Chapter Text
Winter was content with her life. She lived in a lovely apartment in the city with her fiance for several years. She had met him through her father’s company, where the young man was employed. Who would have guessed that one simple introduction would lead to her now staring at herself in the mirror, wearing the most gorgeous white gown you’d ever seen?
“Winter, we’re going to be late if you don’t hurry up.” Her mother rushed her.
Winter snapped out of her daze and turned to her mother sitting on a couch with a glass of white wine in her hand. She wore a navy pencil dress with her hair in a low bun.
“Right,” she replied.
Willow Schnee rose from her seat and stood beside her daughter as they looked into the full-length mirror. Winter's stunning white hair was professionally put into a bun with her side bangs swept behind her ear. She wore shining blue stone earrings that matched her eyes and a silver necklace that complimented her neck perfectly. She was the perfect picture of a bride.
“You look beautiful, my dear,” her mother praised as she placed her free hand on Winter’s shoulder.
“Can we go now?” a girl asked from behind them.
The two turned to see Weiss Schnee standing in the doorway. She wore a light blue sundress that matched her eyes. Her white hair was neatly pulled into a high ponytail finished with a little crown accent. The young lady crossed her arms and tapped her foot, waiting for her sister to respond.
“Yes, I'm ready,” Winter replied.
~
Across town, Robyn Hill was packing her car full of flowers for an upcoming wedding. The young woman owned a flower shop in town and often made floral arrangements for events such as weddings. Today was one of those days, and she was rushing to get to the venue.
She made her way through the city with a car full of white and blue flowers. Luckily, this was her second trip, and she only needed to do the final touches to the venue and, of course, deliver the bride's bouquet.
After putting out the last flower arrangements, the blonde woman went to the groom and his party to put their corsages on their jackets. She met the groom, who introduced himself as Clover, and the best man, Qrow. After being hit on by one of the other groomsmen, a young lady approached her she hadn't met yet.
“Do you have any flowers for me?” Wiess asked.
“Would you like one?” Robyn replied.
“Yes, please.”
The blonde pulled out a wrist corsage that perfectly matched the girl's dress.
“You're in luck. I happen to have the perfect flower for you.” She tied the flower around Weiss’s wrist. “What's your name?”
“Weiss. My sister is the bride.”
“Oh, I see. Well, your sister is a lucky lady.”
“I guess. Between you and me, I'm not a fan of the groom.”
“It’ll be our secret then.”
~
Winter stood beside her before the venue doors with her father, Jaques Schnee.
“He’s a fine young man. I see a promotion in his future.” Jaques gave her a wink.
Winter wasn't very close to her father. Throughout her childhood, he was emotionally distant and always focused on the family company. However, he had always been a fan of this union and how it would benefit the company. It’s most likely the only reason he came today.
The doors opened, and the pair began walking down the aisle towards her soon-to-be husband. The guests all stood as Winter passed, but the white-haired woman was distracted by a woman she briefly saw in the crowd. However, after looking again, the woman was gone.
~
Robyn stayed for the reception. ‘Might as well grab some free food while I'm here.’
The blonde approached the buffet table and found herself face-to-face with the bride.
“Oh, hi, we haven't met yet. I'm Robyn, I did your flowers.”
“Hello. Thank you, they are just stunning; well, job.”
“Are you ok?”
“Yes, fine.”
“Ok, excuse me, I just want to get some punch.”
“I wouldn't.”
“Why not? Something wrong with it? I’m here to help.”
“My ring. I was getting some of this punch crap and...” Winter bit her lip in embarrassment.
“Your wedding ring?” Robyn clarified.
“It fell off. Off and in there. My wedding ring is in there.”
Robyn smirked. The two women looked at the tall cylinder punch bowl.
“And you tried the ladle?”
“Nothing.”
“And you can't empty…”
“No”
“No, It's too big. Right. Only one thing to do. Cover me.”
“What?”
Robyn moved Winter by her waist to block the view of the punch bowl.
“Use the dress,” Robyn said as she pulled up her sleeves.
Winter smirked when she realized what Robyn was about to do.
“Im going in.”
“You can't just…” Winter looks over her shoulder as Robyn sticks her whole arm in the bowl. “Oh, yes, really, you can.”
As the blonde searched for the ring, a guest congratulated Winter. The white-haired woman maneuvered to keep Robyn hidden from sight as the blonde finally found the ring and slipped it on Winter’s hand behind her back.
Robyn walked away, looking back as the two made eye contact and smiled.
~
A few days later, Winter went to Robyn’s flower shop and hand-delivered her thank you card. She arrived at the quant shop right in the middle of the blonde dealing with a customer. Winter noticed her hair was messily shoved into a high ponytail, and she wore a brown apron over a green button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
As the man desperately searched for a flower to present to his girlfriend, Robyn met Winter’s gaze.
“Hi,” Robyn greeted with surprise.
“Hi,” Winter replied.
“I’ll be with you in one moment.”
“Take your time.”
Robyn continued to help her customer, who ultimately decided the proper flower to give his girlfriend was, in fact, a cactus. The blonde didn't want to spend the time to tell him he should probably choose something else; instead, she was more focused on talking to Winter.
As the man paid and left, Winter approached the taller woman.
“Hi again.”
“Hey, what's up?”
“I wanted to give you this.” Winter handed her a light blue envelope. “It's just a thank you card for all your work for the wedding.”
“Oh, how nice. Thanks.”
“I also wanted to know if you would like to have dinner with me and my husband as a gesture of our appreciation again for all your work.”
“Um, sure, I guess. Sounds fun.”
“Will Friday work?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Great, I look forward to seeing you then.” Winter smiled and proceeded to leave the shop.
“What was that about?”
Robyn jumped, not realizing someone else was in the shop. Behind her stood Fiona, her roommate, who sometimes helped her in the shop.
“Jeez, how long have you been standing there.”
“I just walked in from the back. Who was that?”
“Just someone whose wedding I just did.”
“And she asked you to dinner?”
“With her and her husband. Like a thank-you dinner, I guess.”
“Is that weird?” Fiona asked with one eyebrow raised.
“It’s never happened to me, so maybe?”
“I think it’s weird.”
“Well, they seem nice, so who am I to turn down free food.”
“Fair.” Fiona picked up a pot and moved it to the back room.
~
Friday finally rolled around, and Winter was finishing up cleaning the apartment. Her husband returned home from work to find that the table was set and the food was nearly ready.
“Wow, you've put a lot of work into this.” He said as he peeked into the oven.
“I just wanted it to be a nice night, you know? I invited Qrow as well. I think they’d make a great couple, don't you?”
“I guess,” he half-mindedly replied.
The doorbell rang.
“Hun, could you get that?” Winter asked as she pulled the roast from the oven.
“No problem,” he replied as he opened the door.
Robyn stood at the door with an arrangement of purple lilies.
“Hello, Robyn. Please come in,” Clover greeted.
Robyn smiled and entered the apartment. The smell made her mouth water. The blonde went to the kitchen, where she found Winter finishing up.
“Robyn, those are beautiful!” Winter remarked as she took the flowers from the blonde. “Lilies are my favorite.”
“Oh good, happy accident.” Robyn smiled in return.
“I'll put these in some water. Please have a drink. Make yourself at home.”
Robyn turned to see Clover pouring a whiskey, “Make that two, please.”
“Not a problem.”
He handed her the glass, and they went to the living room adjacent to the kitchen.
“So, Robyn, you have a flower shop?”
“I do.”
“Is that what you’ve always wanted to do?”
“More or less. I love nature and have always enjoyed gardening. Actually, I almost joined the military a few years ago, if you can believe that. Decided it wasn't for me, though.”
“Interesting, and are you married? Have you ever been married, or will you ever get married?
“No. No. Maybe now that the law's changed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Im gay.”
Clover chuckles and slowly realizes that it's not a joke. “Mmm... Lovely, well done.”
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Qrow’s here, hun,” Winter announced from the kitchen.
“Oh good,” Clover responded as he got up to let his old friend in.
~
The four discussed many topics as dinner finished, but they were just getting around to the topic of love.
“How are things going? You know, since you've tied the knot.” Qrow asked.
“Fine, fine,” Winter replied.
“And when are you getting married, old friend?” Clover teased.
“Oh, me? No, I don't think that's for me.”
“It'll all change when you meet the right person,” Winter replied.
“And how am I supposed to know that?”
“You don't know, not straight away.” Winter began. “It just feels… warm and comfortable..and you hang in there and give it a chance, before you know it, you're like…Yeah, this is it. Must be love.”
“Yeah, I'm with her,” Clover responded.
“I'm with her, too. Give me that.” Qrow smirked.
“I don't agree.” Robyn rebutted. “I think you know immediately. You know, as soon as your eyes… Then everything that happens from then on just proves that you were right in that first moment. You are now whole when you suddenly realized you had been incomplete.”
“Actually, I'm with her, I'd say.” Clover changed his mind.
“I'm with her, too.” Qrow agreed.
“Sorted. So, who's up for pudding?” Clover began to clear the table.
“Yes,” Robyn replied.
“No.” Winter disagreed.
“No?” Clover asked in confusion.
“No.” Winter continued. “If you think that, you think that everyone that doesn't have all that… business is settling for less.”
“That's not what I'm saying.”
“That kind of is what you're saying.”
“I think she said it a bit nicer,” Qrow interjected.
“Trifle?” Clover offered as he held up the pudding, trying to break the tension.
“Right, well, let me help you clean up.” Qrow offered as he began picking up more dishes.
~
Later that evening, Robyn made her way to the balcony. She stood in the rain, holding an umbrella, and looked out onto the city. The lights reflected off the water on the ground, making the town look entangled in fairy lights.
“What are you doing?” Winter asked as she stood in the balcony doorway.
“It's gorgeous,” Robyn replied
“It's raining.” Winter looked around. “Sorry about dinner.”
“It was delicious.”
“No, I mean, I kind of went off.”
“You didn't go off.”
Winter gave her a look.
“You went a little way off.” the blonde agreed as she walked towards the shorter woman.
“You're wet.” Winter pointed out.
“I'm fine.”
“And you're cold.”
“I'm fine!”
Winter began taking off her jacket. “Here, you can have it. You can have it.”
“I'm so fine.” Robyn walked into the apartment. “It's fine. Well…”
“Okay, now you're cold.” Winter placed the jacket around the blonde’s shoulders.
“Hey, what are you guys up to?” Clover interjected from the living room.
“Nothing,” Winter replied.
“Well, Qrow wants to play strip poker, and I really want him to go home.”
Winter rolled her eyes and smirked.
“Guess we should be going then.” Robyn offered. “Dinner was nice. I had a good time. Thank you.”
“You are so welcome, and we should do it again sometime.”
“Definitely.” Robyn began to collect her things and gave Winter back her jacket.
Qrow and Robyn walked towards the door.
“Good night,” Winter said as they left the apartment.
“See you soon,” Clover added.
“Thanks for dinner,” Qrow remarked.
“Bye.” Robyn waved at Winter as the door closed behind them.