Chapter 64

Pandora led Yang and Pyrrha into the kitchen. She took a seat on a stool, resting her elbows on the counter in front of her and holding her head in her hands. Unsure of what to do, Yang and Pyrrha stood. Pandora took a deep breath and looked up. "Pyrrha...how long have you felt this way? Have you been afraid all your life?"

"No I...I guess I've loved Yang for a long time without realizing it." Pyrrha replied. "It wasn't until the accident that it truly dawned on me." Yang put a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder and offered a reassuring smile.

"Not just that, how long have you feared that your father and I didn't love you?" Pandora asked.

"It's been a nagging worry, not quite a fear, since we've lived here." Pyrrha admitted. "Seeing other parents with their children, hugging them, telling them how much they love them...it only got worse when I had to spend time away and it never seemed to bother you. The year I spent in Summer's care was shocking...to see how different other parents were. It was hard to understand how she could show me such warmth, while you and father did not. I felt like you were raising me as a soldier, not a daughter."

"We were wrong." Pandora sighed. "We tried to raise you the Mistrali way, but that way doesn't work in today's world. We don't have to toughen you in preparation for the horrors of war. We don't have to distance ourselves for fear of losing you, or you losing us. There were many times when I wanted to do things differently, and it was no different for your father. But faith and tradition had always shown us the way, and we were...afraid to deviate from that path."

"I forgive you." Pyrrha said.

"I don't want, nor deserve your forgiveness." Pandora shook her head. "I failed you as a mother, we failed you as parents."

"You only ever tried the best you could, following the traditions you were taught." Pyrrha defended. "You had fair reasons."

"Perhaps we did, but that does not excuse our actions." Pandora countered. "How many lines did we cross? How many times did we force you to lie, to hide what you really think, who you really are?"

"It's in the past, there's no sense caring about any of that now that we're moving forward." Pyrrha insisted. "I just want you to accept who I am now."

"I'll always accept you, no matter what you decide to do, who you decide to be." Pandora declared. "You're my daughter. I just...wanted what was best for you, but I was wrong about what that was."

"Nobody's perfect mother, parenting can't have been an easy thing." Pyrrha noted.

"Yeah, my parents had their issues, but I love them and they love me, and that's all that really matters." Yang added.

"How can you be so forgiving, after all these years-" Pandora started.

"Because you're my mother." Pyrrha interrupted. "I just want you to be proud of me."

"Of course I'm proud of you." Pandora said. "You're grown into a strong, beautiful, intelligent woman. Brave too. It couldn't have been easy to do what you did today."

"Yang helped make me brave...among other things" Pyrrha noted with a blush.

Pandora managed a smile. "If you can make my daughter happy, if you can give her that kind of confidence...I guess what I'm trying to say is, I approve of...the two of you. I may never be able to fully understand what you have, but I know a good thing when I see it." She laughed to herself. "Though I suppose grandkids would be out of the picture."

"Not entirely, we could always adopt." Pyrrha countered.

"Or use a donor." Yang suggested. "I know we both have one in mind, and I wouldn't mind carrying."

"You'd do that for me?" Pyrrha asked. "Wait, no, it's my duty to bear a child to continue the family line."

"I mean, it doesn't really matter who does it." Yang shrugged. "The kid's gonna' be a Nikos either way. So much better than my weird name."

"I like your name...maybe we could both have kids?" Pyrrha wondered.

"Eh, let's not get too ahead of ourselves." Yang advised. "We're not gonna' do this tomorrow. You've still gotta' finish college and I'm...we're starting a business. We should get that squared away before we start thinking about kids."

"You...advising caution?" Pyrrha smirked. "Never thought I'd see the day."

Pandora chuckled, drawing the others' attention back to her. "You're so wonderful together. I could never stand in the way of this kind of happiness." She stood, approaching the pair. "I may have failed as a mother, as head of my household, but somehow I was blessed with the perfect daughter." She removed her diadem, holding it before her and looking it over. "I know this isn't traditionally done until your wedding, but given all that's happened tonight, I think you've earned it."

"Mother, are you sure?" Pyrrha gasped.

"I am." Pandora confirmed. Pyrrha bowed her head, allowing Pandora to slip the diadem around it. "May you achieve greatness."

"Okay, I have no idea what happened, but that seemed super meaningful." Yang observed. "I think I'll have to learn more about Mistrali culture."

"I'd love to teach you." Pandora smiled.

"Well, we've got all night." Pyrrha noted.

"None of the others will be joining us at the shrine?" Pandora asked.

"Nora could if she wanted to, but I think she'd prefer to stay here with Ren." Pyrrha replied.

"Very well." Pandora nodded. "I guess we'll have something to do other than praying. I've had plenty of prayers answered today already."

"I think I had a bit too much to drink." Weiss mumbled into Ruby's shoulder.

"I know Weiss, it's okay, you'll be fine." Ruby soothed.

After being excused from the dining room, Weiss had slowly grown less coherent, not to mention less steady. It was confusing. She had only had two and a half glasses of wine. Then Pyrrha had taken notice of her inebriation and informed Weiss that Mistrali sacramental wine had a high alcohol content, and was usually consumed in small quantities for ceremonial purposes. In her own words, it was meant to burn away sin and open the mind to the heavens. In other words, it was meant to hit hard and fast. Weiss was no lightweight, at least in her own estimation, but two and a half glasses worth was basically half a bottle of normal wine, and she had consumed it in less than an hour. After being escorted to the living room and brought a bottle of water, Pyrrha had left alongside Yang and Pandora, saying they would be back early in the morning. It was a lovely living room, all dark wood, bookshelves, paintings, carvings and tapestries. Ruby would have been closely examining every inch, were she not being used as a pillow by her drunken girlfriend.

"Am I embarrassing you?" Weiss asked. "Is Mrs. Nikos mad?"

"No Weiss, and no, she just has a lot on her mind right now." Ruby replied.

"She doesn't like me very much." Weiss observed.

"She's just prejudiced." Ruby encouraged. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"I was supposed to support Pyrrha." Weiss noted.

"And you did, we all did, by being here for her." Ruby nodded.

"But I got drunk." Weiss protested.

"By accident Weiss." Ruby insisted. "You're doing okay, I promise. No one is mad."

"Hmm...you're too good to me Ruby…" Weiss slurred, punctuating the statement with a wet kiss on the collar, and a giggle.

"I'm...as good to you as you deserve...Weiss?" Ruby hesitated.

"Hmm?" Weiss asked.

"Can I go to the bathroom." Ruby requested.

"Nmmkay." Weiss released her grip on Ruby's arm, squeezing her hand one last time. Blake looked over as Ruby stood, having been reading a book on Mistrali customs Pyrrha had pulled from one of the shelves.

"I need to go to the bathroom, come help me find it." Ruby glanced at Blake.

Blake quirked her head, and Ruby raised her brow, looking insistent. "Ren, are you alright with Weiss?"

Ren looked up from his phone and nodded. Nora had fallen asleep upon first contact with the couch, Jaune was trapped, his legs Nora's pillow. That had left Blake and Ren to read quietly, as the armchair Weiss has sat in only had room for two. "I've babysat drunks before." Ren glanced over to Nora, who mercifully was not snoring.

"Thanks Ren." Ruby smiled.

Pyrrha had pointed out the bathroom beforehand, so finding it was no issue. Hurrying in with Blake and closing the door, Ruby leaned against it for support. "So what's up?" Blake asked.

"I'm...in love with Weiss." Ruby declared, surprisingly shaky.

Blake blinked, then laughed, lunging forward and pulling Ruby into a hug. "Finally, I was getting worried!" She cheered, pecking Ruby on the temple.

"Yeah...I-I didn't even realize it." Ruby managed a laugh. "Mum and I were talking about everything and it just clicked, and I said it, and then I realized I haven't told her."

"Well, now's probably not the best time for it." Blake advised.

"I'd like her to remember, yeah." Ruby agreed. "Plus, she'd probably pounce on me and I don't think Pyrrha, her parents or the Maidens would appreciate that right now." Ruby chuckled.

"Or she'd burst into tears." Blake countered.

"Or both." Ruby shrugged. They both laughed at that image.

"So, when do you think you'll tell her?" Blake asked.

"I wanna' do something special, something that'll make her feel...how I feel about her." Ruby answered.

"Hmm, something private, something for you to share together." Blake suggested.

"I was thinking...but what about you?" Ruby asked. "I don't want to exclude you just because."

"I've been with Weiss all my worthwhile life Ruby." Blake explained. "You and I have been together all year. You and Weiss have barely had any time alone since we got together. I think that would be special, don't you?"

It was true, since they had gotten together, the three had been virtually inseparable, splitting only to come back together as soon as possible. Blake had fully moved into Ruby and Weiss' room, which was not technically allowed, but would only be an issue if the situation got out of hand. The fact remained that Weiss had barely had more than an hour alone with Ruby. Said time was usually taken well advantage of, but not to the extent they wanted. There were unsatisfied desires being held at bay, and despite Blake's words on the matter, they were not yet comfortable exiling Blake from the room just so they could do things that made her uncomfortable. It just did not feel right.

"Hey, look at me." Blake gently grasped Ruby's chin, pulling her gaze upward. "It's not selfish to want some time alone once in a while. We can't, and shouldn't always be together at the same time. Especially when some of us want things the others can't give." Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but Blake slipped a finger in, holding her tongue down and glaring. "Don't interrupt me…" Ruby gasped and shuddered. "This turns you on, and I love the look in your eyes when I do this just right, but I can only go so far, and we both know Weiss can go much further. You should explore that with her. It will be what makes your relationship special." Blake removed her finger, leaning in to replace it with her tongue, kissing Ruby slowly, but passionately, before breaking away, leaving Ruby breathless.

"H-have I ever told you how much I love you?" Ruby stammered.

Blake smirked. "Once or twice."

"You're very quiet." Weiss observed. Ren looked up from his reading to see Weiss had, at some point, moved to what was formerly Blake's chair, curled up and fixing him with a sleepy eye and a gentle smile. "I like it. Every guy I meet is so loud and in-your-face, a lot of girls too, but more often than not the guys want one thing, and I'm not interested in what they're selling...you though...I agree with Ruby, I'd go bi for a guy like you." Ren's eyebrows shot upward and Weiss giggled. "Shhhh, I wasn't supposed to tell you...I'm not even supposed to know. She just gushes sometimes...do you think the Maidens approve of us?"

"What do you mean?" Ren asked.

"Not that I have faith...I've never been one for myths and fairy tales, but the Maidens have such a rich religion." Weiss rambled. "What if they really existed? Or rather, what if they were truly heavenly beings, embodiments of the seasons...do you think they care about sexuality?"

"No, I don't believe so." Ren answered.

"Hmm...If they're real, and I die, and I see them...won't they be mad, that I never honored them?" Weiss asked. "Should I honor them just in case, or is that worse?"

"I feel you should follow your heart Weiss." Ren replied.

"My heart wants to be with Ruby and Blake forever." Weiss sighed. "What if forever is beyond death? What if I'm punished as a non-believer? What if they take me away from them, cursed to exist forever without the ones I love!" Her voice cracked, and Ren put his book down to give the unsteady girl his full attention.

"Weiss, faith is not a test, nor an expectation, it's a blessing." Ren explained. "For some, believing comes easy. They find comfort under the gaze of a higher power, they find solace in prayer, the belief that their wishes, their thoughts and worries are being heard, that blessings may be granted to the deserving. For others, a grounded perception of reality reigns supreme. Skepticism is understandable, we live in an age of information. Myths and legends have sources available at our fingertips. Revisions to religious texts are revealed for all to see. The very foundations of our beliefs are shaken, and yet you live free of all that, because you place your faith in the tangible.

"You choose to believe you are alone in the world until you can see, hear and touch something." Ren continued. "It's only wise. Perhaps the Maidens are not real, perhaps when we die, that truly is the end. Or perhaps not. Perhaps judgement will be passed on us all. But I feel if that is true, what will matter is the moral quality of our lives, and not how hard and often we prayed, if ever. Perhaps you would be commended for living without reliance on the Maidens' blessings. Perhaps I will be judged harshly for asking for so much so often. But it will be worth it if just one of those blessings keeps Nora safe."

Weiss was silent for a time, gazing blankly at the rug, with it's rich crimson and gold patterns, Mistrali dragons and lions, the East and West entwined in one beautiful work of art. "Is kissing Ruby and Blake a moral thing to do?"

"There is nothing immoral about expressing affection Weiss." Ren answered.

"...even if I kiss their butts?" Weiss pressed.

Ren smiled, chuckling. "I'm sure Weiss. In fact, a certain Mistrali religious sect celebrates affection in all it's forms. They consider lovemaking to be the path to enlightenment."

Weiss perked up at that, a rosy tint on her features. "Maybe...maybe that way I can be religious too."

"Maybe, but for now I think you should rest." Ren suggested.

"Hmm...I miss Ruby, and Blake." Weiss complained.

"They'll be back soon Weiss." Ren encouraged.

"Not soon enough...never soon enough…" Weiss mumbled, her eyes drooping before finally giving in to fatigue.

Ren grinned. His first impression of Weiss was that she had been rather cold, snippy, out of her element when around people and uncomfortable, but it seemed she just needed a bit of social grease to get the wheels turning. Not to mention heavy exposure to Ruby was known to have side effects. Obsession with butt kissing was a new one.

After explaining the situation to everyone and confirming that Nora did indeed wish to stay at the house with Ren, Pandora, Pyrrha and Yang headed out to the shrine. The sun begun to dip below the horizon as the trio walked along a snowy dirt path behind the house. Yang was finally happy that her tunic trapped heat, as it protected her against the biting cold. At least it was not windy. "Is...homosexuality common these days?" Pandora asked out of the blue.

"Yeah, pretty much everyone we know is gay or bi." Yang replied.

"Even Ren?" Pandora asked.

"He makes Jaune blush so easily." Yang smirked.

"I suppose Theus and I are behind the times." Pandora sighed. "It was never something we paid attention to or cared about. Maybe if we were more aware-"

"You need to stop blaming yourself." Pyrrha advised. "I've already forgiven you and father."

"What did I do to deserve such a perfect daughter?" Pandora smiled.

"I'm hardly perfect." Pyrrha protested.

"You're about as close as they come Pyr." Yang insisted.

The path led past a hedge before starting uphill. It cut past scattered trees and fields, cresting a hill and putting the still nearby house out of sight. After ascending through a denser ring of trees, the path came to an end at a clearing near the edge of the Nikos property. In the center of the clearing sat a waist-high wood construction in the shape of an 'x' with a metal cylinder in the center. "I think we've suffered from the cold enough." Pandora declared, taking the cover off the cylinder. She picked up a rusted can of lighter fluid, spraying it liberally into the cylinder, then struck a match and tossed it inside. The fire roared to life. "Better?"

"A little." Yang shrugged. "So, back at the house when you gave Pyrrha your headband thing, what was the deal with that?"

"It's a bit difficult to explain." Pandora replied. "At her wedding, the bride's mother gives the bride her diadem, symbolizing the start of a new household. It's also a sort of passing the torch thing, where the daughter is given responsibility for representing the family in the new generation. And it's a show of support, that the mother approves of the marriage."

"I'm glad you approve of us." Yang noted. "We're not quite married though."

"I suspect you are in the Mistrali way, but I won't pry." Pandora smirked. "So, do you plan to marry...or is that not something...people care about anymore?"

"I mean, we haven't really thought about it." Yang admitted. "The relationship is only a few months old. I'm down if Pyrrha is though."

"Yang, if that's a proposal, it's terrible." Pyrrha teased. "Mother, I see us getting married...someday."

"Of course, there's no need to rush it." Pandora nodded. "Pyrrha, could you get me the candles?"

"Yes mother." Pyrrha responded. She walked up to the side of the wooden 'x' that was opposite Yang, opening a panel and retrieving a quartet of candles. She walked them over to Pandora.

"Yang, do you know why we're here, why we're celebrating?" Pandora asked. She took the candles and, walking around the shrine, slotted them into metal plates on each limb of the 'x'.

"Pyrrha gave me the short version, something about a battle, but I'd love to hear more." Yang replied.

Pandora lit a long match, using it to light each of the candles in turn. "This is a story I'm always happy to tell."