With one last raised eyebrow look they were left alone. Yang pulled back and put her hands on Blake’s shoulders. “Are you okay to work?”

Blake straightened her back and wiped her cheeks one last time. “Yeah, I think I am.”

Yang’s smile turned a tad mischievous. “Great, because we’ve got a pre-booked party of eighteen tonight."

At Blake’s suddenly horrified expression she laughed. “I’m kidding! It’s only six.”

Blake lightly punched her arm. “That wasn’t funny.”

“Aw, it was kinda funny.” Yang stepped away and held the door open for her in a sweeping bow. “My lady.”

Blake held her head high and put on an air of disdain. She pretended to flip her hair over her shoulder and walked through the door as gracefully as she could. “Thank you.”

Yang’s grin widened and she winked, making Blake flush in spite of herself. “You’re welcome.”

Chapter Text

The Vale airport was one of the busiest in the region at the slowest of times – easy to lose your way in the sprawling complex. Which is the reason Yang told herself that she hadn’t let go of Blake’s hand since they arrived.

Blake leaned forward slightly as she squinted up at the “Arrivals” board, chewing her lip. Yang squeezed her hand.

“Hey, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Your mom said flight 902 right?”

“Yeah.” Blake shifted from foot to foot and Yang recognized her anxious tells.

She used her thumb to stroke the back of Blake’s hand. “Why don’t we go sit down? When did you eat last?”

Blake shrugged and finally took her eyes off the board with a sheepish grimace. “Umm… I had a few crackers this morning? I was too nauseous for anything else.”

“Okay come on.” Yang gently led her away, spying a few empty seats near a food court. “Doc says you gotta eat regular meals.”

Blake grumbled, but sighed when she eased down into a seat. “Fine. But if you end up with it all over your shoes it’s not my fault.”

“Noted.” Yang couldn’t help her smile at Blake’s grumpiness. “Got any cravings in particular?”

Blake leaned to peer over her shoulder and Yang glanced back to spot the familiar sign of a popular sandwich shop. She chuckled. “Alright, you got it.”

“Can you ask if they have tuna?” Blake widened her eyes and clasped her hands together in a pleading motion. “Because sometimes they don’t.”

“Whatever the lady wishes.” Yang said. “I’m totally gonna be that customer if they don’t have it,” she joked.

Blake bit her lip again and looked to the sign again, conflicted. “Actually...”

Yang gasped in an over-dramatic fashion and scrunched her face. “Blake! We both work in the service industry, we should know better.”

Blake crossed her arms and pouted, also exaggerating her expression. “But I’m pregnant and the baby wants tuna! I don’t have to be nice!”

They both stood there, faces turning red, when Blake broke first. She laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks and Yang grinned so wide her face hurt. Blake smiled through her tears of laughter, and she couldn’t imagine a sight any more beautiful.

Eventually Blake gave her a light push in the direction of the shop, still grinning. “Alright, I recall you promising us food.”

Yang held up her hands. “Okay, okay, I’m going.”

She lost sight of Blake in the crowd while standing in line at the sandwich shop, but she mindlessly flicked through her scroll just so it’d be in her hand if Blake called. A notification from Ruby popped up in the group chat.

Sis: hwz it goin?

Future Sis: Ruby, for the last time you don’t have to text like that.

Sis: not wut u sed lst nite

Future Sis: That doesn’t make any sense.

Yang snorted and quickly tapped out a response.

TheBigBoss: Going great. Plane is just landing. Getting some food rn. Quit antagonizing Weiss.

Future Sis: She’s literally sitting right next to me. I don’t why I love your sister.

Sis: aww thks snowdrop :P

TheBigBoss: u 2 r gross

Future Sis: You’re one to talk.

Yang rolled her eyes slightly then slipped the scroll in her pocket when she stepped up to order.

With all sandwich cargo safely in hand Yang set off to rejoin Blake, only to find her wrapped in the tight embrace of a small older woman with tall black ears.

Yang approached slowly, making a show of arranging the wrapped sandwiches and trying not to intrude on what was clearly a personal moment, but Blake finally pulled away and spotted her, lighting up through suspiciously red rimmed eyes. “Yang!”

Yang smiled when Blake stepped forward to tug her closer. “Mom, this is Yang. Remember I told you about her?”

Kali Belladonna looked a lot like her daughter, Yang noted. Same eyes and chin, but her ears were taller and pierced with gold studs and her brow was a slightly different shape. But then she grinned, and her resemblance to Blake became even more apparent.

Yang was just switching the small sandwich bag to the other hand to offer a handshake, but before she could Blake’s mother stepped forward and pulled her into a strong hug that nearly squeezed the breath out of her lungs. For a split second Yang glanced at Blake in a small panic, but she just shrugged.

“Of course! Blake has told me all about you!” Mrs Belladonna stepped back to put both hands on Yang’s shoulders. “I wanted to thank you sincerely for all you’ve done for my baby girl.”

“Mom...” Blake flushed and hid her face behind her hands.

Yang tried not to look like she was clinging to the sandwiches like they were a safety line, but she managed her best customer service voice. “It’s my pleasure, ma’am.”

Mrs Belladonna gave her a look. “Oh please honey, call me Kali. All this ma’am stuff makes me feel old.”

Yang found herself relaxing at Kali’s easy energy and she smiled. “Well, I hope this peace offering makes up for it. Ever had a Vale’s Best sandwich?”

Kali raised an eyebrow, with a slight smirk. “Can’t say I have.”

“Don’t tell my sister. She’ll kill me if she finds out I didn’t get her any.” Yang took one of the sandwiches out and handed it to Blake, who took it like it was made of gold. “Tuna or chicken?”

Kali’s smirk got bigger. “Would it be terribly cliché of me if I said tuna?”

Yang echoed her smirk. “Only because it’s Blake’s favorite too.”

Kali laughed out loud, and Yang decided she liked Blake’s mom.

“Your father had some obligations he couldn’t postpone.” said Kali. “He’ll be here in a month or two. My goodness they do make good sandwiches.”

Yang caught Blake’s eye in the rear view mirror of the van and wiggled her eyebrows. Blake rolled her eyes slightly. “Yeah, Vale’s Best isn’t an exaggeration.”

“Well, I’m glad they are feeding you and my future grandbaby well here.” One of Kali’s ears swiveled towards Yang. “You said you’re a business owner, Yang?”

“Yep.” Yang flipped her blinker on and resisted the urge to curse at the speedy car that zipped ahead to cut her off. “I own a restaurant and bar with my sister – I run front of house and general management while my sister Ruby runs the kitchen and orders the stock.”

“So you come from a family of entrepreneurs?”

Yang turned onto a narrow side street, glancing down at her scroll to make sure she was going in the right direction. “Yeah, you could say that.”

Kali turned to smirk at her daughter. “She’s quite a catch, isn’t she dear?”

Yang felt her cheeks burn along with Blake’s in the mirror. “Ah, mom...”

“I know, I know.” Kali acquiesced. “I’m your mom, it’s in my job description to embarrass you.”

Yang briefly tuned out their conversation to check her directions again. She knew the city well, but Kali’s hotel was in a newer part of the city and she had to double check a few street names.

“I know you said you wanted to stay in Vale, all I’m saying is that your father has been hard at work improving Kuo Kuana. We’ve got a brand new hospital and a real school now!”

“Mom, we already talked about this. I like it here. I’ve got a good job, friends. And Vale has good schools too, even a university!”

Yang’s scroll slipped from her hand briefly and made a loud noise against the hard center console. She saw Blake’s ears swivel towards her in the mirror.

“Sorry,” Yang mumbled, not looking to meet Blake’s gaze she could feel burning into the back of her neck.

“Blake, honey. You know that your father and I will respect whatever decision you make. All I’m asking is that you consider moving back home? Kuo Kuana’s not a bad place for a little one to grow up.”

Yang was listening so hard she nearly missed the turn and had to jerk the wheel slightly too quickly. Blake’s eyes burned into her neck again.

A sigh. “I know, mom. I’ll… think about it.”

Yang continued to avoid Blake’s eyes even as they pulled into the hotel’s parking lot. She nodded along and listened politely when spoken too, but the thought of looking into Blake’s amber eyes with this new yet familiar dark cloud hanging over her head was too much.

Eventually they both got back back into the van (Yang helping Blake up as she always did, but her usual quip or joke got caught in her throat at Blake’s quiet “thank you” so she said nothing) but Yang didn’t reach to turn the key.

The both sat in the silence of the cab for several long minutes, that dark cloud growing larger and beginning to rumble ominously.

Blake broke the tense silence first.

“Yang?”

Her voice sounded so small and unsure, and guilt rattled in Yang’s stomach.

“Are you… mad at me?”

Guilt turned to horror as Yang finally turned to look at Blake, those amber eyes that haunted her in her sleep watery with unshed tears. “What? No, no, Blake I could never be mad at you, I...”

With a hint of desperation Yang gathered Blake’s hands in hers, rubbing the cool skin to stave off the chill of winter air. “Blake. I don’t ever want you to think… that I…I...” She harshly swallowed against the rising lump in her throat. “I’m not mad at you.”

Blake’s breath hitched, and Yang felt the guilt settle even heavier over her shoulders. Tenderly, slowly, Yang reached out to cup her flushed cheek. Like two magnets, they leaned forward in unison until their foreheads were pressed together. Yang swallowed again against the lump in her throat. “Blake… I don’t want you to feel like you… have to stay. For me.”

Blake sniffled, and Yang let her thumb catch a stray tear. “You could… move back home, to where it’s sunny and warm. Raise your baby where you grew up, with your parents and among your own people.”

Blake sniffled once more, then leaned back slightly and reached up to take Yang’s hand in hers. “Yang. I’m not staying because I feel I have to. I really do like it here in Vale, in spite of… certain memories. I like my friends, I like my job. And… maybe I like you. Maybe you are at least a little part of why I want to stay. Maybe I want to raise my baby right here… with you.”

Yang blinked, her own tears welling up. “With… me?”

“Of course.” Blake managed a watery smile. “Unless you didn’t realize I come with a two-for-one deal?”

A wobbly chuckle made its way out of Yang’s chest. “Well, when you put it like that…”

Blake moved to touch her forehead against Yang’s again. “Is that alright?”

Yang ducked down and lightly pressed a kiss to her lips, just the slightest brush of skin. “Sounds pretty alright to me.”

Chapter Text

“And see here? Dr Scarlatina spotted them – ears.”

Ruby’s eyes grew almost comically wide and watery. “Awwww…”

Weiss rolled her eyes fondly. She took a sip of her tea. “Ruby, you think snakes are cute.”

Ruby sniffled and rubbed her cheeks. “They don’t have any arms…”

Blake chuckled as she traced the unmistakable shapes on the ultrasound. She subconsciously leaned into Yang’s warmth at her side, and Yang tightened her arm around her waist.

It was a lovely day, despite the sharp chill in the air that heralded snow in the near future. Clear and cloudless, the weak winter sun doing its best to melt the last few remaining icicles clinging to the eaves of the small cafe. At their feet sat numerous bags, filled with the fruits of their shopping day – clothes and toys and shoes, all small enough to make even Weiss coo with affection.

Her scroll chirped, and Blake picked it up to open the message from her mother – another potential listing. “Ooh, this one is a house.”

“Really?” Yang leaned over with interest. “Where at?”

“Hmm… a little far, but it’s a nice neighborhood. There’s a playground two blocks away.”

“That’s a plus.” Yang gently took the scroll from her hand to examine the listing closer. “Two bedroom, nice size, a small yard...”

Blake let her head fall onto Yang’s shoulder and felt her heart squeeze almost painfully. Yang had taken to this whole parenthood thing like she was built for it, throwing herself into every aspect with a headlong enthusiasm that Blake was learning she tackled everything with. She had zoomed through Blake’s pregnancy book at a breakneck pace, then went out and got a couple more just for good measure.

Yang seemed to sense her mood, and she turned her head to look at her.

“What?” she asked with a small smile.

“Nothing, it’s just… I’m glad you’re here.”

The corners of Yang’s eyes crinkled with her smile, and she pecked a kiss on Blake’s head.

“Ugh, you two are gross.”

Yang stuck her tongue out at her sister instead of responding, and Blake laughed out loud.

She shot a quick thumbs up emoji back to her mother, indicating her approval of the house. Ruby stopped pouting and leaned over the table, a suspicious sparkle in her eye. “Sooo… is this the one?”

Blake nodded. “I think it is. I like the location, plus the size is ideal. I wasn’t too sold on living in the city anyway.”

Ruby pumped her fist with excitement. “Yes! You know what we should do? We should make a day out of it! When you move I mean! Invite all our friends to help, then have a cookout at your new place!”

Weiss nudged her with a small smile. “You just want to try out that new portable grill of yours.”

“Damn right I do! It’s so shiny and new and it won’t fit anywhere in my kitchen! It just sits there out in the alley all by its lonesome!”

“I won’t be opposed to a cookout...” said Blake, grinning. “You do make an excellent barbecue sauce.”

“Ha! I win! Cookout it is!”

“I can grill a pretty good burger myself.” Yang straightened her back and pointed her thumb at herself.

“Yeah,” said Ruby, turning her head at her sister with a shark-like grin. “The one out of four that isn’t charcoal is pretty okay.”

Yang kicked her sister under the table, making Ruby wheeze with laughter.

They finished their lunch and kept walking through the downtown streets, window shopping with hands entwined.

They ducked into a small thrift shop that caught Blake’s eye with a brightly painted rocking horse in the window – far too large to get so soon but still interesting.

Ruby and Weiss wandered off into another aisle, leaving Yang and Blake alone in the clothing section. Yang made a triumphant noise and produced a small onesie from within the depths of the crowded rack. Black, with white lettering. The short sleeves were intentionally ragged, as if torn.

“Suns Out, Guns Out.” Blake read with a deadpan voice. She glanced up at Yang. “No.”

“Awww, but its so cute!”

“They can get a shirt like that when they are twenty, not -” she took a moment to gauge the size on the tag - “- three months.”

Yang pouted but put the onesie back, skimming through another section. Something across the store seemed to catch her eye, and she leaned over to murmur, “You gonna be alright if I go check something out for a second?”

Blake nodded, and Yang skipped off down the aisle with a spring in her step. Blake watched her go with a chuckle, then went back to the rack in front of her. A lot of frilly things, not so much to her liking.

The ding of the front door opening distracted her for a moment, until she found something much plainer and gender neutral and pulled it out with triumph.

She was just looking up to spot Yang across the store to get her opinion, when a voice from behind froze her in her tracks.

“Blake.”

Every instinct she’d buried, every knee jerk reaction she’d worked so hard to move past, came flooding back in a single instant. Her hands shook and a cold sweat sprung to her skin.

It took every ounce of strength to not immediately curl into a defensive stance as she turned to see Adam, standing with such nonchalance as if he hadn’t been the subject of every nightmare she’d had for the last six months.

The baby kicked sharply inside her, responding to her increased heartbeat, and the feeling was enough to break her out of her oncoming panic attack for long enough to regain her composure. She flattened her ears and straightened her stance, lifting her chin in a rather shaky impression of Weiss. “Adam.”

She forced her voice to remain steady and not show just how much he affected her.

She caught a flicker of surprise in his expression and took a small amount of satisfaction in it. That’s right, he couldn’t push her around so easily anymore.

He sighed, nothing but condescension in his tone. “Blake, darling. Enough of this. You’re just being hysterical, I know we argued but -”

“Argued?” Blake hissed, latching onto the rising anger like a lifeline. “You pushed me into broken glass and threatened to kill me!”

Adam sighed again. “Blake, that didn’t happen, we talked about this. You were off your sleeping medication. I know now why you stopped taking it, I found the test in the bins outside. I don’t know why you hid it, but now you can come home and we can be a family.”

Blake bared her teeth in an instant and snarled, “Over my dead body.”

Something dangerous appeared in his eyes and Blake fought the instinct to cower. Moving faster than she could react, he seized her wrist and tried to drag her to the door. “Enough of this, we’re going home right now.”

“Let go of me!” Blake planted her heels on the linoleum where her sneakers squeaked in protest. “Let go!”

He turned back to say something else, but another voice cut him off like a beacon of hope.

“HEY!” Yang came charging up the aisle practically breathing fire. In two long strides she was there, gripping Adam’s wrist and twisting until he released her.

“I think you should do as she says.” Yang growled. She crossed her arms and stepped between Blake and Adam. They were similar heights, but in that moment Yang looked like she towered over him, bright and beautiful as an avenging angel.

Blake turned away to hide her face in her shaking hands. She hadn’t realized just how hard her heart was beating…

Gentle hands touched her shoulders for a moment before disappearing, and she peered through her fingers to see Ruby stepping up to her sister’s side, smaller but with an expression Blake had never seen on her before – cold and serious.

“You’re going to stay away from her,” she said, her voice as strong and unbending as steel.

Adam rubbed his wrist sullenly, and he cast a look at Yang filled with fury. “This isn’t over,” he hissed.

“Oh, I think it is.” Weiss’s voice came from beside her, haughty and cold enough to freeze Hell.

Adam’s eyes flicked rapidly from face to face, weighing his options. He scoffed, and Blake felt his gaze lingering on her for one final moment before he turned on his heel and marched out the door.

Several heartbeats later and the stillness broke with Ruby’s soft exhalation. “Oh gods, Blake are you okay?”

Blake took a breath in through her nose and out through her mouth. “I think – I think I need to sit down...”

Cool hands closed around her wrists with a gentle but firm grip. Any further words she hears are strangely muffled, like she’s hearing them from underwater. She doesn’t protest when she is pulled away, vaguely recognizing that she has left the store to the cold air outside and lead down the street a short ways, before being encouraged to sit down on a bench with hands on her shoulders.

Something cylindrical is thrust into her hands.

“Drink.” A voice commands, and Blake obediently takes a sip. Warmth floods her from the inside, and the familiar scent of her favorite tea feels like a comforting blanket being wrapped around her shoulders.

She breathes slowly, in and out, and her vision clears to reveal Weiss, watching her with a scrutinizing gaze. Blake looks around. They are alone on the bench.

“Where…?”

“Ruby and Yang are still back at the store – you both needed some time to calm down.”

“Oh.”

Blake took another sip of her tea, letting its warmth comfort her.

Something moved abruptly in the corner of her vision, and she flinched. But it was only Weiss, offering a handkerchief.

“Sorry,” she murmured softly.

Blake took the cloth from her and wiped her cheeks. She hadn’t even realized she’d been crying.

“It never does go away, does it?”

Blake turned to look at Weiss, brow furrowed.

Weiss didn’t look back. “You think that you’ve gotten past it, moved on. And you may even go years without thinking about it. But something happens and you’re right back in it, like you never left.”

Blake stared, dread rising in her stomach. “Weiss…?”

“Did Yang ever tell you my last name?” she said suddenly. Blake shook her head numbly.

“It’s Schnee.”

Blake stared at her, slowly lowering the thermos of tea in her hands to her lap. “As in, Jacques Schnee? The Atlas shipping mogul who ran for mayor a few years back? Who pushed to outlaw faunus and human marriages? That Schnee?”

“Yep.” Weiss drew the word out slowly, with all the disdain she could squeeze into a single syllable.

Blake blinked. “I… didn’t know he had a second daughter.”

“You think that’s a coincidence?” Weiss snapped her gaze to Blake’s with a rueful twist to her mouth. “I’m sure my father would love to forget I exist too.”

Her hand came up to trace the bottom of the scar under her eye from behind her glasses. “He… wasn’t the ideal father he wants the world to think he is.”

Blake pulled in a sharp breath.

Weiss continued, almost like she’d forgotten Blake was there. “When I was little, he would come home from a deal gone wrong and… take it out on one of us. Winter, my sister, she… she tried to protect us but she was just a kid too. We all were. And my mom, she… she would just lock herself in the drawing room.”

Something grew painfully tight in Blake’s chest.

“One night when I was seventeen, it got so bad that he threw a glass at me… missed, but a broken piece flew wide and, well, I think you know what happened.”

In that moment, Blake saw something in Weiss that she hadn’t before.

Her own reflection.

“I ended up shouting back once – I couldn’t take it anymore. I think he didn’t expect it. I was supposed to be his heir, you know. After Winter left to join the military. And up until then, I just swallowed it. I put so much effort into being perfect, but… it was never enough.”

The thermos in Blake’s hands shook. “And it never would be.”

Weiss made a small noise of agreement. “I realize that now.”

She turned to Blake after a beat of silence, something intense in her expression. “When I left home, my father left me with nothing but my name. I ended up here, in Vale after my family butler paid for my way out of Atlas. For a while, I wandered the city – I had no idea what I would do next. Until a ‘Help Wanted’ sign in the window of a local bar caught my eye, and I took a chance.

“I’m sorry if I wasn’t the most... friendliest when we first met. I know that I can be difficult. I saw a lot of myself in you, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.” Weiss sighed and took her glasses off to wipe them on her sleeve. “Those two mean a lot to me, and they’ve… been through a lot.”

Blake nodded once. “I understand, I think I would have been the same to be honest.”

Weiss chuckled and smiled – the expression seemed to lift years from her face and for the first time Blake saw her the way she really was. She placed her glasses back on her nose with care and pushed them into place. “Well, I hope to be rid of my father’s name soon anyway.”

With that Weiss took out a small black box in her pocket. “I want to be a Rose instead of a Schnee.”

Blake gasped softly, then glanced back up the street to make sure they were still alone. She leaned in close, happy for a distraction from her still shaking hands. “When are you gonna ask?”

Weiss stroked a delicate finger across the box. “When the time feels right. I think Ruby would appreciate something more spontaneous, you know?”

Blake took another sip from her tea. “I agree. Does Yang know?”

Weiss chuckled, slipping the box back in her coat pocket. “She helped me pick it out.”

Blake laughed softly at that. “Figures.”

The sound of footsteps and the rustle of shopping bags caught her ears and she looked up to see Yang and Ruby making their way down the street, Yang looking decidedly put out behind her scarf.

“Okay, we’re good. The owner wasn’t too mad after we bought some stuff. And I managed to convince Yang not to go tear a certain someone’s head off.” Ruby said with a triumphant grin.

“Charming.” Weiss drawled, taking a handful of bags off Ruby.

“I fucking should have, he damn well deserved it.” Yang growled, stepping up to Blake and opening her arm on offering. An offering that Blake took gratefully, stepping into her embrace with a sigh.

“Are you alright?” Yang murmured against her hair.

“I am now.” Blake said back, pressing her face under her chin. “Can we go now? I’m cold.”

“We sure can. Hot cocoa at the bar anyone?”

“Oh that sounds lovely.” said Weiss, linking her arm with Ruby’s. “I think my eyelashes are freezing off.”

Blake pressed as close to Yang’s side as she could, her hand going up to rest on her stomach beneath her coat. As they made their way back to the van, she couldn’t help but glance behind them, looking for red hair and black horns.

Chapter Text

Ghira arrived with the first snow, just the lightest dusting on the buildings and streets of Vale like powered sugar. Blake’s father was a tall, imposing man who held himself with a certain countenance that made Yang wipe her palms on her pants before offering one for a shake, but the man had only shook his head and pulled her in for a solid hug that left her breathless.

Blake had stood in her father’s embrace for a long time. No words were exchanged, but Yang could sense the conversation they had with only their eyes. She could see where Blake got her more reflective tendencies.

Things moved quickly before they knew it, Blake signing the lease agreement on her new house with a flourish – Yang had given Blake the night off and hosted the whole family at Summer’s Place in celebration.

A good thing too, Blake needed the distraction. Ever since their encounter with Adam, Yang noticed how Blake tensed up in crowds, how she seemed to be constantly scanning over her shoulder, how she jumped at loud noises. It hurt her to see Blake like this, like she was back under his thumb.

Soon enough she caught herself glancing for dark red hair while out on the street, and she knew they needed a little something to celebrate Blake’s moving day, and what better way to do it than with a house warming party?

Ruby bounced in the shotgun seat, craning her neck around every corner as Yang took the van slowly through the sprawling suburb.

“Hold still, the house isn’t going anywhere.”

Ruby turned back to her sister, a retort on her lips. “Hey, I haven’t seen it yet, you have.”

Yang chuckled at that. “Well, there it is.”

They turned a corner and there it was – a one story house with a small front yard and a stone path leading up to the door. Painted a sunny yellow with white trim, the house seemed to glow slightly in the gloomy late morning sun. Unmelted patches of snow still lingered in the shadows under the eaves.

As if sensing their approach, the door opened and Blake stepped onto the front step, waving them down. Yang couldn’t help a smile – it looked like Kali had made her bundle up in a thick jacket and a hastily wound scarf beforehand. Blake stumbled only slightly as she made her way down the path – even under her jacket her belly was prominent, and the “preggers waddle” (Ruby’s words, not hers of course) was in full force. To Yang of course she was just as graceful as she’d always been.

She just reached the window as Yang coasted to a stop in front of the house, propping her elbow on the window frame and grinning at Blake from behind her sunglasses.

“Hey gorgeous, you seen a pretty girl around here? I think I’m a little lost.”

Blake grinned, and her flushed cheeks made Yang’s stomach flutter. “Nope, only pretty girl I see around here is you.”

Yang’s own cheeks grew warm at that, and she leaned out the window to peck Blake on the nose - ignoring Weiss’s groan from the back seat. “Urrgh, Ruby please tell me we aren’t that gross...”

“I’m afraid it’s true, sugar lips.”

The distinctive sound of Ruby squealing when Weiss poked her in the side made Blake pull back from the kiss. “Are you gonna tell me about this surprise that everyone keeps pretending I don’t know about?”

“Nope.” Yang grinned, opening the door and hopping down from her seat. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Blake crossed her arms. “Better be a good one.”

Yang pecked her on her cold cheek, then held her finger to her lips and winked. Blake pouted, but let it go, already moving to the back of the van where Ruby and Weiss were pulling boxes.

But before she could reach out to pick up a box, Yang took her hand in a gentle grip and tugged her back. “Uh uh. No carrying things, remember?”

Blake frowned but didn’t pull her hand away. “No carrying heavy things, I can still help.”

“And you will.” Yang stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Blake’s waist, twining her fingers at the small of her back. “But let us handle the big stuff first, okay? There’s a lot to unpack.”

Blake let her shoulders drop and she held Yang’s gaze for a moment, searching. Then she sighed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine.”

Yang grinned and pulled her in for a tighter hug. “Thank you.”

Blake hummed and returned the hug. Who needed jackets with she had her own personal sun?

“Why don’t you show me what you guys have done with the nursery?”

Blake’s eyes brightened, and she broke away from their embrace to tug Yang towards the house. “My mom has been having a field day. I pretty much let her have full reign with decorating, with a couple of guidelines, of course. By the way -” Blake stopped and turned to eye Yang’s bare arms. “My mom is gonna say something about you not wearing sleeves.”

Yang shrugged. “Eh, I run hot. Besides, I’m sure you would have something to say about me covering up these guns.” She gave a playful flex, and watched Blake’s eyes widen.

Her cheeks flamed bright red and she coughed into her hand. “Umm, yeah. I’d… I’d have something to say about that.”

Yang softened her smile and slung her arm around Blake’s shoulders. “The nursery...?”

“Uh… yeah.”

It wasn’t as if Yang hadn’t noticed that Blake was an attractive woman – pregnancy seemed to make her glow all the more, as well as added some curves that felt soft against her own – nor could she pretend she hadn’t noticed Blake’s eyes on her, lingering.

She’d been reluctant to push anything physical beyond the usual displays of affection, but she wasn’t going to lie even to herself – she wanted Blake, wanted her more every day. And she knew deep down that Blake wanted her too.

But the lingering thought of pushing too hard and ruining everything they’ve built scared her to her core. She wasn’t willing to risk Blake’s feelings like that, especially, not after what happened at the thrift store and how shaken she was.

So she convinced herself to be content with Blake’s hand in hers, her excited voice as she talked about color palettes and murals of baby animals. She’d brought so much love and light into Yang’s life already, how could she ever ask for more?

They passed through the small but clean kitchen, past the empty living room and down a hallway, where Blake gestured to a bare room on their left.

“This one is going to be my room, Dad and I are going out to look for furniture sales soon. I saw an estate sale online not too long ago, hopefully there is still some stuff left.”

Yang let her grin grow bigger as they approach the open door at the end of the hallway, where she could see a few open paint buckets and an unused ladder propped up against the frame. Music flowed, tinny from small radio speakers but cheerful.

They turned the corner into the room, and Yang couldn’t help her gasp.

Not one week ago this was a small spare room, walls a plain beige and carpet stained and dented from old furniture. Kali had transformed it, floor now a dark warm hardwood. The ceiling a soft blue, swirled with fluffy looking clouds like a summer day. The woman herself stood on her toes in the corner, putting the finishing touches on a mural that took up the entire back wall – a mural of the most lifelike sunset on a tropical beach that Yang had seen. From past descriptions she knew this must be Menagerie – Blake’s childhood home.

The silhouettes of dolphins paused in mid arch as they played in the distant waves, bent palm trees framing the scene on either side like cupped hands, and a flock of slender birds framed against the setting sun all together made Yang’s jaw drop.

She didn’t realize how long she stood frozen until Blake nudged her ribs, breaking her out of the awe. “It’s nice huh?”

“Nice?” Yang’s voice squeaked higher than she would admit. “Nice doesn’t begin to describe it.”

“You like it?” Kali looked up from her work, a smear of orange paint on her cheek. “I’m a bit out of practice but I think I did rather well.”

Yang blew out a breath with cheeks puffed out and approached the wall, almost afraid that breathing on the still wet paint would destroy the delicate colors. “It’s… beautiful.”

“Thank you, dear.” Kali stood up, wiping her paint brush on a well used cloth rag with a grin. Then she looked fully at Yang, and a slight frown creased her brow. “I hope you weren’t outside in the cold without a jacket...”

Yang let out a slightly awkward laugh. “It’s okay, I was in the van for most of the trip, and I grew up here so I’m used to it.”

Kali tsked her tongue. “Nonsense honey, it’s cold out there. Don’t want you to catch your death.”

“Leave the woman be, Kali.” Ghira stepped into the room, dust and cobwebs in his hair and a smile on his face. “She’s not from a tropical island.”

Kali turned to her husband, lips pursed. “Still...”

Ghira set the box he had propped on his shoulders down and Yang recognized the crib they bought some two weeks ago. Blake frowned and reached up on her toes to brush dust from her father’s hair. “Where were you?”

Ghira examined the image of the completed crib on the outside of the box before answering. “Attic. I guess it’s really more of a storage space. Too small to be called an attic. Pretty bare up there, just a few empty boxes.”

Yang’s scroll vibrated silently in her pocket, and she pulled it out with as much discretion as she could.

Sis: Operation Party Stork, incoming 5 mins

Yang put her scroll back in her pocket and caught Kali’s eye. Kali twitched an ear in question, and Yang gave her a nod. Kali grinned, and she reached out to touch Blake’s arm to get her attention. “Honey, I need your opinion on some of these color swatches, I’m not sure if they’ll go with the crib or not...”

Kali was quite a bit more skilled at casual distraction than Yang was, so Blake turned to her mother without a hint of suspicion and Yang slipped unnoticed out of the room.

She booked it back towards the front door, where she exited onto the front lawn to see several cars pulling up, including Ilia’s truck with a large bulky shape covered with a blue tarp. Ilia herself hopped from the cab with a colorful bag in hand.

“How long we got?”

“Ten minutes, if Kali keeps her focused.” Yang pointed her thumb back towards the house.

Ilia smirked and propped her hand on her hip. “Plenty of time. Hey boys!”

From the back of her truck a grinning face popped out from behind the tarp, then another. Two young men, one a blonde Faunus who also seemed to have Yang’s disregard for the cold as his shirt had been left unbuttoned over his chest, and the other a young man with a shock of blue hair and goggles propped on his forehead.

“This is Sun and Neptune. Friends of mine who I bribed with free food to help out.”

The blond, Sun, leapt forward at the sound of his name and took Yang’s hand in an enthusiastic shake. “Hey there! Nice to meet you! I’m a big fan of your bar.” He grinned.

Yang vaguely recognized his face from the bar, so she returned his hand shake. “Thanks so much for being here.”

“Hey.” Sun waved off her thanks. “Anything for Blake, all of us at Beacon U love seeing her at Summers.”

“And I’m just here to move stuff and free food.” The other man, Neptune came around the side of the truck. Despite his rather short words he also smiled and shook Yang’s hand.

Ilia clapped her hands together. “Alright boys, you know the plan. We only got a short time to do this so hop to it.”

“And we got the good stuff!” Nora called from the second car, waving enthusiastically with several colorful ribbons tied around her wrists. “CAKE.”

“Or more specifically, I have the cake.” Ren said, making his way carefully around the car with said cakebox in hand. “Nora couldn’t be trusted.”

“Hey, I could have restrained myself.”

“And I have the balloons!” Pyrrha sang while she waved, tying the long strings of the balloon bundle securely to the handle of her wheelchair. Jaune pulled several more bags out from the depths of the car, and they set to work.

Blake looked back up from the color swatch book, ears twitching. “There it is again.”

Kali shrugged. “Probably the girls moving boxes. What about this one?”

Blake glanced back at her mom with suspicion. “There weren’t that many boxes...”

Kali glanced once over at Ghira, and Blake’s suspicion doubled. She let out a sigh. “You two are in on it, aren’t you?”

Kali snapped back to her daughter. “I don’t know what you mean, honey.”

Blake rolled her eyes. “Mom...”

Kali sighed and her smile turned wistful. “Never could keep anything from you for too long. I think they might be done anyway.”

Blake closed the book and set it back down on an empty box they were using as a table and made her way out to the living room, rubbing that persistent sore spot in her lower back that popped up some three days ago. Despite her earlier declaration of not liking surprises, something giddy and childlike bubbled up in her chest about this one. Maybe it had something to do with the realness of the almost completed nursery, of the increasingly short days leading up to her due date.

Or perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she knew that whatever Yang had planned was ultimately a distraction from this new tension that seemed to follow her like a shadow. A shadow that continued to haunt the corners of her mind and dreams.

Blake turned the corner into the living room, fully prepared to ask Yang finally what was going on.

“SURPRISE!!”

The shout made her nearly stumble backward in shock. Her bare living room had been transformed, a dining table, chairs, and a real couch. Colorful balloons in pink and blue and purple were tied to almost every possible place they could be. Colorful bags, boxes wrapped in gift paper, and an honest to gods cake crowded her new table. A banner hung across the wall, reading:

“Happy House Warming/Baby Shower Blake!”

She didn’t realize how long she’d been standing there with her mouth open until Yang stepped forward somewhat hesitantly. “Blake?”

She blinked and shook out of the shock. Tears sprung to her eyes without her permission and she wiped her cheeks fiercely. Finally, she gave Yang a watery smile. “You… did this for me?”

Yang brightened and took her smile as an invitation to step closer. “Of course.”

“We wanted to make you feel welcome in your new home.” Pyrrha spoke up, her smile soft and understanding. Only then did Blake notice all the faces watching her with anticipation, both familiar and new.

“The furniture?”

“Did a little cruising on a few estate sales.” said Ilia, puffing out her chest in pride. “Got some good deals from a few friends too.”

Blake tightened her mouth to try and prevent her lip from wobbling, but she wasn’t as successful as she’d hoped. Before she knew it tears were streaming down her face and laughter bubbled up out of her mouth with a watery sound.

“She’s… laughing? She’s laughing right?” Jaune’s nervous question broke the tension and laughter broke out across the room.

“How long have you guys been planning this?” Blake chuckled through her tears.

“Mmm, a week? Probably.” Ilia shrugged. “At least since you closed on the house.”

Blake opened her mouth to respond, but the front door creaked open and Ruby poked her head in, pouting. “Aww, dang, we missed it?”

Weiss joined her, pushing open the door the rest of the way. “Well, we are bringing the food.”

Several heads perked up at the mention of food, and Ruby laughed. “We had to go get the grill.”

“Isn’t grilling a summer time thing?” murmured Ren, and Ruby made a little affronted sound.

“The art of grilling has no limits!” She whipped out a spatula and waved it like a weapon. “Summertime has no claim on my grill!”

Ren raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, prompting more resounding laughter from the gathered friends. Blake leaned into Yang’s warmth, while she wound a hand around her waist.

“Thank you.” she said under her breath, words meant only for Yang’s ears.

Yang didn’t say anything, but she pressed her lips into Blake’s temple, a wordless response.

You’re welcome.

Chapter Text

Blake bit her lip as she examined the box in her lap. Silver wrapping paper and a sky blue bow, it was almost too pretty to open. She glanced up at Ruby’s eager smile and Weiss’s less manic but still intense expression.

“Go on, open it!” Ruby bounced in the loveseat, Weiss reaching out to hold down her shoulder.

Weiss nodded, giving her a small smile. “It’s from the both of us.”

Blake looked back down at the box and placed it carefully on the table before her before sliding a finger into the crease of the paper.

“Aw, that’s no fun! You gotta tear it!” Nora spoke up from her place beside Ren.

“But the paper is so pretty, I might want to save it.” Blake carefully untied the bow, letting it flutter to the side of her new couch.

Weiss couldn’t hide her smugness. She leaned over to Ruby with a loud stage whisper, “And you wanted to get the polka dots.”

Ruby darted in quickly to lick Weiss’s cheek and ignored her squeal of protest before turning back to Blake and resuming her bouncing. “We hope you like it!”

Blake removed the paper to reveal a plain white box with no label, so she split the tape and opened the box. Soft white tissue paper and cloth cushions, which Blake pushed aside and gave a soft gasp.

She carefully lifted a delicate mobile from the box. Crafted with silver ribbons and crystal animals caught frozen in dance – bears, horses, cats, and birds. The crystals caught the light from the picture window and cast scattered rainbows across the walls. The audience oohed and awwed at the sight.

“Weiss… Ruby… this is -”

“Weiss designed it, and I used my connections in Atlas to get it custom made.” Ruby puffed out her chest in pride.

“All child-safe materials of course,” said Weiss, smoothing out invisible wrinkles in her skirt. “No sharp edges, durable construction, non-toxic -”

Blake cut her off by putting the box aside and throwing her arms around Weiss’s neck. Weiss reached up with only a moment of hesitation to return the hug. Blake held on for a heartbeat longer before opening her arm to invite Ruby in, who gleefully threw herself into the embrace.

“Thank you.” Blake said, proud of how little her voice wobbled.

Weiss allowed the embrace for a moment longer, before gently working her way out of the hug. “Alright, don’t make a habit of it.”

But Blake saw her discretely wiping her eyes, and she grinned.

“You’re welcome, Blake!” said Ruby, holding onto the hug for longer than Weiss. “Plus we got you like, a ton of diapers. I heard you’ll need a lot.” She pointed her thumb behind them.

Blake turned to look at the enormous stack of boxes teetering by the entrance to the kitchen, which she’d assumed was more house accessories. She sighed, but smiled all the same. “Thanks again, guys. Really.”

“MY TURN!” Nora squeezed her way in and plopped a colorful bag on Blake’s lap. “Although I don’t know how I could compete with Weiss and Ruby.”

Blake laughed, peering with some wariness at the gift bag in her lap like the rainbow tissue paper might start screaming too. “Should I be scared?”

“Nope! I promise I restrained myself!” Nora rocked back on her heels with a grin. “Well, maybe Ren helped.”

Pushing the paper aside, Blake reached into the bag to pull out a soft white plush bear in a rainbow bow. The bear had a small cute smile and big round ears. “Aww, Nora, this is so sweet...”

“It sings too!” Nora pointed to the bear’s plush foot, where embroidered words spelled out ‘press me!’ in whimsical letters.

“And don’t worry, we vetted it.” Jaune said with a chuckle. “It’s not too annoying.”

Blake laughed in delight as she pushed the bear’s foot and a light happy song sang out.

“You say that now.” Yang spoke up as she slid back onto the couch beside Blake, refilled tea cup in hand. “Wait until Peanut can’t get enough of it, and you’ve got it stuck in your head.”

Blake handed over the bear to Yang in exchange for the teacup, and Yang looked over the bear with a critical eye. “Why do I have the feeling you are speaking for yourself, babe?”

Yang’s cheeks reddened and she held the bear up to her face to hide her embarrassed grumbling. Laughter rang out across the room.

“Ours next!” Pyrrha handed another gift bag over to Jaune, who passed it to Blake. “It doesn’t sing, I promise.”

Blake took the gift, her heart light. “I like things that sing.”

“Does that mean I get to sing?” Yang grinned, still holding the plush bear in her lap.

Blake raised her brow with a teasing look. “Only if Peanut approves.”

Yang leaned down and lightly rapped her knuckle on Blake’s belly. “Hey Peanut? Tell your mama you love my singing voice, okay?”

As if on cue Blake felt a light drumming just below her belly button, making her chuckle. “I think that’s a yes.”

Yang pumped her fist. “Fuck yeah!”

“Language!” The circle around them echoed back at her, and Yang blanched.

“Eh, sorry.”

Yang carefully set out plates along the countertop and leaned out of the kitchen to look into the living room. Blake still sat on her place by the couch, surrounded by opened boxes and colorful paper as she held a small bright yellow onesie up to the light streaming through the picture window. Her eyes were wide and watery, cooing at the small garment in her hands.

Yang sighed with her stomach fluttering at the sight.

“Need some help?”

Yang turned to see Ilia, leaning against the entrance to the kitchen. She gestured to the plates, and Yang nodded gratefully. “Yes please, Ruby made so much food.”

Ilia stepped forward with a grin to gather more plates. “Don’t worry, my boys can eat their combined weight in burgers.”

Yang laughed. “I’m hoping! But we’re leaving anything left to Blake.”

Ilia smirked. “Got it.”

They both made their way out to the small front yard where Ruby stood stationed at her shiny new grill, red baseball cap turned backwards on her head. She turned to flash a grin to Yang and Ilia. “Ah, there’s my couriers!”

“Aren’t you cold out here?” Ilia asked, rubbing her arms when she sat the stack of plates down. Her freckles flashed a light blue as she shivered.

“Nope! The fire of grilling keeps me warm!” Ruby gave a dismissive gesture with her decidedly sleeveless arms. “I’ve got chicken, burgers, hot dogs, veggie patties, you name it!”

“Dibs on the veggie burgers.” Ilia said, holding out a single plate. Ruby grinned and began to pile patties on the offered plate.

“Good, because they are done first.”

Yang and Ilia moved carefully inside with their plates piled high to the waiting spread when Ruby dismissed them with a wave, saying the rest had longer to cook. Buns, condiments, any and all toppings they could come up with lay spread out on the kitchen table.

Another chorus of ‘awwws’ greeted them from the living room and Yang spotted the tiniest set of sky blue shoes in Blake’s hands. Blake stared at them for a heartbeat, then big round tears rolled down her cheeks and she was sobbing openly.

Sun, for his part, held the bag the gift had come from with a scared look. “Did I do it wrong? I just saw them in the store and thought -”

“Blake? Honey? What’s wrong?” Kali swooped in before Yang could, pulled Blake into a hug at her side.

“They’re just so small!” Blake sobbed through her tears, hugging the shoes to her chest. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and light chuckles sounded around them.

Sun relaxed, still holding the bag in hand. “So that’s… good?”

Kali reached out to give him a friendly pat on the arm. “Yes dear, you did good.”

In the kitchen beside Yang, Ilia gave a soft sigh. “It’s good to see her smiling like this.”

Yang leaned against the counter. “You knew her from… before right?”

“Yeah.” Ilia joined Yang at the counter, mirroring her pose. “We met at school. In the same journalism class. She was… so passionate. And bright. He… Adam… seemed nice at first. If a little guarded.” Ilia’s soft smile turned into a frown. “I had no idea. No one did. Blake would laugh off her bruises, claiming she’d tripped or bumped into something. But after a while, something changed.”

Yang crossed her arms, feeling something heavy sit in her throat. She turned to watch Blake’s smiling face.

“She seemed to… withdraw.” Ilia continued, voice soft. “No more raised hands, no more speaking out in class. And then she just… dropped out. Disappeared. I didn’t see her again for a few months. Until she showed up at my apartment door one night. She’d walked the whole way in the rain, with nothing but a single bag and the clothes she was wearing. Said she didn’t know where else to go. I can’t imagine the strength it took to do what she did.”

Yang watched Blake throw her head back in a laugh from across the room, her hand gently resting on her round belly. She swallowed against the heavy lump in her chest. “She’s… something special.”

“I’m glad she has you now.”

Yang turned to look at Ilia with a smile. “She’s got you too.”

Ilia’s freckles flashed pink in a blush. She shrugged, kicking her boots against the linoleum tiles. “Yeah.”

Yang let her smile turn wider in a grin at Ilia’s sudden shyness. Instead of embarrassing her further however, she leaned out of the kitchen entrance and raised her voice. “WHO’S HUNGRY?”

Blake leaned back against the couch, letting out a deep sigh when the ever present kink in her back finally eased. She rubbed against the spot with the heel of her hand, grimacing.

“Mind if I join you?”

Pyrrha rolled over to slide into the spot beside the couch, smiling.

Blake returned her smile. “Of course.”

“Quite a bit more peaceful over here.” Pyrrha chuckled, gesturing to the crowd in the kitchen and leaning an elbow on the couch’s arm rest.

“Oh, did you need me to get you something?” Blake made to get up, but Pyrrha stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Oh no need. Jaune’s taking care of it. Please, rest.”

Blake settle back against the couch with a heavy breath. “Good, because it’ll take me a hundred years to get up right now.”

Pyrrha laughed. “I can imagine. Sometimes after my physical therapy sessions my arms hurt so much I just need to not move for a whole day. I’ve been seeing Dr Ozpin for years now and I’m still not used to it.”

Blake nodded, turning away to stroke her stomach. “How’s… how’s that going?”

Something in Pyrrha’s face softened just slightly as she saw Blake’s hesitation. “Good. I’m down to only needing one session every three months.” Then, a pause. “You can ask, you know. I don’t mind talking about what happened.”

“Yang only said it was an accident.” Blake lowered her voice.

“I don’t remember the details. I remember going for a run a little later than usual. It was dark out, foggy. I was crossing a street, then a very bright light. Next thing I know, I’m waking up in the hospital and they are telling me I’d been in a coma for three months. A hit-and-run. Ruby was the one who found me."

Blake gave a soft gasp. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, please. I’ve had enough of sorries. I’m just happy to still be here, with my loved ones.” Pyrrha turned to watch the people gathered in the kitchen, laughing as they jostled each other around the table. “That’s life. It comes with its twists and turns, and sometimes all we can do is… go where it takes us. It’s moments like these that remind me of what’s worth living for. Our friends… and family.”

Blake followed her gaze to see Yang finally breaking free of the crush with prized plates in hand, a grin to rival the sun’s light on her face. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow, okay honey?” Kali tightened her hold on Blake. “Your dad and I will be at the hotel if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to call, alright?”

“Yes mom. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Blake patted her mom’s arm, still wrapped around her shoulders.

“Kali. Darling.” Ghira smiled with fondness at his wife and daughter. “She says she’ll be fine. You can let go now.”

Kali finally released Blake, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. “I know, I know.”

“Mom. Really. I’ll call if I need anything.” Blake held her mom out at arms length. “I promise. Besides...” She looked away from her mom’s slightly watery eyes to spot Yang’s bright hair, by the Summer’s Place van. “I’ve got Yang with me.”

Kali bit her lip, following Blake’s eyes. She turned back to her daughter, leaning in conspiratorially. “She’s a good one. I’d like to call her daughter too one day.”

Blake flushed pink. “Mom!”

“Okay, Kali. Let’s go.” Ghira steered his wife away to the waiting cab, but not before throwing one last look over his shoulder in a wink.

Blake’s cheeks grew hotter and she wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Fluffy and warm – a gift from Ilia. Voices from the van drew her attention and she watched with some amusement as Yang and Ruby attempted to lift the grill into the back.

“Nooo, you have to twist to the right!”

“I am twisting!

“My right!”

Blake gave a soft huff and she stepped out onto the cold lawn to stand beside Weiss, who had a fist pressed to her mouth in concern.

“I said it would be easier to use a ramp, but they didn’t want to listen.” Weiss whispered out the side of her mouth before raising her voice. “If you two damage the van I will be very cross!”

With one enormous heave Yang finally lifted the hulking thing over the lip of the van’s back doors and ignored Ruby’s shout of protest to slide the grill firmly inside. She turned back and nonchalantly brushed her hands on her pants. “See? Easy peasy.”

“You could have scratched it!” Ruby said from within the depths of the van with all the concern of a mother hen.

“Ruby, if you have half as much love and care for my kid as you do for that grill, you’re gonna be the one babysitting.” Blake cupped her hand around her mouth for emphasis.

“SWEET.” Ruby’s voice echoed from deep within the van.

Weiss leaned over and whispered, “Not without me to supervise, right?”

Blake gave a sage nod, and Weiss seemed to sigh in relief.

“Come on, let’s get going! I need to clean.” Ruby continued, putting emphasis on the last word.

“Alright!” Weiss yelled back. To Blake’s surprise, Weiss turned to pull her into a tight hug. “Text me tomorrow, okay?”

Blake squeezed her back. “I will.”

Weiss pulled away with suspiciously shiny eyes before turning on her heel to climb into the passenger side of the van. Yang slammed the back doors shut with finality before looking back at Blake, rubbing the back of her neck.

“So, uhh… I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Blake swallowed against a sudden lump in her throat. “Mom and Dad are taking me out to lunch. I’ll… I’ll text you?”

“Sure.” Yang’s awkward smile turned softer and she leaned in to lightly peck Blake’s lips. “Have a good night.”

Blake leaned into the kiss, a light frown on her face when Yang pulled away. “I… yeah. You too.”

Yang took a step back towards the van, then another before turning away to grab hold of the van’s side door. Blake watched her go in almost slow motion, before time abruptly caught up and she blurted out, “Yang?”

Yang seemed to almost jump away from the doors, turning back to Blake with an almost eager smile. “Yes?”

“Could you stay with me? Tonight, I mean?” Blake bit her lip and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Yang’s eager smile grew soft, and she nodded. She quickly jogged to the passenger side door. “Hey guys? I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, okay?”

Without a word, a plastic bag came soaring out of the window to hit Yang in the face with a smack before it fell into her arms.

“Here’s your toothbrush and a change of clothes.” Blake couldn’t see Weiss from where she was standing, but could hear her sardonic voice loud and clear.

Yang stared down at the bag in her hands with a dumbfounded expression. “You had this pre-packed?”

“Yup!” Ruby chirped. “See you tomorrow sis!”

Then the van peeled away from the curb without another word, and Blake watched it go with a growing smirk. “Huh. They really think of everything, don’t they?”

“I guess.” Yang finally opened the bag to peer inside. “Wow. They really did pack my toothbrush.”

Blake snorted out a laugh, then shivered as a particularly chilly gust bit through the blanket around her shoulders.

“Come on, let’s get inside. It’s getting colder.” Yang wrapped her arm around Blake’s shoulders and pulled her close. Blake melted into her warmth.

Together, they walked back up the short pathway to the front door. Yang opened it and swept her hand out to the side. “After you, my lady.”

Blake raised her chin high and stepped inside as gracefully as she could. The corner of her mouth ticked upwards.

The inside of her new house was still a bit chaotic, but the party had cleaned up after themselves as best as they could. Presents and boxes were stacked near the hallway waiting to be unpacked. Blake eyed the pile with a weary eye.

“That can wait.” Yang said, squeezing her shoulders. “Go sit, I’ll put away all the food.”

Instead of protesting Blake shuffled to her new couch and curled up on the side cushion. She looked around at the decorations, the few empty boxes left over from opened presents. Yang whistled quietly from the kitchen.

Blake swallowed against a sudden lump in her throat.

“Okay, I’ve put all the leftovers away. You’re gonna be eating good for a - Blake? Is something wrong?”

Blake turned to look at Yang, not realizing until now she was crying. Yang slid into place beside her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Blake?”

“I’m fine. More than fine.” Blake gave her a watery smile. “Thank you.”

Yang squeezed her lightly. “You’re welcome.”

“No, I mean… thank you. For all this.” Blake leaned over to tuck her head against Yang’s shoulder. “A year ago, I didn’t think… I didn’t know if...”

Yang leaned down to kiss her on the temple. “No need to say it. You deserved this.” Yang reached out to lay her palm on Blake’s belly, thumb softly caressing. “Both of you.”

They sat on the couch for a long time, simply breathing each other in, until the sun slipped below the horizon and the living room grew dark. Finally, when Blake began to softly snore, Yang rubbed her arm.

“Blake? Sweetheart? You can’t sleep on the couch, your back will hurt.”

Blake grumbled into her shoulder, prompting Yang to chuckle. “Here, hold on to me.”

Blake slid her arms around Yang’s neck, who heaved her up into her arms with only a short grunt. Blake didn’t lift her face out from her shirt when she mumbled, “Now who’s going to hurt her back?”

Yang shifted Blake in her arms and smirked. “Worth it.”

Blake closed her eyes, and when she opened them again she was already in bed, with Yang pulling the covers up over her shoulder. Before Yang could turn away, Blake reached out to grab her wrist.

“Stay?”

Blake could see Yang’s face perfectly in the dark room. She bit her lip and looked back to the half open door. Blake sighed, loosening her grasp to let Yang’s wrist slip free.

“Okay.”

Blake opened her eyes again in surprise when Yang climbed in beside her, tucking the covers tight around them both. Yang held her arms out silently.

Blake took the invitation and shuffled across the bed to be pulled into Yang’s embrace. She felt the tension ease from her shoulders almost immediately and she breathed out against Yang’s collarbone.

She felt Yang breath out softly and slowly. “Goodnight, Blake.”

On the edge of sleep, Blake mumbled out a goodnight. Just before she slipped into sleep, she felt a light warm touch against her belly.

“Goodnight, Peanut.” Yang’s whisper was just quiet enough that if Blake had only human ears, she wouldn’t have heard it.

Chapter Text

Blake woke up slowly to the smell of bacon and the muffled clatter of pots and pans, as well as a cheery humming that her sensitive ears picked up easily. She groaned, curling tighter into the soft blankets that still smelled of Yang.

Yang.

Blake sat up quickly, then clutched her head at the minor rush of blood to her temples. A strong thump nudged inside her on an unfortunate place, and she groaned a bit before rolling out of bed to shuffle to the bathroom.

“Good morning to you too.” Blake lightly traced a fingertip on the spot where she’d felt the movement. “Somebody is in a rush today.”

No response came back, the dancing on her bladder settled for now.

The sound of humming got louder and the scent of bacon got stronger as she moved downstairs. She was greeted by the sight of Yang with her back turned, swinging back and worth in the kitchen to music only she could hear and occasionally poking at the bacon simmering in the pan.

“And I thought Ruby was the cook.” Blake said, amusement coloring her words.

Yang jerked and the spatula in her hand clattered to the floor, but Yang paid it no mind as she turned with a grin bright enough to blind. “Oh! Uh, hey! I was… hoping you’d still be asleep.” Yang bent down to pick up the dropped spatula and stuck out her lip in a pout. “I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, someone decided to practice their tap dancing skills.” Blake’s hand went to her belly, smoothing down her oversized sleep shirt. “And apparently my bladder was the perfect stage.”

Yang grimaced with sympathy. “Ah, right.”

Blake bit her lip for a moment. “Do you… want to try and feel?”

Yang’s eyes grew wide. “I can do that now?”

“I think so.” Blake reached out to take Yang’s free hand and pressed it to her stomach, a few inches to the right of her belly button. “Right here.”

It seemed as if they were both holding their breath for several long heartbeats, before Yang gasped and Blake grinned. “There you are...”

Yang abruptly dropped to her knees, spatula abandoned on the counter. She pressed her ear to Blake’s belly and placed both hands on either side.

“Uh, Yang?” Blake’s hand traced through Yang’s ruffled blonde hair without a thought and she huffed out a laugh. “What are you doing?”

“Listening.” Yang said, drumming her fingertips like she was attempting some kind of code. “Peanut clearly has a lot to say.”

Blake rolled her eyes fondly and continued to idly play with Yang’s hair. “I don’t think that’s how that works...”

“Shh. I hear something.” Yang pressed her ear tighter to Blake’s belly. “They are saying… that their mama looks especially beautiful when her hair looks like she twirled it with a fork while she slept.”

Blake gave a fake gasp and lightly shoved Yang away, who wobbled back on her heels and laughed. “Yang!”

Yang chuckled and leaned back in to touch Blake’s belly, and Blake let her while she crossed her arms in a faux pout. “I agree with you, Peanut. She IS beautiful.”

Blake moved to cover her reddening face while she felt Yang press a kiss to her belly. Then she peeked out to lay eyes on the forgotten stove. “Uh, Yang? I think the bacon is burning...”

“Oh biscuits!” Yang rolled away on her heels in a truly impressive show of athletics to bolt back upright in front of the stove.

“Biscuits?” Blake moved to sit at her new table, moving a handful of colorful gift bags aside. “That’s new.”

Yang moved the pan off the heat, grumbling to herself. “Uh, it was something my mom would make my uncle say when she didn’t want him to swear in front of us.”

Blake laughed while subtly trying to tame her hair over one shoulder. “That’s adorable.”

Yang huffed. “Yeah well, I think Mom would come back specifically to haunt me if Peanut’s first word is a swear.”

Blake muffled her snicker behind her hand.

“I think I saved it, if you like your bacon extra crispy. I’ve got some toast too, that I can make.” Yang stuck her tongue out in concentration as she plated the decidedly crispy looking bacon along with a few slices of perfectly browned toast. “Toast was pretty much all I made for Ruby when she was a kid. After a few years she got tired of it and started cooking everything herself.”

“All that matters is that it is made with love, that’s what Mom always said. Me and Dad would try to surprise her on special days, but she seemed to know everything it seemed.” Blake gave Yang a reassuring smile.

Yang flushed pink, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “I wish I could stick around for the rest of the morning, but Ruby reminded me that I gotta go downtown today and renew our liquor license. She’s picking me up in about twenty minutes.”

“Do you need to use my shower?” Blake gestured with a piece of toast in her hand.

“Nah, I’m good. I uh… kinda already did.” Yang put her hand over her eyes as she sat down. “Which I’m just now realizing is weird. In my defense -” Yang held up her finger, looking sheepish. “- you looked really cute sleeping, I didn’t have the heart to wake you up and ask.”

“Yang, it’s okay. I would have said yes anyway. You’re welcome here.”

“ Still, I should have asked first.” Yang’s blush still lingered on her cheeks. “So you’re going out to lunch today?”

“Yeah with my parents.”

“ I can give some recommendations, if they need any. ”

Blake smi rked a little. “I think my dad is going to adopt you.”

Yang picked up her empty plate to take it to the sink, throwing a bright grin over her shoulder.

Blake picked up a piece of bacon, eyeing it just a moment before delicately cracking it between her teeth. She swallowed with a grimace.

“Oof, I heard that from here. That bad, huh?” Yang leaned out of the kitchen with a sheepish look.

Blake returned her look. “It tastes fine, it’s just a little too crispy.”

Yang tightened her mouth as she fought her own grimace. “Crispy? It sounds like it could be used to reinforce concrete.”

“ It’s fine, Yang. I like it a little crispy anyway.”

Yang blew out a breath. “Don’t tell Ruby, okay? She’ll disown me.”

As if on cue they both picked up the sound of honking from outside, a familiar shave-and-a-haircut pattern.

“Shoot.” Yang pulled her scroll out of her pocket. “Sorry, I gotta go. I’ll see you later.”

Yang scooped her overnight bag from the back of her chair and leaned over to peck Blake on the cheek. As she turned to go, Blake’s hand shot out to snag the neckline of her shirt.

“Uh uh. Get in here.” Blake pulled her in for a much deeper kiss. She almost felt Yang’s eyes widen, before she sank into the kiss.

Another series of honks broke them both apart. Yang’s cheeks were flushed and her grin slightly goofy.

“Wow.”

“Go on, get.” Blake patted her cheek. “I’ll see you at work.”

Yang gave her a salute and a wink before jogging out the door.

“Okay, so. There are a couple different ways to throw your knife, depending on what kind of knife you have.”

Blake nodded along, focused on slowly filling the ketchup bottle in front of her. “Uh huh.”

“Since this is a handle heavy blade, you grip it like this.”

Blake looked up from her task to see Ruby holding one of her small kitchen knives by the blade, carefully held so the cutting edge was facing away from her palm. “And your stance is important too, depending on whether you are right or left handed.”

Ruby hopped off the stool to demonstrate, tongue stuck out the side of her mouth in concentration as she slowly and carefully mimed throwing the blade in her hand.

“Please tell me you are not teaching the pregnant woman how to throw a sharp object.” Weiss said dryly as she exited the office, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m not actually throwing it.” Ruby rolled her eyes a bit, but slipped the cover back over her knife. “It’s all theoretical.”

“Right.” Weiss’s eye twitched just slightly before she turned to the register, counting out the nights lien. “Yang’s on her way, she says that traffic is a nightmare.”

Blake glanced up at the clock above the bar. “Think she’ll make it in time?”

Weiss followed her eyes, frowning slightly. “Probably. Don’t worry, we can take orders until she does.”

Ruby leaned in, eyes bright. “I know how to make a mean moscow mule.”

“Oh no you don’t. You’re not coming back here with all this glass, I know how you are.”

“Ah come on Weiss, you know that Friday nights are busy. The orders will start to pile up, and if Yang is running late -”

Blake tuned out the sound of their good natured arguing, softly huffing a laugh at the all to common scene. She eased off the stool, her new center of gravity making the motion a bit less graceful than it would be.

“You’re entering your third trimester, rest is important.” Dr Scarletina’s had said. Beside Blake in the office, Yang nodded seriously. “You still need to get up and move around frequently, but don’t over do it.”

“Don’t worry Doc, I’ll make sure she gets her rest.” Yang squeezed Blake’s hand in hers.

Dr Scarletina smiled, one long ear twitching. “I’ll send you a link to some low-impact exercises you can do at home, and consider signing up for a few couples classes. Your wife’s support will be important the closer we get to your due date.”

Blake had felt her cheeks heat up, and Yang coughed into her other hand. “Oh uh, we’re not -”

“She’s not -”

Yang and Blake looked at each other with flushed faces. But neither released the other’s hand.

“Oh.” Dr Scarletina moved to shuffle a few papers on her desk. “I apologize, I should have asked.”

“That’s okay Doc. We’re just not married yet.” Yang looked at Blake, flashing a grin that carried a hint of uncertainty.

Abruptly the image of Yang dressed in a flowing white gown filled her mind, and Blake’s cheeks flushed hotly. She really would look beautiful in white…

Yang’s grin had widened as if she could read Blake’s thoughts. “We’ll keep you updated on that, Doc.”

Blake blinked and sighed a touch dreamily before coming back to the present by the shrill ringing of Weiss’s scroll. She glanced down at the screen with a small frown, before stepping back into her office to take the call.

“Okay, so we’ll resume the lessons once Peanut gets here, right?” Ruby stage whispered, sidling over to Blake as she cleaned.

“Sure.” Blake shrugged, but she smiled to reassure Ruby. “It’s genuinely interesting, you’re a good teacher.”

Ruby blushed at the compliment, but before she could reply the door to the office jerked open revealing Weiss’s stricken face.

“Yang’s in the hospital.”

Chapter Text

Blake kept her hands clapped over her ears as Weiss wove the van in and out of traffic as smoothly as she could.

The words murmured like water, like the rushing blood in her veins. Only a handful registering past the clamor of noise.

Yang. Hurt. Accident. Hospital.

Her own heart hammered in her chest. Please, dear god not Yang…

Something seemed to break through the rushing sound, and Blake realized that someone had been calling her name for a good while. Ruby’s silver eyes swam into view, wide and concerned.

Why is she concerned about me? That’s her sister in the hospital. Hurt. Damaged. Dying…

“BLAKE.”

Ruby’s voice finally broke through. “Blake, Yang is okay. Alright? She’s alive.”

Oh, she hadn’t realized she’d been speaking out loud.

“She… she is?”

“Yes.” Ruby’s face dropped into relief. “She’s going to be alright, okay? You need to slow down your heart rate.”

“Huh?” Blake blinked, and she felt the touch of Ruby’s warm hands on her wrist, checking her pulse.

The van jerked to a stop and Weiss yanked the keys from the ignition. “You stay with her, Ruby. I’ll go in.”

“We’re going in together.” Ruby’s voice was solid, authoritative. Blake didn’t think she’d ever heard her sound like this.

Weiss didn’t argue, only giving a curt nod. Blake finally took a deep breath and her vision cleared for a moment. Yang. Yang was inside.

Blake allowed herself to be led with a gentle but firm hand on her elbow. Her ears picked up a few words of the nurse’s explanation. Accident. Concussion. Lucky.

The next few moments passed in a blur. She followed behind Ruby’s red baseball cap like a beacon until they came to a room, white and quiet save for the murmurs of nurses and doctors.

Yang’s bright hair stood out like a flame against the pale sheets.

“Yang?” Weiss stepped up first, taking a limp hand in her own.

Yang groaned, rolling her head towards them. “Weiss?”

“We’re here.”

Another groan. “Weiss. My friend, my future in law, my sister’s love, tell me something...”

“Anything.” Weiss’s bottom lip shook.

“Is my bike okay?”

Weiss’s sorrowful expression immediately twisted into a scowl and she practically threw Yang’s hand back onto the bed. “You jerk!”

Yang’s weak voice changed into a loud guffaw. “You should’ve seen your face!”

Weiss’s continued to berate Yang while Blake’s eyes roamed over her form, taking in any kind of injury. She immediately clocked the dark bruise near her temple that spread around the socket of her eye and the scrapes across her skin and the wince on her face when Weiss’s voice rose into a shrill shriek.

“Okay okay, Weiss, I’m sorry, knock it off. My head is killing me.”

Blake couldn’t take it anymore. She maneuvered around Weiss as gracefully as she could and threw her arms around Yang’s neck, careful not to squeeze. Yang’s warm arms immediately came up to return her embrace.

“I was so worried.” She confessed into her shoulder.

She felt Yang press her cheek into her hair. “I’m okay, really.”

“What happened?” Ruby spoke up for the first time.

Yang scowled. “Some asshole ran a red light at an intersection and clipped the back of my bike. I rolled a good bit but I was wearing my helmet. Hit and run.”

“Did you see who it was?”

Yang shook her head. “Nah, their windows were tinted too dark. Going damn near eighty though. Like they were trying to hit someone.” Her frown twisted deeper. “Probably some drunk idiot.”

Like they were trying to hit someone.

Blake’s blood ran cold.

Their voices faded into the background and her entire world narrowed down on the feeling of Yang’s warm hand on the back of her head and the thumb stroking her hair. She felt so secure, safe.

With an almost tactile feeling everything snapped into clarity.

She knew what she needed to do.

She carefully extracted herself from under Yang’s arm. Yang gave her a brief look of concern. All Blake saw was the way the bright hospital lights highlighted the dark bruise at her temple.

“I’m alright, I’m just.. getting some air.” She kept her face carefully frozen in a reassuring smile. Yang blinked once and returned her smile, bright as always.

Blake wished she could take a picture.

No one stopped her as she slipped out the room. Ruby deep in discussion with a nurse and Weiss continuing her interrogation with Yang.

A sharp wobble in her throat threatened to burst from her mouth but she successfully choked it back down as she walked down the long hallway. Her scroll burned in her pocket when she stepped outside into the chill. A light snow had begun to fall.

Her motions felt almost robotic as she pulled her scroll from her pocket and dialed her mother’s contact, holding it up to her ear.

“Sweetie? Is everything alright?”

“Yeah.” At the sound of her mother’s concerned voice, Blake’s composure threatened to finally break. Her words stuttered. “Can you come pick me up?”

Yang squeezed her eyes shut against the bright lights, muttering a curse as her head throbbed sharper with the motion. The humming of the florescents pierced her brain like a needle in the eye.

At least Weiss had finally stopped yelling at her. She squinted, lifting her scroll to see if Blake had answered her text, when it was quickly snatched away.

“No screens.” Weiss said in the same tone she used with drunk customers.

“Ah, Weiss. Come on...”

“Nope. Doctor says no screens for at least twelve hours.”

Yang groaned and leaned back against the lumpy hospital pillow. “Can you at least check on Blake for me? She stepped out for some air and it’s cold out. I’m worried about her.”

Something flickered across Weiss’s face at that, something that Yang’s head hurt too much to be able to interpret. “Did she? I’ll check on her. I’ll ask if they have more painkillers too.”

Yang reached up to grind the heel of her palm into her eye on the unbruised side. “Ugh, like they are helping at all.”

Weiss left her alone then, stepping outside and shutting the door to her room. Yang sighed, closing her eyes once again.

It felt like only minutes had passed when hushed voices drifted through the crack in the door, snatches of sentences only.

“- looked everywhere. You don’t think -”

“- not rule anything out. Have you tried her scroll?”

“- not answering. I could check at the house? See if -”

The sharp tone of a scroll cut the words off and a hush fell.

“Hello? Mrs Belladonna? What is -”

Silence. Yang listened harder, even when her temple throbbed. Something uncomfortable twisted in her stomach.

“...Yeah. Give me ten minutes.”

Another silence, not as long.

“Go.”

A pause. “Stay with Yang. I’ll be right back.”

Her sister’s light and quick footsteps, fading down the hallway.

Blake stood in the center of the nursery, hands lightly resting on her belly as she stared at the mural of a sunset on the wall. It was beautiful, as her mother’s paintings always were.

Such a shame.

She looked back down to her task, the open suitcase before her and the clothes haphazardly stuffed inside without a care. Her heart pinched sharply and the baby stirred under her ribs. She stroked the spot with a delicate touch.

“Sorry.” she whispered.

Abruptly, her throat closed and hot tears welled up in her eyes. She hunched over her belly, whimpering her apologies over and over again. Begging her baby to forgive her. Begging Yang to forgive her.

“Blake?”

Her mother’s soft voice from the door made her choke down her sobs and straighten her back. “Yes?”

Quiet footsteps on the floor. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Blake sighed, letting the air take some of the weight from her shoulders. “Yes.”

“Blake...”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now, mom.”

A sigh, so similar to her own. “… Okay. Your father is packing up the rental now. Do you want some help?”

“No. No, I’ve… I’ve got it.”

Blake felt her mother’s eyes linger on the back of her head. She kept her own stubbornly fixed on her suitcase.

“I’m going to go help your father. Let me know when you are ready.”

She listened to Kali’s footsteps leave the room before letting her shoulders slump.

Her scroll, untouched on the nightstand, buzzed again. Weiss’s picture flashing across the screen this time. Blake wondered if she had the strength to leave it here.

Footsteps again, coming down the hallway. Blake pulled in a long breath, prepared to face her mother’s comfort or her father’s well-meaning confusion when she turned around. But the words caught in her throat before she could say them.

Ruby leaned on the door frame, her hands in her pockets. Watching her with an undefinable expression. “Your mom called me.”

Blake felt a single burst of irritation at her mother before it flickered out like a blown-out candle, leaving only exhaustion in its wake. “Ruby -”

She held up a single hand. “Please. Let me speak first.”

Blake let her mouth fall closed. Her knees felt abruptly weak and she moved to sit in the rocking chair. She kept her shoulders hunched and her eyes on the floor, as if shielding herself from Ruby’s words.

“I’m gonna start out by saying I’m not angry at you. I should be, but I’m not.” Ruby’s sigh sounded heavy, so different from her usual chipper self. “I know what it’s like to want to run from your demons.”

“Do you?” Blake snapped, that irritation coming back and making her words sharp. “If I stay, Yang will get hurt again. You all will. And next time it won’t just be a close call. I can’t -”

“And if you leave it will hurt her so much more.” Ruby whipped back, her brows coming together in a scowl. “I know. I tried to leave her too.”

Blake blinked and looked at her, eyes wide. Struck speechless.

Ruby wasn’t looking at her this time, frowning at the floor She moved further into the room and closed the door quietly behind her. “It wasn’t intentional. But there were a few years that got bad. School was hard, and Yang was a continent away...” She gave a sardonic chuckle, laced with an old pain. “Some old memories surfaced, of when Mom was killed.”

Ruby’s hand moved to play with the edge of her opposite sleeve, seemingly without thought. “Yang thinks I don’t remember it. But I do, sometimes. I dream about it.”

She let her head fall back and thump against the wall. “I swallowed a bottle of pills. I don’t remember how I got them. My roommate, Penny, found me in time.”

Blake let her tears run over her cheeks, hot and wet. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. The dark spots speckled her shirt drawn tight across her round stomach.

“Yang was furious. Bought an overnight airship ticket to Atlas just so she could yell at me herself. She apologized later, but I knew she was just scared. A lot of people have left her behind, Blake. I almost did too, even if I hadn’t meant to.”

“This is different.” Blake said, her voice barely a whisper. “He will hurt you. Hurt her. You don’t know him like I do. He won’t stop.”

Ruby suddenly comes into view, kneeling in front of her and laying her hand atop Blake’s. “Then neither will we. You are a part of this family, Blake. You and your baby. Yang is the happiest I’ve ever seen her. She loves you. She loves your child. We all do.”

Unable to take it anymore Blake did her best to slide off the chair, practically falling into Ruby’s lap. She buried her head in her shoulder. “I’m so scared.”

Ruby wound her arms around her, squeezing her shoulders tight. “Then be scared. Be terrified. But let us be there for you too. We want to be. Don’t be afraid to let people in. Don’t be afraid to be loved.”

Blake hugged her back, pouring every ounce of strength into the embrace. She let herself cry, there on the floor of her child’s nursery. Loud ugly sobs into Ruby’s shoulder. Ruby let her stain her shirt with tears for a long while.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Blake slumped with exhaustion. She felt hollow. Yet at the same time, light.

She leaned back, wiping her face and nose on the heel of her palm. Ruby’s expression was soft, gentle.

“You can be really wise sometimes, you know that?” Blake said, her laugh shaky and weak.

Ruby chuckled in turn. “I have my moments. Now come on. We’ve got one last thing to do.”

“Weiss?”

“...what?”

“Why is ‘dark’ spelled with a ‘k’ and not a ‘c’?”

A sigh. “Why?”

“Because you can’t ‘c’ in the dark.”

“… I’m going to hit you.”

Yang turned to Weiss with a smirk. They’d finally caved and given her the good stuff, so the motion was painless. And bit floaty. “But you’d never hit a girl with a concussion.”

Weiss’s scowl was strong enough to pierce steel. “Yang I swear to god...”

A knock on the door saved Yang from a second concussion that night as Ruby poked her head into the room with a grin. “Look who I found!”

Yang’s slightly blurry vision snapped into place almost making her dizzy. There stood Blake, scuffing her shoes on the floor sheepishly. Yang felt something settle in her heart then, like she’d been covered with a heavy warm blanket. A comfort she didn’t know she was missing.

Blake shuffled forward. “Hey.”

Yang pushed herself up onto her elbow and wiggled her brows. “Hey gorgeous.”

Blake laughed at that and Yang let the sound of it wash over her. She hummed and propped her chin up on her hand. Something niggled at the back of her mind, muffled by the pain killers the nurses had drained into her IV drip.

She’d been afraid before, afraid of… something. The memory of what she’d been afraid of disappeared at the sight of Blake’s puffy cheeks and red rimmed eyes. She frowned. “Were you crying?”

Blake took Weiss’s seat, who gladly gave it up to join Ruby near the door. They put their heads together in a hushed conversation almost immediately, so Yang ignored them.

“Yeah. But I’m okay now.” Blake lay her hand palm up on the bed and Yang gladly slid hers into her grasp. She closed her eyes, humming with contentment. They’d finally turned those damn lights down.

Yang drifted, letting the scratchy hospital sheets and the murmur of conversation fade into the background. She felt a light touch brush her forehead.

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Yang tried to say that she already knew that, but she was already asleep.

Chapter Text

Blake looked down at the table in front of her, amused. “What’s this for?”

The cheery pink cupcake sat innocently on its colorful paper plate while Nora laughed. “It’s for your last day, Blake! We thought we’d give you something nice for the occasion!”

Blake set down her light tray of drinks and began handing them out to the table, laughing. “You guys know I’m not leaving forever right? I’ll be back.”

Nora stuck her lip out and did her best quiver. “But it’ll FEEL like forever!”

Pyrrha chuckled and placed a hand on Nora’s arm to placate her. “Blake’s got other things to worry about than us, Nora.”

Nora pouted. Then she got a wicked gleam in her eye. Her hand trailed towards the cupcake on its plate. “Well if you don’t want it…”

It was Blake’s turn to pout, sliding the plate away from Nora’s searching hand and holding it close in a protective manner. “Nope. This is mine now. The baby wants it.”

Nora’s grin grew wider. “Whelp. Peanut gets what Peanut wants.”

“It’s also a thank you, to be honest.” Jaune said, leaning forward in earnest. “We’ve been saying for years that Yang needs to hire another bartender to help out, she works too hard.”

Blake glanced over at the bar to see Yang, leaning over the new hire’s shoulder as the younger man mixed a drink. Oscar looked a bit nervous, so Blake decided to take pity on the young man.

“Well, I’m happy to help. Let me go rescue Oscar before Yang scares hims out the door.”

The whole table chuckled as Blake took the paper plate and cupcake with her to the bar. Just in time to see Yang tasting Oscar’s drink with a straw. She hummed with contemplation on her face while Oscar watched her and wrung his hands.

Yang hummed again and took mercy on the poor kid, giving him a thumbs up. “Tastes great. You’ve got a good balance, keep it up.”

Oscar practically melted with relief. Blake patted him comfortably on the shoulder as she sidled up to her register. “You’re doing great.”

Oscar beamed at her. The young man had been a compromise, between Yang’s injury and Blake’s upcoming maternity leave Yang had finally conceded that she could maybe hire a new bartender. Oscar had come with good recommendations and while he was young – just barely over twenty-one – he seemed eager to learn and already had some mixing experience. Yang had been letting him take the reins more and more, although it seemed more akin to pulling teeth for her to let someone else behind her precious bar.

Blake shifted her weight off her worse ankle and filled out the order on the screen in front of her, thankful for a slow night. She smelled Yang’s mild body wash before she felt her, a warm hand on her waist to steady her. Blake had been bummed by her sudden sensitivity to Yang’s usual perfume which seemed like it had popped up overnight. But Yang had immediately retreated to wash it off and hadn’t touched it ever since.

“How are you feeling? Peanut okay?”

Blake laughed and leaned into Yang’s warmth. “We’re fine. Ankles are a little sore, but that’s all the time now.”

Yang kissed her temple and chuckled. “If you need to sit down nobody’s gonna say anything. It’s my bar, I’ll throw ‘em out if they did anyway.”

“Hey lovebirds! I could use a refill over here!”

“Don’t get your pants in a twist, Nebula, I’ll be right there!” Yang called back over her shoulder.

Blake gently knocked her forehead on Yang’s arm. “Go. We’re fine.”

Yang’s grin could shame the sun with its brightness as she turned back towards the bar.

The healing bruise around her eye still looked nasty, but she’d been officially cleared for work. Yang had been practically chomping at the bit to get back to the bar, and the regulars had been ribbing her about her “hell of a shiner”. Yang laughed along with them every time, but Blake knew her well enough to notice that she swiftly and expertly steered the conversation to safer topics every time.

They hadn’t talked about it yet. Yang seemed determined to pretend that nothing happened and – for now – Blake was content to let her.

After the baby comes. We’ll have time to talk about it.

Blake took the opportunity to stretch, wincing at the now familiar soreness in her lower back. At this point the twinge felt like an old friend. The baby gave her a firm kick in what felt like her kidney as a reply and she winced. She dug the heel of her hand into her back. “Hey, easy. I know.”

It had been a fight for her to convince Yang to let her work this close to her due date, even though she was still looking at another three weeks until go time.

Almost there.

The date crept closer and closer and a veritable storm of feelings churned in her belly. The primary emotion was certainly excitement. The nursery was done, the house had started to feel more like a home, and Yang had all but moved in officially. Then there was the nerves, the ever present thoughts that something could go wrong, that she would do something wrong.

And last but certainly not least was the sheer terror. Terror at all those things and more. Terror that something could go really wrong, that all her prep work and appointments and efforts were for nothing, that it would be all her fault -

“Hey. You okay?”

Blake looked up into Weiss’s concerned face, and gave her a smile that hopefully didn’t look as wobbly as she felt. “Yeah. Just you know… the baby.”

Weiss accepted that, pursing her lips. “Let me take your last tables.”

Blake pulled her notebook closer to herself and shook her head stubbornly. “I can do it.”

Weiss leveled a look at her over her glasses that said everything, and Blake swallowed the knot in her throat before handing over her precious notebook.

“Go talk to Yang.” Weiss, to her credit, handled the notebook with care as she slipped it into her pocket. “She was talking about heading out early.”

Blake nodded at her once, not trusting herself to speak. As gracefully as she could she maneuvered behind the bar, following the sight of Yang’s bright ponytail like a banner.

Yang had just clapped Oscar on the shoulder when she spotted Blake and her eyes lit up. “Hey, babe.”

“Hey. Weiss mentioned that you said something about leaving early?”

“Yeah, things have quieted down here, I was gonna ask if you were up to heading home.” Yang gave Oscar a thumbs up which he meekly returned.

Something in Blake’s chest warmed at Yang’s mention of home and the anxious knot relaxed. “I… guess that sounds nice.”

Yang’s face softened and Blake felt a lump grow in her throat. “Are you sure? If you wanna stay a few more hours...”

“No. I’m ready.”

Yang examined her face for a heartbeat longer before nodding. “Okay. You wanna go sit in the office while I wrap up here?”

“Yeah.”

Blake shuffled towards the office, the promise of taking her weight off her feet like a beacon in the night.

While she waited in the quiet of the office with only the desk lamp on, Blake gently traced her fingertip down her belly, the fabric of her black Summer’s Place t-shirt stretched tight.

The next time she’d step into this office, she’d be a mom.

It must have been less than fifteen minutes before there was a gentle knock on the door. Yang poked her head in, eyes searching the room for a moment before finding Blake at the desk.

“Hey. You ready?”

Are you ready for everything to change?

“Yes.”

The next week passed both too fast and too slowly. Blake found herself in the nursery more often than not, organizing and reorganizing. Nesting, her mother called it.

“Oh, I drove your father crazy. One day the color of the furniture was wrong, the next the pillows were the wrong order. He must have moved your crib twenty times before I was satisfied.”

Ghira grumbled at that, leaning back against Blake’s couch and not lifting his eyes from the screen in front of him. “It was really heavy.”

“Honey, do you have to do work while we’re here?”

“I’m trying to get ahead of things.” Ghira looked up over his spectacles. “For when the baby is actually here.”

Blake chuckled. “You know that she can hear you.”

“She?” Kali grinned. “I thought you didn’t want to know.”

“It’s just a feeling.” Blake smoothed her hand over her belly, pressing back against a particularly hard kick. “See, she agrees.”

“Or they’re disagreeing.” Kali laughed. “I thought you were going to be a boy.”

“And I knew you were going to be a girl.” Ghira announced proudly.

Yang emerged from the kitchen, her hair pulled back in a bandanna and thick soapy kitchen gloves on her hands. “And I’m defaulting to Blake on this one.”

“Smart move.” Kali said, something twinkling in her eye. “I knew you picked a good one.”

Blake blushed hotly. “Mom...”

Kali put her hands up in surrender. “Okay, I’ll stop.”

Yang peeled her gloves off and tossed them back into the kitchen, not caring where they landed. She plopped into the seat beside Blake, who immediately buried her face into Yang’s neck before pulling back with a slight frown. “You smell like dish soap.”

Yang raised a teasing eyebrow. “Is that okay?”

Blake pretended to think before returning to her place against Yang’s shoulder. “It’s acceptable.”

She felt Yang’s huff before she slid her arm around Blake’s back. As if she knew Yang dug the edge of her knuckle into that precise sore spot on her lower back and Blake groaned in relief.

“Aaand with that, we’d better head out.” Kali stood, gesturing for Ghira to join her.

“Let me walk you to the door...” Yang made a move as if to stand only for Blake to make a noise of protest.

“Nonsense, we can make it to the front door. The taxi is on its way.” Ghira gestured towards them.

“I’ll text you tomorrow, sweetie. Keep us updated okay? If you need us to come over at any time...”

“I will, mom.”

Yang gave them both a cheery wave as they stepped out the front door. Blake burrowed herself deeper against Yang’s warmth and felt her pull in a deep breath before releasing in a sigh.

She resumed her motions on Blake’s lower back. “I guess it’s a waiting game now.”

“We’ve still got three weeks.” Blake didn’t bother to lift her head, murmuring her words into Yang’s soft shirt.

“Yeah, but you know what the doc said. This is the gray area...”

Blake hummed.

They both sat in calm silence for a long while before Yang softly cleared her throat. “How uh… how are you feeling?”

They both knew what she meant.

“Honestly?” Blake finally lifted her head to look up at Yang. “I’m scared.”

“Scared?” Yang’s eyes were soft enough to make Blake’s heart ache. “Scared how?”

“I’m scared I’m not going to be enough. Scared that I’m going to end up messing this kid up without meaning too. Scared that he’s going to find a way to take her away somehow, I -” Blake choked on her words, feeling tears burn in her eyes.

She felt Yang tense underneath her. “If he even comes near you two, I’ll kill him.”

“Yang...”

“I’m serious, Blake.” Her face and voice were flat, as if she was telling the time of day. “That’s my kid too, now. And I’ll be damned if I let him hurt them. Or you.”

Her eyes traced the fading bruise around Yang’s eye. “He already -”

“We don’t know that.” Yang growled. “He’ll have left this damn continent if he knows what’s good for him.”

Blake stared, feeling the fear burn beneath her chest. “I can’t lose either of you.”

“You won’t.”

Yang leaned her head down until their foreheads touched and Blake could see the different shades of purple in her irises. “I’ll be right here, Blake. And I’ll be here when you bring our baby into the world. And nothing in this whole world is going to stop me.”

Blake couldn’t stop the sob in time before she buried her face in Yang’s chest. She wrapped both arms around her and squeezed her tight, rubbing Blake’s arm up and down.

“Let’s go to bed huh?”

Blake nodded, sniffling into her shirt. Yang didn’t seem to mind.

When she woke again, it was clearly late. Or early, depending. Blake cracked her eyes open and peered at the clock on the nightstand. Her mind registered it as three-something before the thing that had woken her up reared its head again in the form of a loud rumbling in her stomach. Loud enough that she was shocked when Yang barely stirred, her arm still draped loosely over Blake’s waist.

The promise of that last half of her leftover sandwich from dinner was like a siren call from the kitchen and she eased out of bed, letting Yang’s arm fall into the empty space she’d left.

She was far from her usual grace as she waddled down the hallway, feeling her way along the wall – more for balance than to find her way in the dark. She sighted the fridge like a lighthouse in the dark, promising the delicious goodness of grilled tuna when a floorboard creaked from behind her.

Her ears flicked towards the noise. “Yang?”

She didn’t have a second to react when a hand clapped over her mouth, something sharp pricking the skin on her neck and sending the cool ice of fear shoot up her spine. “Hello, my love.”

Chapter Text

Blake’s vision narrowed down to pinpricks and her heartbeat pounded in her ears. The stench of alcohol on Adam’s breath hit her nose first and her lip curled automatically.

He wrenched her around and shoved her back against the wall, hand clamping around her mouth again before she could suck in a breath to scream.

“If you yell, I’ll make sure Yang gets a nice souvenir to remember you by.” The flash of a blade caught her eye, and Blake recognized one of her own kitchen knives. Blake pinned her ears against her skull as nausea rolled in her stomach hearing Adam say Yang’s name.

She poured every hint of hatred into her eyes and fiercely hoped he could see it. He could, judging by the way he sneered. “Good girl. Keep quiet now, we’re going on a little trip.”

He wrenched her away from the wall, his grip on her arm like iron and his other hand still clamped across her mouth. “Walk.”

Click.

The hallway lights flicked on, blinding Blake’s eyes for a brief moment.

“Let her go.”

Yang’s voice, cold as steel.

Adam laughed, the sound chilling Blake to the bone. “Or what?”

Blake took the opportunity to open her mouth and sink her teeth as hard as she could into the meat of Adam’s hand. He shouted and wrenched free, Blake losing her balance and landing hard on her shoulder. She whipped around to see Yang standing at the end of the hallway still in her sleep shorts, silver baseball bat wielded at shoulder height like a sacred weapon.

“You.” Adam hissed, pointing the long sharp kitchen knife in Yang’s direction. “You think you could take her away from me? Take my child?!”

“I’m only going to say this once, Adam.” Yang spat, bat still held high. “Leave us alone. This is your last chance.”

Adam laughed again, swaying on his feet. “You have no right. We’re going to leave, and you’re going to forget we existed. Or I carve a reminder into your face. Your choice.”

Yang’s eyes narrowed, and she met Blake’s for a brief moment. A smile, just there, that smile that she saves only for Blake. Then it was gone, hardened into a determined smirk, flicking back to Adam. “Don’t have the balls to kill me yourself? Gonna run away like you did before?”

Blake could almost see the rage rolling off Adam like smoke. Her heart pounded, loud, almost too loud in her ears. “Yang...”

“It’s okay, babe.” Yang didn’t take her eyes off Adam this time. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Don’t TALK TO HER!!” Adam charged forward like an angry bull with a wordless roar, knife flashing in the hallway light. Yang swung, but Adam was faster than he seemed in his intoxicated state and dodged the bat, tackling Yang around the middle to the ground.

Blake rolled up to her knees, cursing her less than agile state when Yang made a sound that jolted straight to Blake’s stomach, a short scream of agony. She collapsed, scarlet blood rolling down her elbow when Adam wrenched the blade free from where she’d blocked it with her forearm.

“Yeah, all talk huh?” Adam raised the bloody blade again, mania gleaming in his eye. Blake lurched to her feet, pain rippling through her belly and hips at the abrupt motion.

“YANG!”

Before she could lurch forward to do something, the bat swung up from Yang’s other hand, clocking Adam across the chin with a metallic clang. He stumbled, slamming against the wall with force. The knife soared, gleaming in the low warm light of the hallway as it caught the light almost in slow motion.

Blake lurched forward to grasp it tightly. Blood slicked under her hand, sticky – Yang’s blood. Anger swirled in her chest like a brewing hurricane. How dare he come into her safe space, how dare he threaten her person. How dare he threaten her child.

Take a stance, grip it by the base of the handle, let the heavy part give it momentum.

Ruby’s cheerful instructions repeated in her mind, and she widened her feet and gripped the knife between sticky fingers. In almost slow motion, she watched Adam lurch to his feet and whirl towards her, eyeing the knife in her hand.

Picture where you want it to land, and follow through.

The knife left her hand, a perfect throw.

And suddenly Adam stumbled, the dark handle of her brand new kitchen knife sprouting from the dead center of his chest.

She watched him fall as if from far away, clinging to the wall like a lifeline. He collapsed like an odd puppet with its strings cut without a sound.

She met Yang’s eyes from across the hall, chest heaving. They both stared at each other for a long time until Yang’s image blurred and sobs broke free, ripping from her chest. Blake crumpled to her knees, burying her face in her hands.

She had no idea how long she cried before she felt Yang’s touch slide gentle across her shoulders, so different from him that she could only cry harder. She buried her face in Yang’s chest, breathing her in as her cries shook her frame like an earthquake.

Yang held her for a long moment, before leaning back to touch Blake’s chin and raise her eyes. In her gaze Blake saw everything – understanding, relief, tenderness… love.

“I might not have known what I was doing.” Yang said, softly chuckling.

Blake couldn’t help but huff a laugh through her tears. “We… we need to call someone.”

“Yeah.”

“Your arm...”

Yang looked down at her arm, limp and cradled close to her chest. “Yeah. That bastard better not have ruined my tattoo...”

“The phone… the landline. In the kitchen. We need to go to the hospital.”

“Y-yeah. I got it.” Yang shifted to get to her feet, but Blake gripped her shirt to hold her down.

“No, I got it. You’re bleeding.” Blake painfully got to her feet, using the wall to brace herself. She pointedly avoided looking down the hallway.

As she looked down triumphantly at Yang, her back spasmed sharply and she gasped, once again relying on the wall for support. She have to place a plaque or something to reward it for its service.

Something warm trickled down her leg.

She and Yang made eye contact at the same time, alarm on Yang’s whole face. “Blake? What is it? Are you hurt?”

Blake swallowed against her sudden dry throat. “I think I’m in labor.”

Yang craned her neck again, trying desperately to see around her sister to the other ambulance.

Ruby pushed her back down, glaring. “Yang. It’s okay, she’s fine. Weiss is with her, we’ve called her parents. They’ll meet us at the hospital.”

Yang tried not to look desperate. “But I promised I’d be there.”

“And you will. But right now this nice paramedic needs to stabilize your arm. So hold still.”

Yang glowered at her sister then gave the paramedic a much more sheepish look. The paramedic pointed at her watch and returned her look with a deeply unamused expression. “Ma’am, we need to assess the injury before we arrive at the hospital in exactly nine minutes and thirty-eight seconds.”

Yang gave up on appealing to the paramedic, turning to look beseechingly at her sister. “You’re texting Weiss for updates right?”

“Yes, she says that Blake is alright.”

“Alright? That’s it?”

Ruby sighed and patted Yang on her good arm, as the ambulance finally began to roll away. “She says she’s anxious, but focusing on the baby. As she should be.”

Yang took the gentle admonishment for what it was and laid back against the gurney, letting the paramedic start to pick at her arm, binding it in a pale bandage.

“Hey. Are you alright?”

“Huh?”

“Are you alright? That must have been pretty intense.”

Yang let her head fall back against the hard pillow of the gurney. “To be honest, all I could think about was Blake. And the baby. I didn’t really think about anything else.”

Ruby huffed and muttered something about stupid protective sisters. “Don’t do that again, okay? That call wasn’t a nice one to get in the middle of the night.”

Yang frowned, seeing old wounds in her sister’s face. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Ruby laughed, a little wetly this time. “Well now we’re even, okay?”

Yang reached out with her good arm and ruffled Ruby’s hair. “Deal.”

Chapter Text

Blake leaned her sweaty forehead against her arms, breathing out slowly through her mouth. Weiss’s cool hand rubbed her back through the hospital gown. The sterile smell of the sheets invaded her nostrils and she groaned deep from within her chest.

“Easy...” Weiss spoke low and smooth. “Your parents are on their way, something about a wreck causing traffic.”

Blake didn’t respond, only shook her head and groaned again. “Yang?”

A pause, Weiss checking her scroll. “Still waiting to be assessed. They are in the building across from us, apparently.”

Blake finally lifted her head to squint at Weiss. “How’d she know that?”

Weiss turned the scroll towards her. A picture, sent over text of a clear view through a window of a solid gray building, with bold letters signing out on its side.

LABOR & DELIVERY

In the foreground, Ruby’s hand throwing a thumbs up.

Blake let out her longest groan yet, flopping her head back down to its previous position. Weiss let out a small sigh before resuming her rubbing.

Blake huffed once before she stood up, pressing the heels of her hands into her lower back. She looked down and saw only the pale blue color of the sterile hospital gown, her feet long since disappeared.

“Another walk?” Weiss said. Blake nodded, and Weiss took her by the arm to start on their fiftieth circuit of the room. They’d just started on their second turn when the door opened and a familiar pair of long rabbit ears poked through the door before revealing Dr Scarlatina’s smiling face. “Hey, Blake. How are we doing?”

Blake paused at the base of her untouched hospital bed to brace her hands against it before shooting the doctor with a pleading look.

The doctor’s face twisted with sympathy as she entered, along with a few other nurses rolling various carts full of equipment. Blake felt her vision narrow down to a pinprick and she snatched Weiss’s hand. Weiss gave an undignified wheeze at her iron grip.

“I don’t think I can do this.”

To her surprise, Weiss squeezed back almost as hard. “Yes you can.” No nonsense. Like it wasn’t an argument at all.

Dr Scarlatina fiddled with a few pieces of equipment. “So I understand you had an exciting night.”

Weiss softly snorted, prompting a quirk of her lips from Blake. “You could say that.”

The doctor turned to Blake, expression soft. “I don’t need to know details, but I would like to attach a fetal monitor. Just a precaution.”

Blake swallowed down her anxiety, looking to Weiss. Weiss squeezed her hand again, a silent reassurance. Blake turned to the doctor, nodding. “Okay.”

The pain in her arm didn’t keep Yang’s leg from bouncing. Anxiety crawled up her throat, making her stomach churn and her heart pound.

She glanced back down at her scroll in her good hand, open to the group chat.

Sis: Any updatez? Yng is lsing hr mind rn

Future Sis: The doctor is here. We got her to lay down and they’re monitoring the baby right now. So far everything looks good. Blake’s three cm dilated.

BabyMama: They gave me stuff fr the pan

Sis: Hi Blake

TheBigBoss: Cnt tip rn w/ 1 hnd is blake ok

Future Sis: Blake’s parents just arrived. Ruby can I call you? I’m not reading your texts.

Sis: Yep

Ruby had stepped out of the exam room fourteen minutes ago. Not that she was counting. Yang watched the clock with anxious eyes.

Pain twinged up her arm again and she turned to look at the nurse, trying not to glare. The man hadn’t done a thing to earn her ire, except do his job. She pointedly avoided looking down at the mess of her arm, and the implication of the numbness in her fingers. “How much longer?”

The nurse sighed as he pulled a stitch closed. “The doctor has ordered an EMG to assess for nerve damage. The lack of feeling in your fingertips is concerning.”

Yang swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Can I talk to him? Please? My girlfriend is in labor right now and I promised I’d be there.”

The nurse finished the final stitch and looked back up at her in sympathy. “You are likely going to need surgery soon, to do an assessment and prevent any further damage. But I’ll see if we can pull some strings.”

Ruby stepped back in the room, scroll in hand. Yang scanned her face as hard as she could. “Blake?”

Ruby pursed her lips. “She’s doing fine. Still at three centimeters dilated, whatever that means. Weiss says that they gave her something for the pain and she’s feeling a lot better.”

Yang felt the tension partially leave her shoulders at that, but the restlessness refused to do the same. The urge to stand and push her way to Blake’s side was overwhelming. “Ruby...”

Her sister’s smile was soft, understanding. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you over there in time. Promise me you’ll listen to whatever the doc says?”

Heat from the IV in her elbow drew her attention to the nurse, injecting something into the tube.

The warmth in her veins spread and Yang felt the last of the tension ease from her back as the pain faded away.

She turned back to Ruby, expression pinched. “Fine.”

Blake kept her eyes closed, listening to the faint rhythmic beeps from the monitor. Her baby’s heartbeat. Steady and strong. The occasional gentle hand, adjusting and pulling. Her mind, quiet for the first time all night.

Her mother’s hand, brushing away her hair from her face. She cracked one eye open to see Kali, leaning over her with a cool cloth in hand.

“Hey sweetie, how are you feeling now?”

Blake hummed. The epidural had kicked in quick. “I feel great.”

Almost as if the world was eager to prove her wrong, dull pain lanced through her abdomen, squeezing tight like a giant fist. Blake sucked in a sharp breath and held it, grinding her teeth. The monitor beeped, registering the contraction.

“Easy, hun. Don’t forget to breath through it.”

Dutifully Blake let it out, pressure building and building until she could hardly stand it, before releasing as suddenly as if it had never been. She groaned and collapsed back into bed.

“Six minutes apart.” Weiss said, seated in a folding chair on her other side. She had her scroll open, restarting the timer. Blake had a sudden irrational urge to throw it across the room.

Where was Yang?

As if reading her mind, Weiss spoke up. “Looks like Yang might need surgery. They are meeting with the doctor now.”

Fear cut through her like a blade. Yang might not be here?

A sharp tone from the monitor registered the spike in her heart and breathing. Blake adjusted in bed trying to sit up. “She won’t be here?”

“Hold on, it’s just an assessment. They haven’t scheduled anything yet.”

Her breathing continued to speed up, panic making her head ache. “But she promised she’d be here, she promised...”

A soft alarm began blaring somewhere in the background. Was that her or the baby? She needed to calm down, why couldn’t she calm down...

“Look who I found!”

Her gaze snapped up to meet Yang’s, Ruby’s grin shining bright from over her shoulder as she wheeled Yang through the privacy curtain. Yang gave her a cheerful wave, her other arm bound in thick bandages and strapped tight to her chest.

“It took some negotiating and a promise to not move her arm, but we’re here!” Ruby chirped. She rolled the wheelchair up to Blake’s bedside. “They wouldn’t let her walk.”

Yang plopped her head on Blake’s pillow once she was close enough, her eyes shining. “Hi. I’m on so many drugs right now.”

Blake, joy bubbling up in her chest. She rolled as best as she could in Yang’s direction, her forehead a hairs breath away from Yang’s. “What a coincidence, so am I.”

The two broke out into obnoxious giggles, Blake nearly giddy with relief. Yang was here.

“Yeah, I am.” She hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud. Yang spoke with the softest tone, a tone that made Blake’s heart pound and her throat to grow thick. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

The next hours were a trial of patience. And Yang’s remaining hand.

Blake’s body bent nearly in two as she hunched over her belly, the contraction feeling like every muscle in her body clenched at once. “Ow OW FUCKING OW.”

Yang gripped her hand back as tight as she could. “Hey, easy babe. I’ve only got one of these left.” She chuckled weakly.

The contraction eased enough for Blake to collapse back against the pillows. “Yang. I love you, but I swear to fucking hell...”

Yang wisely kept her mouth shut about the swearing. She readjusted her sweaty palm before squeezing back. Kali swept a cool rag across Blake’s forehead. “You are doing great sweetie. Just a little longer.”

Dr Scarlatina popped back up from underneath the blanket across her lap. “Okay, Blake. Things are moving pretty rapidly here, and you are fully dilated. It’s time to start pushing.”

Sudden anxiety squeezed around Blake’s throat. “What? Now?”

“Yes, now.”

A few nurses adjusted the bed to sit Blake up, reaching over Yang’s head as she ducked.

“Okay, Blake. When the next contraction comes, you are going to bear down and push as hard as you can for a count of ten. It’s okay if you can’t make the whole ten seconds, but I want you to try, okay?”

Blake swallowed against her fear, her nod shaky and unsure.

“It’s okay, Blake.” She turned to look at Yang, her eyes shining and their hands twined together like they were one limb. “I’m here. You can do this, I know you can do this.”

A hot tear slid down her cheek, emotion swelling tight in her ribcage. She nodded again, steadier this time. “Okay.”

She lost track of time, of everything that wasn’t unbearable pressure, Yang’s voice in her ear, and her mother’s soft hands. She pushed back against the pressure, feeling like she was shoving a boulder up a hill. Follow the rhythm, push for a count of ten, breathe.

The pressure grew with each contraction until it was agonizing. Blake’s throat started to ache with her screams until even Yang’s voice was drowned out. The fire built and built until…

It was gone.

All at once, like a rush of cool water, everything stopped.

Silence. The world holding its breath.

A single tiny gurgle, then a thin reedy cry broke through the ringing in Blake’s ears. And suddenly a warm weight on her chest made her eyes snap open.

Impossibly small, bright red and slimy. A wrinkled face and tiny clenched fists waved in the air like a protest.

And the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

Blake closed her arms around the baby like a lifeline. “Oh my god, oh my god...”

“Ohh, Blake...” Her mother’s soft gasp.

“Wow...” Yang spoke in quiet awe. Blake couldn’t tear her eyes away from her baby. Her daughter.

Blake drank her tiny face in, completely enthralled. Warm lips pressed to her sweaty hairline, and she finally tore her eyes away from her daughter to see Yang’s puffy tear filled eyes. She sniffled. “You did it.”

Blake blinked, almost like she couldn’t believe it. “I… I did .”

Yang kissed her again, like she couldn’t help it. “I love you so much .”

Blake smiled, weak. “I think that’s the first time you’ve said that.”

Yang chuckled, looking back down to stare at the baby. “Technically you said it first. While swearing at me.”

Blake pouted, hugging the small warm body tighter. “I was pushing a whole person out of me, I’m allowed to swear.”

Yang’s smile grew impossibly wider. “Sure, babe.”

She reached over with her good hand and gently stroked the back of an impossibly small fist. The baby made a small noise, a hiccup, little fingers grasping the offered finger tight.

“Hey there, Peanut. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Yang wiggled her finger. “Oh, you’re so tough already. Of course you are, you’ve got Blake for a mama.”

Blake watched Yang coo at her daughter, her heart melting. She stroked her soft cheek. “Your other mama is tough too, don’t let her give me all the credit.”

A loud sniffle interrupted them, and they both looked up to see Ruby and Weiss, the latter’s face blotchy and wet with tears.

“Weiss are you crying?” Blake said, keeping her voice soft.

Weiss sniffed wetly and wiped her cheek. “ Yes. ”

Ruby pulled Weiss in for a side hug. “Your mom came out to get us.”

Blake nodded, stroking her daughter’s full head of dark hair. Two ears, folded tight against her head, coated in fine black fur and tipped in white – like a swipe of paint.

The world shrank until it was just this, a golden bubble of contentment and love. Her daughter was warm in her arms and softly cooing, Yang was practically in the bed with her, strong and solid at her side. No shadows lurked in the corners, nothing could tear her from this moment.

“So.” Weiss spoke, thickly. “What are you going to call her?”

Blake made eye contact with Ruby over her shoulder. Ruby looked back at her for a long moment, before softly smiling with a small nod.

“Well, I was thinking I’d call her… Summer.”

Blake looked to Yang, biting her lip. Yang’s mouth hung open, her lip quivering. She glanced over at Ruby, and whatever they silently said to each other made Yang swallow thickly and turn back to Blake with a watery smile.

“Yeah. It’s perfect.”