Of Life and Love: Part 2

The carriage pulled to a halt in front of Rosanne's ducal estate. Pyrrha rose from her seat on a nearby bench, Ruby pulling Zwei to a stop beside her. Yang opened the carriage door, stepping down to approach Pyrrha with open arms. "Pyrrha Rose." Yang smirked.

"Yang Schnee." Pyrrha joked.

"Pfft, I wish." Yang laughed. "Come here." She pulled the very pregnant Pyrrha into a gentle embrace. "You're coming along well."

"Ugh, I'm about ready to burst." Pyrrha complained. "I regret envying any of you."

"Just wait 'til the birth." Yang warned. "Then you'll really regret it."

"You're terrible at motivating." Pyrrha scoffed.

"Hey, teach me stronger spells and maybe I can help." Yang suggested.

"The only thing you're worse at than motivating is being a student." Pyrrha laughed.

"Stupid mental syllables." Yang grumbled.

Ruby loudly cleared her throat, causing Pyrrha and Yang to separate. "Honey, we have guests!" Ruby reminded Pyrrha.

"Oh, oh!" Pyrrha gasped. "I am so sorry. Where are my manners? Welcome to Villa De Rosa...oh...it's you. Neo and Emerald, correct?" Pyrrha bowed and Neo curtseyed.

"Yes ma'am." Emerald confirmed, her head bowed, hands submissively clasped in front of her.

"I imagine your journey has left you famished." Pyrrha observed. "I'll have the cooks prepare a large lunch. Yang, if you would come with me, there is something I'd like to discuss with you. Ruby, could you show our guests around?"

"Sure!" Ruby cheered. "Come on girls. Wait until you see our private baths! They're even better than the ones in the capital!"

"Bye girls, have fun!" Yang exclaimed as they disappeared into the manor. "Just a moment Pyrrha, I brought Autumn with me." She reached into the carriage, picking up Autumn in her bassinet.

"O-oh, you did?" Pyrrha stammered. "Well that's wonderful. Summer will have someone to talk to."

"She's not quite there yet Pyrrha." Yang laughed. "But I'm sure she'll appreciate the company anyway."

Ruby led Neo and Emerald along a cobbled path that circled around the manor house as they made light conversation. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to meet you." Ruby apologized. "There's just been so much going on and it's a little overwhelming, but I promise to spend as much time with you as possible while you're here!"

"You're like a little cherry." Neo signed. "I want to eat you all up."

"Neo says she loves your cloak." Emerald lied.

"Thanks!" Ruby cheered. "My mom gave it to me. Hey since you're part of the family we should get cloaks made for you two! Yang has one but she never wears it. All my friends have their own too!"

"Cloaks are sexy." Neo smirked. "You can wear no clothes underneath, and no one can tell until you flash them!"

"Neo can't wait." Emerald obfuscated.

The group came to a gate and archway cut into the hedge. Walking through they found themselves in a large series of gardens. In the distance they could see Yang and Pyrrha walking arm-in-arm, entering a small building away from everything else. "These are the rose gardens." Ruby explained. "Mom planted them when she lived here, and I've been expanding on them since I came to power."

Neo nudged Emerald to get her attention. "I wonder if she's as dedicated to her own rose bush." Neo signed.

"Neo say's they're beautiful." Emerald suppressed a grin.

"Thanks!" Ruby exclaimed. "You can relax here all you like. The gardens are open to the public on weekends and for special events though, so you might have some company on occasion."

"I won't mind having her for company." Neo grinned.

"Thank you for your generosity Miss Rose." Emerald bowed.

"Oh please, I'm Ruby." She laughed. "I'll be 'Miss Rose' when I'm old and wrinkled." She pointed to the building Yang and Pyrrha had entered. "Over there you can see the shrine. I've never really been one for prayer, but Pyrrha likes to spend some time there every day."

"There's a lot of fun to be had on your knees." Neo signed.

"Neo's afraid we might burst into flames upon entering." Emerald chuckled.

"If Yang can survive, I'm sure you can too." Ruby giggled. "Come on, I'll show you the main hall."

After dropping off Autumn at the nursery, Yang and Pyrrha headed through the manor and out the back. They followed a well trodden path of trampled grass from the main building to a smaller structure. Its design marked it as a small temple, the sort many religious nobles constructed for their personal use. They entered the structure, and Pyrrha closed the shrine door behind Yang, separating from her and approaching the altar. She took several sticks of incense, placed them in holders, and lit them with a nearby candle. She clasped her hands, bowing her head in prayer.

Yang took in her surroundings. The stone walls blocked all natural light, leaving a multitude of candles to light the space. The floor was lacquered wood with several woven mats to cover its surface, along with some pillows to make kneeling in prayer more comfortable. The interior of the building and the shrine itself were decorated with various hangings, silks and tapestries, giving the impression of being in a tent, almost. Yang found it beautiful if sombre, not to mention a major fire hazard. Approaching Pyrrha, Yang noticed for the first time that the shrine was littered with feathers, black feathers.

"Pyrrha, what's with the feathers?" Yang asked.

"Raven feathers." Pyrrha replied. "I've taken to collecting them...a form of penance."

"Pyrrha, you…" Yang started.

"I know Yang, Raven wished to die, and so I obliged her." Pyrrha cut her off. "I killed many during the war, all desiring nothing more than my death, the deaths of those I hold dear. But of all of them, Raven alone is the one I regret."

"You would rather Ruby had?" Yang asked.

"I would rather no one had." Pyrrha sighed. "She did not wish to kill me, nor did she wish to kill my friends, even if she felt obligated to because of our opposing allegiance. The only death she wished for was her own. But she did not deserve death Yang. Raven was a broken woman, driven insane by her mistakes, by the manipulations of a cruel king. She did not deserve death but redemption. She deserved a life free of pain, free of misery. She believed her only escape was death, and in our haste, in our anger, we accepted that. But I can no longer."

"What's done is done Pyrrha." Yang encouraged.

Pyrrha turned to Yang with a sad smile. "Perhaps, but still, I wish to redeem her." Pyrrha declared. "If in name only."

"What do you mean?" Yang asked.

Pyrrha bowed her head. "My child...Ren tells me she will be female." She explained. "We have discussed various names but...I keep coming back to one."

Yang laid a hand on Pyrrha's back, managing a weak smile in return. "Pyrrha, are you sure?" Yang pressed. "This is...this is a really big thing to do. She'll carry that name for her entire life. Like it or not, it will define her in the eyes of others, and in her own."

"Raven deserved a new life." Pyrrha insisted. "In this way, I can grant her that. She was your mother Yang. No matter her crimes she was your only mother, and I took her from you, forever...I took her from you Yang. I think about it every night, the pitiful look in her eyes, her voice, begging for death, begging Ruby...she thanked me Yang, I killed her and she thanked me." Pyrrha dissolved into tears, beginning to sob. Yang hugged her, just as gentle as before, letting her sob into her shirt. "I...I want to do right. I want my child to carry her name with pride, redeem it in the eyes of the world."

"Okay, okay, I understand." Yang soothed.

"I won't let her down Yang." Pyrrha promised. "I won't fail again."

"You didn't fail Pyrrha." Yang countered. "You never failed anyone."

"I wish I could believe that Yang." Pyrrha sighed. "But thank you."

Ruby led Emerald and Neo to the main hall. "This is where we would have feasts if the garden wasn't so beautiful." Ruby said. "We only end up having them in here when it's raining."

"I prefer eating when it's wet anyway." Neo signed.

"So we won't be eating here?" Emerald asked.

"There's a lovely gazebo deeper in the gardens that we've prepared for lunch." Ruby replied. "It has a great view of the lake."

A maid approached Ruby. "Miss Ruby, Summer is awake." She said.

"Oh, perfect!" Ruby cheered. "Thank you Octavia. Neo, Emerald, come meet Summer. She loves visitors!"

The maid curtseyed and returned to her duties. Ruby made her way down one of the halls with her guests in tow. As she turned into a side room she was met with an excited squeal. "Mummy!" Summer exclaimed.

Ruby knelt, allowing Summer to rush into her arms, giggling. "Good afternoon sweetie." Ruby smiled. "Auntie Yang is here, and she brought family too." Ruby gestured toward Emerald and Neo.

"Yaya...Pink!" Summer yelled, pointing to Neo. "Aah!" She detached from Ruby, dashing over to latch onto Neo's leg.

"Summer wait!" Ruby laughed.

Neo giggled silently, ruffling Summer's bright red hair and eliciting another squeal. "Pretty pink!" Summer cheered.

"She really likes visitors." Ruby chuckled.

"And pink, evidently." Emerald observed.

"We're more of a red family." Ruby noted.

"She's so beautiful." Neo signed, bending down to get closer to Summer's level.

"She...she says she's beautiful." Emerald translated.

"She takes after her grandmother." Ruby reminisced.

"Your mother must have been an angel." Neo signed.

"She must have been an angel." Emerald related.

"She was…" Ruby started. "Summer, don't do that."

Summer had reached up and was tugging on Neo's pink pigtail. Rather than be annoyed, Neo laid down to let Summer more easily play with it, an amused grin on her face. Summer began climbing on Neo, much to her delight. "Pinned by a baby, Neo I taught you better than that." Yang joked, standing in the doorway smirking. Neo stuck her tongue out at Yang. "Pyrrha says lunch is being served."

After shifting Summer aside, Neo popped up. "Oh, I need to go relieve myself first." She explained. "I haven't gone all day."

"The latrine is in the east wing." Ruby signed perfectly. "If you get lost one of the maids can show you." Neo's eyes bugged in shock and Emerald flinched. Ruby rolled her eyes. "The maids won't bite. Go on, we'll save you a seat." Neo plastered on a smile, jumping up and rushing out of the room.

Neo found her destination with the help of an understanding and perceptive maid in the eastern wing of the manor. It was the guest wing as the maid explained. It was cozy, freshly cleaned, smelling of citrus. Neo used her time alone to silently panic. Ruby knew sign, which meant she would have understood everything Neo had said. She had not reacted, not even flinched, just kept smiling that annoyingly perfect smile of hers. Perhaps it was her political side. Yes, Ruby was a duchess, very much a politician now, and a soldier too, trained to never let her enemy phase her...wait...did that make Neo and Emerald enemies? Had Neo declared war? How would Ruby retaliate? Neo had left Emerald out there. She was only trying to keep her spirits up, her nerves at bay, and now Emerald was alone with two people she was afraid of and Yang. Would Yang protect her when she was in the wrong? What would happen to them?

Knock, knock.

"You've been done for two minutes Neo." Yang called from outside the door. "Quit stalling." Neo flinched, silently sighing before finishing up and exiting the latrine to find a distinctly unimpressed looking Yang staring down at her. Neo crossed her arms behind her back and plastered on an innocent smile. Yang shook her head. "I was curious to know how you would act around Ruby. You are a little demon after all, and boy was I not surprised to see you making her the butt of your jokes." Neo giggled soundlessly, but a glare from Yang cowed her. "Neo, Ruby is your sister, not by blood, not by law, but by bond. I expect you to treat her with respect."

"I'm sorry Yang." Neo signed.

"I'm not the one who you need to apologize to." Yang waved her off.

"Yes ma'am...I just wanted to cheer up Emerald." Neo explained.

"I know Neo, but doing so at the expense of Ruby was a poor idea, and you dragged her down with you." Yang admonished. Neo bowed her head in shame, but Yang sighed and pulled her into a hug. "You're a dolt, but I love you. Now come on, they're waiting."

Neo followed Yang out of the building and into the gardens. They followed one of the main paths as it bordered a lake. On the far side was a gazebo, Pyrrha, Ruby, Summer and Emerald seated inside. Emerald seemed to be making herself as small as possible as Ruby made conversation with her, or rather at her. Emerald silently nodded when appropriate, but was otherwise silent and still.

As Neo and Yang approached, Ruby stood, smiling. "Neo, did you find the bathroom okay?" Ruby asked. "Back when I first moved in, I got lost a few times myself without the maids help."

Neo smiled and bowed her head. "Miss Rose I…" She started.

"Ruby." She corrected.

"Ruby...I apologize for my disrespectful actions today." Neo signed. "I am a guest in your home, we both are, and I underestimated and belittled you. This was my idea, and Emerald had nothing to do with it. She only sought to cover for me."

"It's okay Neo, I admit I did not reveal my ability to sign to see what you would do at first." Ruby signed back. "In a way, we both deceived each other for our own amusement, and it was quite amusing."

"I meet so very few people who can sign." Neo explained. "Most do not care for the mute. It has become an easy thing to poke fun to their faces. Your composure is most impressive."

"Between Yang and Nora I've grown a thick skin." Ruby noted. "Still, it was a fun challenge, and I forgive you, on the condition that you and Emerald come to be measured for cloaks tomorrow."

"Of course sister." Neo agreed.

"Welcome to the family Neo." Ruby smiled. "And for the record, I prefer to let my rose bush grow wild and free."

Neo flushed and giggled silently, much to Pyrrha's confusion. "Uh...sweetie...I didn't catch any of that." She complained.

"Neo thanked us for our hospitality on such short notice, and admired the make of our home." Ruby lied. "Especially the bathroom, you know, the one where Ren and Nora conceived Baldr...we think."

"Hence the overuse of cleaner." Pyrrha sighed.

"You can have the maids scrub it all you want." Yang smirked. "That room is forever marked by…"

"Don't!" Pyrrha cut her off, eliciting laughs all around.

The rest of the day was spent catching up on recent events. Yang and Ruby carried the conversation, with Pyrrha occasionally interjecting, and Ruby made sure to include Neo and Emerald whenever possible. Neo spent most of her time gleefully entertaining Summer, who eventually fell asleep on her chest. Autumn surprisingly slept like a stone in her basket, the long trip apparently having exhausted her. While the conversation and company was nice, the hour grew late and it was time to retire for the evening.

Neo sprinted into their room and leapt onto the large bed belly-first. If she was not mute, she would have squealed and giggled as she rolled around on the thick assortment of sheets. Emerald suppressed a grin as she followed her partner, while Yang stood chuckling in the doorway. "I'm gonna' turn in early." Yang informed the couple. "Been trying to catch up on my sleep. Don't worry about noise - since Nora started visiting Pyrrha soundproofed...well...everything. She tells me muffling spells are a godsend."

Neo stopped rolling to wave at Yang. "Goodnight Yang." She signed.

Emerald sat meekly at her side. "Goodnight Yang." She waved.

"Emmy, you okay?" Yang asked.

"I'll be fine Yang." Emerald managed a smile and a nod. "Just a little out of it, new place and all that."

Yang strode forward and hugged Emerald, who returned the embrace tightly. "You need anything, mine's the door with the yellow scarf." Yang offered. Emerald nodded and let go. Yang ruffled her hair, only to be tackled by Neo. "G'night, sleep tight. Big day tomorrow. You get to be dragged around by Ruby all day."

"Yay…" Emerald sighed. Yang threw Neo back onto the bed, chuckling as she left the room. Neo knelt behind Emerald, resting her chin atop her head, arms snaking around her waist to rub soothing circles on her belly. "I'll be fine Neo, just jittery." Neo traced a pattern on Emerald's stomach, then planted a kiss on her head. Emerald smiled, genuinely this time. "I love you too Neo."

Yang made her way to her room, pausing before it to run her hand along the yellow scarf that hung upon the door. On a previous visit she had placed it there to avoid getting lost while drunk, but not before having to be prodded awake by a nervous maid after passing out in the hallway mid-search. She pushed the door open to find the maids had left what little luggage she had at the foot of the bed. Ruby had insisted that she choose a room and make it her home away from home. Yang was family, not only Ruby's sister, but a mother when no one else could be, a parent when her father was too wracked with grief to care for them.

Yang would always have a place in the Rose household, so she never needed to bring much in the way of clothes. Half of her wardrobe was already there, and the collection grew with every visit. Still Yang eyed the bed with a sense of dread, and the reason for her visit leapt to the forefront of her mind. Drawing the curtains and slipping off her clothes, she pulled back the covers and lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. She wished Blake was here. She wished Weiss was here. Even Autumn was not with her, sleeping in the nursery with Summer, tended by the maid Octavia.

A part of Yang wanted to spend the night with Neo and Emerald. She knew they would not mind, but she also knew they needed their time alone. Emerald was having trouble finding comfort, the scars of the war still weighing heavily upon her. She needed time to adjust to the new environment, and and the presence of Pyrrha and Ruby - people she had once been pitted against, that she was afraid may yet turn on her again. Yang would never let anything happen to them. She knew her perception of them was strange. They were hardly much younger than she was, and Neo might even have been older, but she had encountered them at such vulnerable times. She had taken care of them, consoled them, given them a safe place to recover and rebuild, and loved them as daughters in much the same way she loved Ruby.

In retrospect, Yang was surprised she had not had children sooner. Perhaps her lust for battle or her focus on caring for Ruby had blinded her to the possibility, or perhaps all she needed was to find someone she wanted to have children with. She had always harbored affection for Weiss, and Blake had been attractive for sure, but to imagine herself in such an intimate relationship with one - let alone both - seemed a dream come true. It was a dream she always subtly feared she would wake up from.

Then her dream had almost become a nightmare. Seeing Weiss lying still - skin awfully pale - and Blake in tears had caused her such anguish, such fear, it had almost broken her. Indeed it still threatened to break her. She shivered, pulling the blankets over her and burying her face into the pillows. Sleep would not come easy tonight, but for the sake of her health, she had to try.