Chapter 13

Finding no one in the bedroom after her shower, Ruby headed downstairs. Winter and Weiss were at work cooking in the kitchen while Blake sat at a the table nearby. Blake stood and headed for the stairs, pecking Ruby on the cheek as she passed before heading up for a shower of her own. "Need any help?" Ruby asked the cooking sisters.

"Thank you, but no." Winter replied. "It's only spaghetti."

"Enjoy the shower?" Weiss asked.

"It was like a waterfall." Ruby said with a wistful sigh.

"It is very soothing, is it not." Winter said.

"I can't imagine always showering like that." Ruby declared. "I didn't want to get out, just lean against the walls and let the water flow over me. It's a bit of a waste of water. I hope I didn't use up all the hot water."

"Unlikely, our heating system is very good." Weiss noted. "Having three women in one house demands it."

"Your water bill must be astronomical." Ruby laughed.

"Nothing I can't handle." Winter shrugged. "We're never wanting for money. Between the sale of the company and my investments I could pay all of Atlas' water bill for a month."

Weiss slapped Winter on the shoulder. "Winter, you're bragging." Weiss warned.

"Merely stating facts, dear sister." Winter countered.

Weiss glared at her sister. "Winter." She admonished.

"It's okay Weiss." Ruby shook her head.

"I don't want to rub our wealth in your face." Weiss sighed with a remorseful look.

"You're not." Ruby assured her. "You're rich, I'm not, it doesn't bother me. Okay? I'm actually kind of interested in how different your lives have been. I'm surprised you're not at some private all girls boarding school somewhere in the middle of nowhere."

"I never wanted Weiss to live my life." Winter sighed. "It was lonely, stressful and alienating. I wanted her to lead as normal a life as possible, make friends, learn to socialize like an average girl her age would."

"So I went to a normal public school where my mannerisms and wealth still set me apart from the rest, but your heart was in the right place." Weiss shrugged.

"At least you weren't being taught to be cutthroat, surrounded by society's elite, cruel, sociopathic children." Winter grumbled, her voice strained and her shoulders tensed. "No, you were just lonely and hurting."

Weiss hugged Winter from the side. "I wasn't lonely." Weiss declared. "I had you."

"I know...I know." Winter sighed. Ruby hugged Winter from the other side, and Winter wrapped her arms around both girls.

Finished with her shower, Blake arrived. "Group hug?" She asked.

"Group hug!" Ruby cheered, eliciting a laugh from Winter.

After Weiss showered the group ate dinner and chatted for a while. The topics ranged from schoolwork, to Velvet and Coco with Winter taking great joy in hearing about Coco breaking the nose of Velvet's tormentor, to teasing Weiss about Neon. The hour grew late and Winter bid the others goodnight, heading to take a shower of her own before bed. Weiss, Blake and Ruby headed to the master bedroom. Weiss started reading something on her tablet while Blake read a book to Ruby as the latter lie in her lap.

"Hey guys, I have an idea." Ruby announced.

"Hmm?" Blake asked.

"Let's sleep with Winter!" Ruby cheered.

"Ruby, that's my sister!" Weiss spluttered.

"Not in that way Weiss." Ruby laughed. "It's just that today she's been so good to me, and she mentioned she missed having someone to sleep with, and since we're only here for the night and then she's alone again, maybe we should keep her company."

"I don't mind." Blake shrugged. "I kind of miss it too. I always felt safe in her arms."

"Weiss?" Ruby asked.

"I...sure." Weiss sighed. "It's just a bit weird for me."

"She's only your sister Weiss." Ruby encouraged. "Yang and I used to do it all the time."

"We haven't since I was young, right after our parents died." Weiss explained. "I wasn't handling things well at the time...at all really, and Winter wanted me close. I saw it as me being weak. I never really thought about how Winter felt."

"It would probably mean a lot to her." Ruby suggested.

"You're right, it would." Weiss agreed. "Very well."

Winter finished her shower, and upon entering her room found her bed very occupied. With no questions, no objections and no teasing, she settled in next to her sister, pulling her into an embrace and allowing Ruby and Blake to cuddle up on her other side as they all fell into a peaceful sleep.

Jaune parked his car beside Pyrrha's little hatchback and stepped out. As he walked to the door it swung open, Summer standing there. She looked sleep deprived and nervous. Jaune had never seen her in such a state and it worried him greatly. His worries only grew when he saw Pyrrha in similarly bad shape. He feared what he would face with Yang. "Please, tell me what's going on." Jaune implored.

"Yang came home the other night with some girl she picked up at a club." Pyrrha explained. "They had sex, then the girl took off. Yang was expecting more companionship, and she took it really hard. It sent her down a path...a path…" Pyrrha's tears interfered with her continued speech.

"Now she thinks she made everyone she had casual sex with feel that way." Summer picked up. "She feels like she's a bad person for making people feel like she does now. She's been fixating on you. She feels like she robbed you of the sort of first time you deserved and treated you like a piece of meat."

"I never felt…" Jaune started. "Is she in her room?"

"All weekend." Summer confirmed. "Maybe you can talk some sense into her."

"I can try." Jaune nodded. He walked down the hallway, pausing before Yang's door. He took a deep breath and knocked three times.

"Come in." Yang groaned. Jaune opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. Yang was lying on her bed, facing away from the door.

"Hey...Yang…" Jaune said.

Yang quickly rolled over. "Jaune?" She gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were having a rough time and I figured I'd see if I could help out." Jaune replied.

"Jaune...I'm so sorry." Yang sobbed. "What I did to you…"

"What you did to me was one of the best things that ever happened to me." Jaune interrupted her. He walked over and knelt beside her bed, putting himself on her level. "The more I think about it, the more I realize just how important it was to me. Life kind of sucked for me. I was really depressed, and that was one of my worst days. Hell, that morning I contemplated making it my last, and that scared me. But you noticed something was wrong when no one else cared."

"But I…" Yang tried to cut in.

"Just having you take notice of how down I was made me feel a lot better." Jaune continued. "Sure, the sex was great, but happiness and confidence you gave me really turned me around. Everything just seemed a little better from that point forward. In the long run, everything kind of fell into place for me because of that moment."

"But I just left you." Yang protested. "It was meaningless."

"It wasn't meaningless, to you or me." Jaune countered. "You did it because you cared about me, and you'd better believe I appreciated it. And you didn't just leave me. I mean, that would have been weird since it was your house...but...what I'm trying to say...you didn't just kick me out. You made me breakfast and then we did it again! You still didn't just kick me to the curb. We hung out for a while, you even introduced me to Ren and Nora. If it wasn't for that...who knows where I'd be now?"

"You still deserved better." Yang sighed.

"You did everything in your power to make me feel comfortable and confident." Jaune noted. "Even though I'm sure it made it less enjoyable for you. And then the second time...damn...you blew me away! I can't imagine a better way to have lost my virginity."

"But…" Yang started.

"I never felt like you abandoned me or anything like that." Jaune assured her. "And if my experience was any indication, no one else would have either. When I think back, all I have are positive memories. Whatever you're feeling now, for whatever reason you're feeling it, that sort of thing never entered my head. You should never feel like you're a bad person or that you robbed me of anything. You're a great person, and you've given me so much."

"I...never really thought about it like that." Yang admitted. "I never knew you were so depressed. You were a friend, you seemed down, so I helped you, and the sex was good so I kept doing that until you and Nora started hooking up. Didn't feel right after that."

"Between the two of you I don't think I would survive." Jaune laughed.

Yang laughed right along with him, her first genuine laugh in days. "Like being fucked between a rock and a hard place." She joked.

"Walking is overrated." Jaune chuckled.

"Preach." Yang giggled. She smiled, wiping her eyes. She reached out, grabbed Jaune's hand and pulled him into the bed, wrapping him in a hug. "Thank you Jaune. I really needed this. I've been stupid."

"I thought that was my thing." Jaune said.

"Even I act a little Jaune once in a while." Yang smirked. She released the embrace but kept hold of his hand.

"Great, now I'm a verb." Jaune groaned.

"Hey, you made something of yourself." Yang laughed. "Be happy."

"I'll try my best, so long as you do...and maybe take a shower." Jaune suggested.

"Ugh, now that you mention it...crying and sweating all over myself for two days didn't do any favors for my hygiene." Yang observed. "Want to join me?"

"My mind is telling me no..." Jaune started.

"But your body…" Yang pressed.

"Fears the wrath of the two very emotional women waiting in the living room." Jaune laughed uneasily. "Whom I am going to placate until you're cleaned up, okay?"

"Heh, okay Jaune." Yang smiled. "Thank you." She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Really."

"It's no big deal." Jaune declared. "Just returning the favor. Anything I can do before I go?"

"No...wait...could you open my pill bottle?" Yang asked. She picked it up off the nightstand. "It's a nightmare with one arm." Jaune nodded and took it from her, opening it and passing it back. Yang took two pills out, slapped them in her mouth, then swallowed them with the glass of water on her nightstand. She handed the bottle back to Jaune and he closed it before replacing it. "Thanks."

Winter woke in the morning to find Ruby had splayed herself across her front, head nestled against her breast. Blake and Weiss rested their heads on either of Winter's shoulders. Unwilling to ruin the moment or disturb their slumber, Winter ignored nature's call. One by one they awoke, only released from Winter's embrace when they politely asked. The morning was normal after that. They dressed, ate breakfast, and packed the SUV with the goodies they had purchased the day before. Then it was time for another exciting day exploring Atlas.

The first stop was Winter's idea. The group stopped at a bakery, Winter's favorite. Ruby drooled over the multitude of alluring confections on display. Winter ordered a variety box of cookies to send the girls back to school with. Blake pointed to one of the cakes on offer. "Red Velvet, sounds a bit like what you'd get if you left Ruby alone with my roommate." Blake joked.

"Well, I do have a thing for Faunus and she appears to like brunettes so…" Ruby laughed.

"Don't get any ideas." Blake warned. "Cheat on me and you'll have to face Winter's wrath."

"I will break you." Winter said in a strange Old Atlesian accent before bursting into laughter.

The next stop was Blake's idea. She knew Ruby was fond of video games so the group headed to an arcade. They had pretty much disappeared from Patch, but Ruby had happy memories of the hours she had spent in an arcade as a kid. She drooled over the vintage cabinets, colorful and exciting reminders of her misspent youth. The action turned to air hockey where Weiss comprehensively outplayed everyone. With the way she worked the angles, it was as if she were doing the math in her head. Blake might have matched her with pure brute force, but the laser lighting and dots darting across the table seemed to be a constant distraction, despite her best efforts to ignore them.

Weiss' idea was next. Remembering the place from her childhood, she took the group to a candy shop that handmade the candy in full view of the patrons. Ruby was like...well...a kid in a candy store. She watched enraptured as the chefs concocted the sweets from melted sugar and various flavorings. Ruby only snapped out of her trance when Winter offered her a handkerchief to wipe the line of drool running down her chin. Winter bought them several packets of candy before heading out but kept them away from the girls. Dinner was next and she was not going to let them spoil their appetites.

The setting for dinner was an upscale restaurant in downtown Atlas City. Winter indicated that she had booked ahead, and upon arrival the group was led to a booth at the back wall. Ruby scanned the other patrons as she took her seat. "I feel underdressed." She complained. Her casual street clothes certainly did not match up with the formal wear of most of the diners.

Blake took one of Ruby's hands in her own, rubbing it gently and meeting her gaze. "You look beautiful Ruby." Blake declared.

"Not nearly as beautiful as you." Ruby countered, blushing and smiling uncontrollably.

"You and your cheesy pick-up lines." Blake giggled. They gazed into one another's eyes, lost in the moment. A gently cough from Weiss broke Ruby and Blake from their stupor. They turned to see Weiss looking amused and Winter grinning at them. The waitress patiently stood, holding out menus to the lovebirds. Blake chuckled and took the menu, thanking the woman who bowed and departed.

"Never thought the phrase 'lost in each other's eyes' could truly apply." Weiss laughed. Ruby snatched her menu and used it to hide her face.

"It's adorable." Winter sighed.

"Winter, you're crying." Weiss observed.

"No I'm not." Winter protested, hiding behind her own menu. "Shut up."

"Usually the show comes with the dinner." Blake joked.

"Seafood platter?" Weiss asked.

"You know me well, dear sister." Blake smiled. "Ruby, see anything you like?"

"Uh...this menu is in Old Atlesian." Ruby observed.

"Ah, right." Blake nodded. "Well, you like fish, don't you?"

"Yes?" Ruby said, more as a question than a statement.

"They have fish and chips." Blake suggested. "It's a little small, but tastes nice, and you could try something from our plates too."

"A fancy place like this does fish and chips?" Ruby gasped.

"Yeah, they just try to make it look neat and upscale." Blake shrugged.

"Hmm...actually...Weiss, pick me something you think I've never had before." Ruby requested.

Weiss raised an eyebrow, then grinned. "You sure?" She asked.

"No, but yes!" Ruby confirmed.

"Go easy on her Weiss." Winter warned.

"Give me your best shot." Ruby challenged.

"Oh boy." Blake groaned.

"Very well Ms. Rose, I have something very special in mind." Weiss smirked.

The group ordered their meals, which were delivered with surprising speed. Blake was given a plate with various seafood carefully arranged in a geometric pattern, Winter a rare steak and Weiss a lobster. A bowl of soup was placed before Ruby. "Soup, I love soup!" Ruby cheered. "Ooh, with peppers!"

"Do you now?" Weiss asked with a mischievous tone.

"I haven't had good stuff in a while." Ruby noted. Blake started eating while Weiss and Winter just watched as Ruby took a spoonful of the soup, gently blowing on it before downing it. They waited with bated breath for Ruby's assessment. After looking at the bowl with a thoughtful expression for a few seconds, her face lit up. "Not as hot as Uncle Qrow's secret recipe, but definitely more flavorful. This is great! Thanks Weiss." Ruby returned to eating, faster and faster, her face steadily growing redder but her expression betraying no discomfort.

Winter and Blake both smirked at Weiss as she looked on in astonishment. "You've had hotter?" Weiss gasped.

"Mhm." Ruby confirmed as she downed another spoonful. "When I was younger and Uncle Qrow could still visit, he'd sometimes make his secret chili soup. Only me, him and Ren could stomach it."

"If you don't mind my asking, why is you uncle no longer able to visit?" Winter asked.

"Ah, well, Qrow's always been...a drunk." Ruby explained. "He's not a bad person, he's always been good to us, but well, he and Raven had a rough time growing up, and he drank to get by, and at some point dad started drinking with him. When everything went wrong, Qrow got a lot of the blame, especially from Raven. I don't blame him though. He didn't do anything. Dad made his own choices...people do dumb things when they're hurting. They hurt themselves, they hurt others and those people do the same, and their anger and pride stops them from fixing things. It's stupid, but yeah, I went on a little." Ruby took another spoonful, nearly spitting it out in surprise as Blake rubbed her thigh.

"When we were at the candy shop, you mentioned one of your friends was pregnant." Weiss observed, desperate to shift to a less depressing subject. "What's she like?"

"Oh boy." Ruby laughed. "Where do I start?"