Weiss knew it wasn't real.

She knew this pain in her hand wasn't real. The visions that she'd seen in her nightmare – they were real, but she'd long since dealt with them. No, this was just carryover from bad memories and being in a new bed in a new place and she was fine.

So fine, that she was sitting up on Ruby's couch in the middle of the night – slowly rocking back and forth trying to calm down.

Nightmares were nothing new. As a child she had them all the time. About monsters and scary people breaking into her home to attack her. As she grew up and learned more about her father's enemies – she would dream of them coming for her or for him. Despite growing up in a house armed to the teeth with security – the fear of Schnee enemies was always there.

Those nightmares were different from the ones she had now though. Those were based on possibility and imaginings of a young girl who had yet to experience the world.

Now twenty-seven, Weiss had seen just how dark the world could be and experienced the pain of it first hand. She'd seen loss and felt true pain. She'd watched innocent people die and had mornings where she'd felt hopeless.

The nightmares she suffered through these days felt more like memories.

This was the first bad one she'd had in a long time. Of course it would happen on her first night here – with Ruby sleeping just above her on the upstairs balcony.

Tonight had been a revisit to the day she had her hand broken. A sneak attack by some members of the White Fang while stationed in Vale trying to find Blake. It was one of the first true missions she and Ruby had gone on. After Ruby came for her with the remainder of team JNPR – it was priority one to bring RWBY back together.

So they'd set out to find them and ended up stumbling right into a White Fang hideout where Blake had been scouting for Adam. They were overrun and barely escaped. But not before a few of them caught Weiss and promised to break her to pieces. They didn't even know her – not really. Just that she had the look of a Schnee and that was enough. Weiss had been needlessly hated before, but she'd never felt as though her life was truly in danger because of it.

Not until that day.

Blake had saved her, because Blake always seemed to be in the right place at the right time – though Weiss did not escape unharmed. Her hand had been stepped on and broken in what was going to be the first of many pains they wished to inflict on her.

She'd never felt quite so helpless as she did in that moment. It was a feeling she despised and one she'd only went through a small number of times in her life.

Sleep would be hard to find now.

Still, Weiss knew she needed it. Tomorrow was a big day of cake tasting and planning with Blake. She had to start preparing the seating chart and sorting out meals for everyone. It was a busy day and she'd be useless if she didn't fall back asleep at this hour.

Perhaps a quick drink of water would be enough to take her mind off the haunting nightmare and lull her back to sleep.

The small home was dark, but there was a nightlight in the kitchen that shone over the tall counter and guided Weiss as she climbed off the couch and carefully made her way to the sink. The wood of the kitchen floor was cold on her bare feet and she actually quite enjoyed the sensation. Patch was painfully hot this time of year, so any respite from that was welcome.

Weiss found herself in another predicament as she reached the sink, she had no idea where Ruby kept any of her glasses.

Or if she even had any.

She could remember many times having seen Ruby drink straight out of the faucet. A soft smile played at her lips at the thought. As happened so often with Ruby now – those memories of things that once drove Weiss crazy, now made her feel warm and happy.

Just friends, Weiss. You can't crush on your friends.

With a frustrated sigh, Weiss pushed aside those thoughts and began scouring Ruby's kitchen for a glass or anything that might be able to hold enough liquid to give her a proper drink. The only thing she could find was a pan. A single pan that had bits of rice still stuck in it from the meal Ruby cooked for them. Not that the food was bad – it certainly was the simplest thing Weiss had eaten since her corn dog in the airport.

The only thing was that it was all Ruby had to cook. She'd suggested going out to eat, but Weiss hadn't felt up to it and she'd eaten enough take out food the last few days to fill her quota for the rest of the year.

Ruby caved and offered to make rice.

"Back for seconds?" Weiss jumped and nearly slipped before catching herself on the counter. She looked up just in time to see Ruby coming down the stairs. It was dark, but the nightlight shined just enough to show her long, tousled hair and those damn bare legs of hers. Those shorts didn't do much for covering up anything.

The world was so quiet; Weiss swore they were the only two people in existence right now.

"Was looking for a glass of water, actually."

"Oh," Ruby stepped into the kitchen, her feet sliding across the ground before she stepped up on her tip toe and pulled a glass from the cupboard next to the fridge. "Here you go." She offered it with a smile and Weiss accepted it graciously.

Turning her back to Ruby, she poured a drink and swallowed the entire thing in one gulp before filling it up again to have a glass to sip.

She kept her back to Ruby, giving her a chance to race back to bed and perhaps avoid any unwanted conversation. After a few seconds passed, she turned around only to see that Ruby had pulled up a stool at the counter and sat down.

Even worse, Ruby was staring right at her with genuine concern.

"What?" Weiss asked under scrutiny of Ruby's big, silver eyes.

The touch of a smile. "You only get up for water at this hour when you've had a nightmare."

Weiss bit back a curse. Of course Ruby would know that – they shared a bed together for years. Sometimes it felt like someone else's life – those years spent with Ruby. Though it was nice to know that Ruby hadn't forgotten them entirely.

"It's nothing."

"Sounds familiar." Ruby said with a smirk. "I still get them too; you know?"

Setting her glass down, Weiss decided to lower her defenses. It was late, she was tired and Ruby was sitting across from her offering support. She wasn't strong enough to turn it away. "How do you deal with it?"

Instead of answering the question, Ruby stood up from her seat and moved to the fridge. Weiss watched her lean in, making sure to not stare at Ruby's ridiculously perfect backside as she bent over and began rummaging. Instead, Weiss stared at her glass of water and tried not to think about Ruby's ridiculously perfect backside.

Her haze was broken when something was sat on the counter with a thud. Looking up, Weiss was suddenly staring at a bottle of amber liquid.

"Seriously?"

Ruby shrugged. "It takes the edge off."

"Ruby Rose," Weiss chided and watched as Ruby smiled even more.

"Relax – it's not like I carry a flask around. I have one glass when I can't sleep and it does help. It slows my mind down. Plus you focus on the burn in your throat and that takes away the—" Ruby stopped herself and Weiss watched her sink down in her chair a bit. "You want some?" She asked, trying to quickly change the subject.

"You do realize that's not actually a solution to the problem, right?" Her question was met with silence.

Weiss knew this night was an opportunity. She needed to know about those marks on Ruby's back and they were already diving into personal conversation. Perhaps, if she played this right, she could find answers.

Quickly drinking down her water, Weiss extended her glass and shrugged. "Very well – I'm sure it's disgusting compared to the fine wines and liquors I'm accustomed too."

"Is that so?" Ruby said with a snort as she poured. "You're giving me grief about drinking yet you're in your mansion drunk off wine and cheese."

"How does one get drunk off of cheese?"

She shrugged. "I don't know – you soak it in the wine and eat it."

Weiss curled her lip. "That's disgusting. Wet cheese is hardly edible." Ruby only laughed more before sliding Weiss' glass back to her. She stared down at the dark liquid, taking in the strong scent before making eye contact with Ruby again. "I can't say I ever imagined us doing this."

"Drinking?"

"Well…that…but also just being around one another again."

Ruby frowned and swirled her glass. "Oh…yeah me too, I guess. I didn't think you would ever want to."

Now was as good a time as any to open up. "For a while, I didn't. I…I told myself that I didn't want to see you again. That I was done with you and better off without you." She could see Ruby visibly sinking into her chair. "I'm pretty sure I was just simply hiding the fact that my heart was broken."

"I wasn't," Ruby said and Weiss chanced a look up at her only to see that Ruby was still staring at her glass.

"You weren't what?" She pressed at Ruby's silence.

"Hiding," she began running her thumbs across the rim. "I was a pain in the butt. I know because Yang told me. I was…cranky and mean and not at all myself. I don't really like to think about it too much because it makes me feel like poop. But I said and did a lot of things that I regret when we broke up. I was in a really dark place after Jaune died and Salem fell and just…all of it. I—I don't think I was prepared to handle losing you too. You were kind of my first…everything."

There was no person Weiss had ever met who made her want to be a better person more than Ruby Rose. There was something about this girl that drew out every bit of good Weiss had in it. Even when she didn't think she had any at all, Ruby made her believe she could be kinder and more giving. Ruby was everything she wasn't. A hero without the need for praise. A patron, without anything to spare.

Weiss loved Ruby more than anything in the world.

She loved her enough, that she could put her own heart aside.

"Ruby," Weiss smiled as best she could. "It doesn't matter if we're only friends…the time apart from you was awful and unnecessary and I refuse to let it happen again. If…you ever need anything or anyone to talk to or confide in or…trust. I promise you that I am here."

Weiss wanted her words to be comforting. She wanted to assure Ruby that they could still talk and care about each other – even if it was only as friends. She was prepared to be just friends if it meant Ruby would let her back in.

However, instead of gaining any sort of joy she was expecting – Ruby only seemed more upset. "You saw, didn't you?"

Weiss was suddenly confused. "What?"

"The bruises on my back. You saw them at the seamstress. That's why you raced off to the bathroom and were so quiet the rest of the day. You were gone—did you tell Yang?!" Ruby seemed almost frantic as she slammed her glass on the table.

"Ruby of course not! I—"

"You would, just like before you'd go to her and Blake to tell them that poor Ruby couldn't take care of herself!"

Weiss was ready to recoil but suddenly realized she had no reason to. She hadn't told Blake or Yang about Ruby's back but that didn't mean those injuries weren't real. "Ruby, I did not tell them anything, but you are injured and you're keeping it a secret from your family. Why?"

"It's not their business. I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself!"

Weiss scoffed. "Yes, you seem to be doing a bang up job."

"Shut up!" Ruby screamed viciously and Weiss recoiled. Seeing it, Ruby lowered her head in her hands. "Weiss…I…."

"Why are you hiding this?" Weiss tried, her voice beckoning Ruby to just look at her. "Ruby, why not tell anyone? You're clearly in pain – I've seen it. Your back is covered in bruises."

That was when Weiss noticed the tear streak down Ruby's face. "I am in pain…e—every day." She took a deep breath and wiped at her cheek. "But if I tell Yang, she'll make me stop. She'll make me leave my home and move to Vale with her." She shook her head, her hair swaying from side to side. "I don't want to stop hunting, Weiss. I don't want to stop doing the only thing I really enjoy doing."

It was brutal to see Ruby cry and know that she couldn't just jump out of her chair and comfort her. Years ago, when they were together – she would already have Ruby in her lap and those tears would be wiped away in an instant.

Now, they were simply friends and Weiss didn't know what her limitations were. "Ruby, you're an adult. She can't make you do anything."

"She can though! You know how family is!" Ruby was yelling again, but Weiss knew it wasn't at her. "I love my sister, Weiss – but after everything that happened during the war she's so protective and it took everything I had to get away from her so I could have a little freedom. This is my life, and it's not perfect and it's hard. Yang tells me all the time that I can't keep going like this – but I make it work. This is my life, it's mine and I like it. I am one of the best huntresses in all of Remnant. I make good money and I get to see so much of the world and help people. It's great that Yang has her job at Beacon. She loves it, I mean she goes on and on and on about it all the freaking time! But that's not for me – you of all people have to understand that."

She did, she did understand how much Ruby loved being a huntress. It was her dream growing up and that never changed. No matter how hard the war was on them – Ruby's passion for fighting monsters and helping people never wavered.

That didn't make any of this okay though.

"Ruby, I know…I know how much this means to you – but you can't keep this up. You're in pain and it's only going to get worse. You need to see a doctor or a healer. You need a proper medical examination. Aura can't heal broken bones and that's—"

"It is," Ruby's bottom lip was trembling. "It's my hip…I damaged it a while back and my aura can barely hold it together through missions. I use so much of it that when I get home I'm drained and it…it hurts so much."

"Is it broken?"

Ruby's hesitation answered the question – but she needed to hear it. "I—I think so."

Weiss was furious. She wanted to yell and scream and tell Ruby how damned irresponsible she was being.

Then a tear streaked down Ruby's cheek and the anger evaporated like melting ice.

Weiss stood, drink forgotten, and moved around the counter to quickly pull Ruby into her arms. She was shocked when Ruby sank into the embrace and started sobbing. Weiss was met with the weight of Ruby pressing against her and she steadied her legs to hold them both up.

She ran her hand through Ruby's hair. Offering soft promises that things would be okay as her mind continued to race on how she could make this happen. That was her job, after all. Yang had given it to her years ago – when the first inkling of feelings sparked between them.

Yang told Weiss that it was her job to make sure Ruby was okay. Seeing the way Ruby lived – Weiss had failed.

It took her a while, but Ruby eventually calmed down and Weiss carefully ran a hand down her back. She slowed when Ruby stiffened underneath of her touch and Weiss let her fingers linger where Ruby's top cut off. She waited and felt a hand grip the material of her nightshirt a little tighter and a part of her knew that was permission.

With that, she slipped her hand underneath of Ruby's shirt and traced her finger over the sensitive skin. She'd been here before, the feeling was both familiar, and as exciting as the first time. This was different though – not meant to be intimate. She was searching and hoping to bring comfort. When she lowered to Ruby's hip, she heard a breath hitch and stopped. Her fingers were barely touching and yet it was enough to draw a reaction.

She was in very bad shape.

Weiss grimaced and quickly pulled her hand away. When she drew back and met Ruby's eyes – they seemed completely defeated.

"Ruby…" Weiss spoke in a tone that she knew Ruby would recognize. It was the same tone she used when she knew she was right and wouldn't allow Ruby to be stubborn.

The message clear and Ruby lowered her head. "I know." Ruby blew out a shaky breath. "I should have let you get your stupid water and stayed in bed."

This drew an unexpected laugh to Weiss' throat and that was when she realized she was still cradling Ruby in her arms. Carefully, she untangled herself from her friend and put her hands on Ruby's shoulders. "Tomorrow night, after the stuff with the wedding, we'll start looking for a proper physician to evaluate you and we will get this sorted out." Ruby remained stoic and Weiss moved a hand under her chin and drew her face up. "Hey, it's going to be okay."

She could tell that Ruby did not believe her.

Apologies for the delay - I had some writing to catch up on. Anyway, Ruby's secret is out and she's not doing great. Thoughts/comments are always welcome and encouraged of course. Thank you for reading :)