Summary: Did you ever think that we'd get here?

[Date Auction]

Inch Hectometre Decimetre Foot Furlong Metre Decametre Centimetre Chain Thou Yard League Kilometre Mile Micrometre

Millimetre

RWBY

'Stupid freaking little… gah!'

Jaune Arc was a man. A… mature man, at that. At the age of forty, he could do many things adequately. He could cook and not burn something. He could fix small problems that appeared around the house. He could even spar somewhat well. Yes, the Jaune Arc of forty was a completely different person in comparison to the Jaune Arc of eighteen. And Jaune took pride in that he no longer needed to rely on others. He had become self-reliant. It was truly remar-

'Why won't you freaking work?!'

Jaune Arc couldn't tie a bowtie.

'Come on, come on…' Jaune muttered irritably. 'Like the video said, you just bring it around the back and… pull it thr- oh for the love of-!' Being unsuccessful once again, he tore the bowtie from his neck, flinging it onto the floor.

It wasn't enough.

Taking his shoe, he began to stamp on it. 'Yeah, take that you silly little…' he trailed off into grunts as he continued to tread on it.

'Am I intruding?'

Jaune froze. Rigidly turning around, he looked up guiltily at the owner of the voice.

'You know,' the person sighed. 'You may be a forty-year-old man, but you still act like a child.'

'Ehehe,' Jaune grinned sheepishly. 'It really… didn't want to tie, you know?'

'Oh really now?' the person smiled exasperatedly, walking towards him. Stooping down to pick up the bowtie, they began the arduous process of tying it for Jaune. 'Honestly, you're lucky this doesn't wrinkle easy.'

Jaune laughed. 'You sound like my mother,' he said.

'I'll take that as a compliment,' the person replied humorously. 'There.' They stood back to admire their work. 'All done.'

Jaune turned to look at the mirror. He sighed. Trust her of all people to be able to do everything and anything.

He turned to his companion. 'What would I do without you, Pyrrha?' he asked, his lip curling into a wry smile.

Green eyes warmed with mirth. 'Not much, I'm afraid,' she said.

Jaune laughed again. 'It's good to see you before the whole… you know, wedding thing.'

'Call me selfish, but I wanted to be one of the first people to see you in a tuxedo,' Pyrrha murmured, admiring the outfit. 'I heard from Ren that apparently before him, you wanted to make me your best man.'

'Well,' Jaune said, scratching his head. 'That was the plan, but…'

'But?'

'Let's just say I enjoy walking.'

'… I see,' Pyrrha said with a laugh. 'It's a shame, really. I think I would have enjoyed wearing a tuxedo.'

'Well,' Jaune said. 'If it makes you feel any better, I think the evening gown suits your better.'

'Careful now,' Pyrrha chuckled, looking down at her apparel. 'Today's supposed to be all about the bride.'

'Oh come on,' Jaune grinned. 'You know I didn't mean anything by that. And besides,' he added. 'I'm pretty sure your husband would beat the living hell out of me.'

'Oh, I know,' Pyrrha teased. 'I've known you for over twenty years, after all.'

The two shared a laugh.

'Over twenty years, huh?' Jaune murmured, lost in thought as he sat down. 'Has it really been that long?'

'Yes,' Pyrrha said, pulling up a chair beside him. 'It really has.'

'Strange,' Jaune said slowly. 'Being here now… it feels like it was only yesterday that I walked through Beacon's gates.' He laughed as he gave Pyrrha a glance. 'And the day after that, you pinned me to a damn tree.'

'Sorry,' Pyrrha smiled. 'I honestly didn't know any other way to stop you from falling.'

'Nah,' Jaune smiled back. 'If you didn't pick me that day, then I don't think we would ever have ended up here.' He bumped her shoulder lightly. 'I'm grateful for that.'

Pyrrha laughed. 'You're very welcome, then,' she said.

The two sat like that for a while in silence, taking in what was about to happen today.

'Well then,' Pyrrha said as she got up. 'I guess I'll go back to my seat.' She winked before starting to walk off. 'Good luck Jaune,' she called over shoulder.

'See you-' Jaune started before breaking off. No, his mind thought. Just one more thing. 'Pyrrha, wait,' he said.

Pyrrha halted. 'Yes, Jaune?' she asked without turning.

'Did you…' Jaune paused. 'Did you ever regret that we didn't try again?'

Slowly but surely, Pyrrha turned to face him. 'For the longest time, I did,' she admitted. 'I didn't want to admit it to myself for the longest time, because I could see that you were moving on.' She smiled sadly. 'I… didn't want to ruin that.'

'… Huh,' Jaune muttered to himself. He really was inept when it came to other's feelings. But hey, at least he was more tactful now. That was an improvement, right?

'But, you know…' she continued. 'I eventually found someone. And I'm happy now. He makes me very happy,' she smiled, her face brightening. 'He's all that I could ever ask for.'

'Good,' Jaune chuckled. 'That's good.'

'Now then, Jaune,' Pyrrha said, walking towards him once more. 'It's my turn to ask you something.'

'Fire away.'

Emerald orbs twinkled. 'Are you happy, Jaune?'

Jaune's answer was instantaneous. 'Yes.'

'Do you think that this is the happiest you could ever be?'

Again, instant. 'Yes.'

A smile. 'But how can you know that for sure?'

'Well, that's simple,' Jaune grinned. 'It's because I'm getting married today.'

The atmosphere was tense.

Well, to Jaune it was anyway.

The piano trilled throughout the church as Jaune sweated his heart out. Panic surged through his veins. What if something went wrong? What if he screwed up? What then?

'Jaune?' Ren's voice broke through the groom's furtive search for the closest escape route. 'Are you feeling okay?'

'He's fine,' Neptune smirked from beside him. 'Lover boy's just feeling a bit jittery is all.'

'R-really?' Jaune stammered, his voice cracking. 'W-what gave it away?'

Ren raised his eyebrows while Neptune brought a hand to his face.

'So not cool, man,' Neptune groaned. 'Ren, do something about him.'

'Just relax, Jaune,' Ren said softly, patting him on the shoulder. 'Everything will be fine.'

'Yeah,' Jaune said, shaking his head. 'Of course, yeah. I'm just over-reacting. Yeah.' He shook his head. 'I gotta calm down.'

'Good,' his best man encouraged. 'Just keep it together. This is supposed to be the best moment of your life. And, as always, remember to-'

'"Keep moving forward", I know,' Jaune said, laughing shakily. 'Those are some strong words to live by, pal.'

Ren's mouth turned upward. 'I try,' he said wryly.

Suddenly the piano changed its tune, causing Jaune to squeak. Those who heard him laughed quietly while Ren and Neptune collectively sighed. Embarrassed, Jaune bashfully looked towards the entrance, avoiding eye contact with everyone as the procession began. He began to drown everything out, focusing only on breathing slowly. In. Out. In. Out.

Okay Jaune, he thought to himself as the procession continued. Just play it cool. You just have to play it cool. You will not wet your pants. Repeat after me. You will not wet your pants. You will not wet your pants. You will not-

Jaune's mind grounded to a halt.

He saw her.

For a moment, once again he was an eighteen-year-old boy in a classroom, playing some game on his scroll with her. For a moment, once again they were scuffling, leading to him clumsily sprawling on top of her. For a moment, once again he was terrified, jerking back and bracing himself from imminent slaughter.

For a moment, once again instead of being shanked, he instead heard peals of laughter.

For a moment, once again as he was looking down, he found himself looking upon the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

And it was with this same feeling that Jaune looked upon Weiss Schnee now. It is as the world says: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

As if on cue, she looked up and their eyes met.

Time seemed to slow down.

He stared.

She stared back.

He smiled.

She smiled back.

Time resumed once more.

He stared as she smiled. She smiled as he stared.

And she continued to smile as she walked right past him.

Taking her place as the Maid of Honour.

Jaune collapsed on his chair, exhausted. He had forgotten how energetic his bride-now-wife could be. Though still preferring casual clothing, she had become more open to the idea of formal wear as well as the… events that came with it.

'Ugh,' Jaune panted, holding his head in his hands. 'I think I'm getting too old for this.'

'What are you, her grandfather?' a voice quipped dryly.

Jaune looked up. 'I might as well be,' he wheezed. 'Such a sad life. I remember having so much energy once upon a time…'

'Oh shut up,' the voice admonished. 'Here.' A glass of water was thrust in face. 'You need to get hydrated. The last thing this reception needs is you puking everywhere.' A smirk. 'But it would be rather fitting.'

Jaune rolled his eyes. 'It's been over twenty years,' he said exasperatedly as he took the glass. 'Can't you give it a rest?'

'Some things never get old,' Weiss simpered as she sat beside him. 'And to be precise, it's been twenty-three years.'

Jaune laughed. 'Always the precise person, aren't you?' he murmured, looking out onto the dancefloor. He spotted Yang swinging the bride around in a flurry of haphazard movement while Blake watched from afar with her scroll out, filming the whole thing. Catching his eye, the bride beamed at him, her silvery-grey eyes filled with excitement. Jaune smiled back. They all looked like they were having such fun.

'She looks like she's having fun,' Weiss said softly.

Jaune turned to see the president of the Schnee Dust Company with a peaceful expression on her face. 'Yeah,' he said quietly. 'She does.'

'And she'll continue to have fun from here on out,' Weiss continued. 'She's very lucky to have you, Jaune.' A smile. 'Any girl would be.'

Jaune's brow quirked. 'Don't be inflating my ego, now.'

'You're implying that it isn't already.'

'Oh now you're just being mean.'

'I'm only speaking the truth. It's not my fault that you're in denial.'

The two of them laughed, drowning themselves in the music. Again, no expense was spared. Being the Maid of Honour, Weiss had insisted on making sure that it was the "best wedding possible". Looking around, Jaune was still mystified by how much lien had gone into this. It was more than he had ever made as his tenure as a hunter.

'Hey,' he said, breaking the silence.

'Mm?' Weiss replied.

'Did you ever think that we'd get here?' he asked.

Weiss tilted her head. 'What do you mean?'

'You know…' Jaune gestured with his hands. 'Here. Just… here.'

'Oh.' Weiss blinked. 'Honestly? No,' she said, shaking her head. 'It still amazes me that we were able to do so much for Remnant. I still wake up every day in awe.'

'I know what you mean,' Jaune said distantly. 'It's like… you can almost feel the… I dunno, change in the air.'

'Yeah…' Weiss said quietly. 'Speaking of change, I heard you were offered the position of headmaster for Beacon. Congratulations.'

'Thanks,' Jaune smiled. 'But I'll be turning it down.'

'Oh?'

'Mmhmm,' Jaune said slowly. 'It's all… I just… I just want to retire and leave it all behind me… I… I think… I think I've seen enough for one lifetime.'

'I see…' Weiss murmured.

'And?' Jaune swivelled back towards her. 'What about you? What's next for the extraordinary Weiss Schnee?'

'Well,' Weiss began. 'I've talked with Winter, and she has no interest in the company. So, until I find a successor, I'll still be running the day-to-day operations.'

'Yowza,' Jaune grimaced. 'That sounds painful.'

'It's not so bad,' Weiss smiled softly. 'I'm used to it now. But,' she added. 'I am taking the next year off.'

'Oh?'

'Uh huh,' Weiss said. 'I've also been talking with Blake. Since she's only been writing novels these days, she offered to run the company for a while. She said that "it's my turn now".' Weiss stretched in her seat. 'I'm okay with it, really. She's worked with me the longest, and knows how the company functions. Everyone there either likes her or is scared of her, so it shouldn't be a problem.' A laugh. 'Me? I'm just looking forward to relaxing for a while. Explore the world, even.'

Jaune laughed as well. 'Well, if anything, you've earned it.'

'Yeah,' Weiss said. 'I think I have.'

'I'm guessing Yang will be following Blake, then.'

'Probably. Being a bartender must be boring her to death.'

'Well,' Jaune grinned. 'I hope you have a wonderful vacation.'

'Thanks,' Weiss smiled back.

The two of them looked back onto the dancefloor. Blake had somehow been roped into the sisters' shenaniganery, and the three of them were bobbing and weaving through and between everyone.

'You know,' Jaune started again. 'This night could have very easily have been about us.'

'Yeah,' Weiss said softly. 'It could have.'

He gave her a wry grin. 'But you didn't open the door.'

'No,' Weiss said, melancholic. 'No, I didn't.'

'You never told me why.'

Weiss spared him a humorous glance. 'I think you of all people should know the answer to that.'

'Yeah,' Jaune admitted sheepishly. 'I guess I do. But I'd like to think that maybe we would have been betrothed in a different life.'

'Yeah,' Weiss snorted. 'And maybe I'd end up being a magical girl or something.'

Jaune's eye twitched. 'Age has changed you, my dear Schnee.'

'Shut up,' she snapped good-naturedly. 'Give me a break. I'm going on vacation, remember?'

It is indeed as the world says: the more things change, the more they stay the same. It is an undeniable truth. A hard truth perhaps, but a truth nonetheless.

'It's been a while,' Jaune said, struggling for words. 'Since… you know, we've just sat down and talked.'

'I've been busy,' Weiss said evasively.

Jaune raised his eyebrow. 'Really?' he asked. 'That's what you're going with?'

'I know, I know,' Weiss sighed. 'It's just…'

'Yeah,' he said quietly. 'I know.'

Silence.

'We're… not the same as we once were,' she murmured sadly. 'I know you wanted to go back. And I did too… But even now, after all this time, it's… hard.' She laughed bitterly. 'We still can't even go back to just being really good friends.'

'Yeah well,' Jaune said lightly, shoving her on the shoulder. 'Who says we need to go from there? Hell, we can start from the beginning.' A grin broke onto his face. 'I heard you liked having "kinda friends".'

Weiss laughed. 'Well, if we're back to "kinda friends", then need I remind you of my two feet policy?' she asked.

'You had a policy?

'Yes.'

'Doesn't ring a bell.'

'Oh really?

'Yeah really.'

'You know, I may be out of practice, but I'm pretty sure I can still beat you up.'

'Yeah, you probably could…'

'Precisely.'

Laughter.

'We'll be okay, Weiss,' Jaune said comfortingly as the laughter died down. 'Just take a look around you. We'll be okay.'

Heeding his words, Weiss looked around. She saw Ren being pitifully dragged around by the hurricane that was Nora. She saw Sun and Neptune by the bar, each man attempting to woo the bartender. She saw Pyrrha and her husband glide through the room, content and happy with life. She saw the rest of her team embracing in the middle of the dancefloor, their laughter rippling through the hall.

Yes. Things would be okay.

'We'll be okay,' Jaune repeated, breaking her out of her reverie.

'Yeah,' she agreed softly. 'Yeah, we will be.'

'Good,' Jaune said. He drained the rest of his glass. 'Now then, how about a dance?'

'Dance?' Weiss repeated.

Jaune shrugged. 'Sure,' he said. 'I mean I'm old, but I'm not that old yet.'

'I don't know…' Weiss said uneasily. 'Do you think it's okay?'

'I don't see why not,' Jaune teased. 'Don't over think it.'

So maybe the fairy-tale ending that existed in their minds never happened. Maybe they didn't love hard enough or long enough for things to work out. Maybe fate had a different story to tell. The possibilities of why they didn't or couldn't work were endless.

But maybe at the end of it all, why they didn't or couldn't work didn't matter.

Maybe there is still hope. Not for a romance, but for a friendship. Maybe they will come to a new equilibrium. A new understanding, perhaps. After all, fate tells different stories. And it has been said: who knows what the future holds?

Maybe, just maybe, things between them will eventually be okay again.

And maybe they'll get there some day.

Inch by inch.

Rising from his chair and dusting himself off, he offered his hand to her.

'Come on,' Jaune said with a smile. 'We still have time for another go.'

Millimetre Fin

Author's Notes: And there you have it. I feel the need to iterate that I began working with GEP after Betrothed.

GEP and I share a common philosophy when it comes to ships. "The best ones are the ones that suffer". Jaune and Weiss getting their happy ending is one thing, but it's very cut and dry. I'm not a fan of that. I like the intrigue.

A couple of months back, I told GEP about what I had planned - them getting together at the end. We both agreed that it wasn't the best plan of action. So I came up with Pyrrha coming back and Arkos reigning supreme. But then, as I got closer to the reveal, I felt that would cheapen her character. So then, I turned to Ruby.

But why Ruby? It is in my opinion that Hollywood and writers write three kinds of romances. Three "types" if you will. There's the one who got away (Pyrrha), the one who lives in the moment (Weiss), and the one who waited (Ruby). So, I thought "fuck it, I'll use them all". Granted, perhaps Ruby's role could have been bigger, but I'm satisfied with how it turned out.

The best romances are the ones that are subtle and hit you out of nowhere, but still make sense. You don't need to know the specifics of how Jaune and Ruby got together. You just need to know that they did. The rest, as I've said before, is in the other chapters. You need only look. As I've said, if you were perceptive enough, you'd have known how this would have ended. Not necessarily with Ruby being endgame, but with White Knight not working out.

But yes. This is the end. I've enjoyed myself considerably for my first fanfiction. Who knows, maybe I'll spring up again. But for now, I think I'll enjoy going back to the background and being GEP's editor. University's coming back for me soon, so I'll be busy soon enough. Guys, I just want to say it's been a blast. You were all very nice, which is strange considering that this is the internet.

And now for some throwaway trivia on how my process works.

- I had no actual story plans until chapter 4.

- This was supposed to be only 10 chapters long. I then discovered more metric units.

- I was sticking with the Pyrrha end story until about chapter 10 or so. Then I changed to Ruby.

- Going from that, chapter 12 was a little flimsy because it was going to be a chapter on Pyrrha's confession.

- I had no plans to write anyone else apart from Jaune, Pyrrha, Blake, Neptune and Weiss (barring chapter 3). It was because I feared getting the characters of Ruby and Yang completely wrong. I didn't even bother touching Nora. She's untouchable.

- Pyrrha was supposed to be the best man in this chapter. But, I felt it more fitting, from a meta and homage standpoint, for it to be Ren, with Neptune as an accompanying groomsman.

- I had a chapter planned for Jaune to show weakness in his early 30's, talking with Ren about the futility of war, and wanting to go back home to Weiss. Not enough space, unfortunately.

- I also had a chapter about Weiss finding out that Jaune was a fraud. It didn't work out properly.

- There was also a chapter about Weiss hanging out with Jaune in their 3rd year on ball night. Neptune had bailed because he had gotten sick, and Weiss had grown a bit tired of the ball thing. So, the two of them just casually played video games for a few hours before Weiss went to check on Neptune.

- Jaune leaving was supposed to be a bit more dramatic, with Weiss not wanting to settle down and to have kids, while that's what Jaune wanted. So he disappears the next day. I decided against that, and instead went down another path.

- Jaune and Weiss rarely show extreme intimacy like kissing or spamming "I love you". This is more of a personal gripe. A lot of television and fiction, especially YA, tend to trivialise these acts, in effect making them weak when used in furious repetition. When I want to show intimacy, I want it to mean something, not just because I want to check a box. Otherwise it just feels forced, and dare I say "corny". That's why Centimetre was my favourite chapter to write while Yard was my least.

- Have Jaune and Weiss had sex? Maybe. I left that up to interpretation. Again, not my thing when it comes to writing.

And there you have it. Thank you all very much for accommodating me for these past few months, and sorry that I enjoy writing essays in my A/N's. Also, a big thank you to GEP for coming up with Date Auction, or else this would have never existed in the first place.

Will I write something else? We'll see. What I will say though, is that I have some plans for "specials" for this series. As for whether or not I'll go through with them, I guess you'll find out.

Thank you all again. Remember to keep it real.

- Narutochaos22

P.S. In case you were wondering, the title at the beginning shows the chronological order of chapters.