Chapter 14

The next day Yang was still worn out. She did not have any work to do for Solstice, but Winter should have gone in. For some reason she remained home. For Yang it was just as well, she could use the company and support. Still well before noon, there was a knock at the door. "Who knocks on the door of a beach house?" Yang asked.

Winter smirked, got up, and answered it. A man in a suit stood there, holding a clipboard. "Hello...Ms. Schnee." The man said. "I'm Roy Stallion from Social Services."

"Nice to meet you, and please, call me Winter." She said.

"Uh...Winter...what's going on?" Yang asked.

"I thought you might want to adopt Summer, so I worked with Arslan to get the process started." Winter explained. "Mr. Stallion is here to check that our house is suitable."

"I should only be a few minutes." Roy declared. Winter followed him as he walked around the house, making occasional notes on his clipboard. He paused at the beat-up kitchen table and looked at it curiously.

"Strange, I know." Winter chuckled. "It has history, and character."

Roy shrugged and moved on. "You don't seem to have a child's room." He noted after checking the rest of the house.

"I'm sure you're aware of our financial situation." Winter noted. "If we do decide to adopt, we can very quickly acquire the necessary furniture."

"Alright then." Roy nodded. "I don't think there will be any trouble with the approval process. I'll be in touch."

"Thank you Mr. Stallion." Winter smiled. She shook Roy's hand and he departed.

"Winter...we didn't even talk about this." Yang complained.

"In case we decide to adopt Summer, I wanted to be prepared." Winter countered. "Hell, I want to adopt her. I thought it better to get the paperwork and bureaucracy out of the way as soon as possible."

"I guess you're right." Yang sighed. "You keep forcing me to think about it though."

"Isn't that for the best?" Winter pressed. "Shouldn't you be thinking about it?"

"I wish I could stop thinking about it for like five minutes, but I can't." Yang replied. "It may not seem like it to you, but this is really hard for me."

"I know." Winter declared. "And I'm going to give you the time you need, and support you whenever you need it. I'm just not going to let you off the hook. You need to make a decision, for your sake and Summer's."

Yang slumped on the couch. "Don't I know it."

Yang spent the rest of the day and most of that night thinking. What Winter had said about her not being able to avoid a decision stuck with her. There were other things Yang was avoiding beside the decision on Summer. She had gone through the album of photographs, but there was one last bomb waiting inside - Ruby's letter. Yang was going to have to read it at some point, face the no doubt painful words it contained. Already the week had torn open all the old wounds of Ruby's death, and opened new ones besides, but there was no sense in putting it off any longer.

"Are you sure?" Winter pressed. "Maybe you should wait, calm down a bit…"

"No, I have to do this." Yang cut her off.

"There's something to be said about pacing yourself…" Winter protested.

"And there's something to be said about just doing it." Yang countered. "Let's just…let's just get this over with."

"Do you want me to read it to you or…" Winter offered.

"No, I'll do it." Yang declared. She unfolded the paper. It was Ruby's handwriting alright. "This is it Win, Ruby's last words. Once this is over, that's it. Ruby'll never speak to me again."

"Yang,

I'm sorry I did this to you. You deserved better from me, but I got myself into this situation and I've got to handle it as best I can. I hope you don't have to read this. I hope I can go through with this and move on with my life. But I'm scared. Anything could happen in childbirth, and it's making me paranoid. I've kept these secrets from you, and you always taught me to be honest, but I can't put this on you. You've always taken care of me, you've always protected and supported me, for once I want to do the same. You've got enough on your plate as it is, and if you're reading this, I've made everything worse.

I'm sorry Yang, I fucked up. Not by falling for Yatsu, don't put any of this on him or I swear I will haunt your ass! He's a good man, the best I could have asked for. He would have thrown away his life for me, but I don't want him to. I don't want an accident to ruin what he has with his family, even if it's for stupid reasons. He's like you in a way. He just wanted to help me, to take care of me, and I fell really hard, and I got excited and now this happened. It's my fault and mine alone, and I'm gonna suffer the consequences like an adult. I hope.

The doctors say my baby will be a girl. I'm gonna name her Summer. I hope she looks like me, I hope she lives a good life whether I live or die. I wish I could be part of it, but I'm tired of being selfish. I hope she doesn't hate me for it, even if she should. I still get angry at mom sometimes, you know that. It's stupid, but it's natural. You should be angry at me too. Don't try to bottle it up and forgive me because I'm your little girl and I did my best. Yes, I did my best, but that doesn't mean it was right. It's just what I thought I should do, and it's gonna hurt, it's gonna hurt really bad. I hope I can live with it. I hope I get to.

I'm rambling. This is like, the third time I've written this, and I'm running out of tissues. I know how you're gonna be. You'll wanna take Summer in, and if you do, there's nothing I can say that will stop you. I know Yatsu is gonna break. He's a big softie, and he loves me more than I deserve. He'll blame himself for this, but it's not his fault. Tell him that, please. I don't want him to live in misery. I've got enough on my plate, being gone and all. I hope if there's an afterlife I can see mom again. If I do, I'll tell her you love her, and were the best sister ever, because you are Yang. You always did your best for me, and I love you, and I'll miss you. Please don't let my death hold you back. Mourn for me, then live your life. No matter what you choose to do, just find happiness, please. I love you. And I love you too Yatsu. If you're reading, I can never tell you that enough.

Ruby."

Yang barely made it through before sobbing overtook her. Winter held her close, rubbing her back to soothe her. Perhaps reading the letter had been a mistake, but Yang could not imagine a time when it would not leave her in such a state. Even in her farewell, her apology, her explanation, Ruby was entirely selfless, always too selfless for her own good. Yang had to wonder what would have happened had Ruby lived. Would she have ever been able to get over it? Would she have ever been able to be happy? Would she ever have told Yang the truth? They were heavy questions, but none of it mattered. 'What if's were pointless. Ruby was gone, and the letter only drove home that reality.

Yang settled in in front of the laptop in the business center. She was closing in on a decision, propelled by Ruby's letter. Ruby expected Yang to take in Summer in the event of her passing. The last thing Yang wanted to do was disappoint her sister. But it was still not so simple. Yang still doubted her fitness for parenthood, truly believing that Blake and Velvet would give Summer a better life. There was more though, one terrible possibility Yang had to consider. Ruby died young from cancer. Ruby's mother died young from the same cancer. Could Summer too?

Yang threw herself into the available material on Ruby's cancer. It was not encouraging. Even if caught early, it was still usually fatal. There was no reliable way of fighting it, just various techniques that worked in some but not in others. The odds of Summer suffering from that cancer were not encouraging either. As best as Yang could tell, it was 50-50. As likely as not, Summer would suffer Ruby's fate. It terrified Yang. Could she really deal with it happening again?

Yang's mind raced. Why was this happening? Why did Ruby have to get pregnant? Why did she have to keep it? Why didn't she tell Yang? Why did she put Yatsu before herself? Why did she have to cut him out? Why did she have to die? Why? Why?!

"It's not fucking fair!" Yang screamed. She stood, gripped the laptop, and threw it. It tumbled through the air, slamming into a bookcase and smashing the vase it held. "Why her?!" Yang picked up a paperweight and threw it at the nearby television screen with all her might. It scythed straight through, punching through the wall behind it as well, carrying across the guest room and embedding in the wall on the far side.

"What's going on?!" Winter demanded, bursting into the room. "What the hell?!"

Yang looked around at the destruction she had wrought, thousands of lien worth. She looked down at her shaking hands and started to sob, falling to her knees. "I'm...I'm so sorry." She cried.

Winter rushed to Yang's side, sliding to the ground and wrapping her in a tight embrace. "It's okay." She soothed. "It's okay. Everything's going to be alright."

Melanie stood in front of Solstice Modeling HQ. The building was smaller than she had imagined, but it was intimidating all the same. As far as her modeling career was concerned, it was her last chance. After she had been fired by her previous employer, only Solstice had even offered her an interview. At this point she was reduced to basically begging for a job. It the answer here was no, and it probably would be, she would almost certainly be forced to go back to the bar to work for her adoptive father again. It was not a terrible job, but the place held too many memories she wished she could forget.

Yang came to work late. After a night of sleep that was fitful at best, Winter had let her sleep in. Then she spent some time repairing the damage she had done to the house. Permanent repairs would have to wait until she had a chance to stop at the hardware store, but at least the damaged electronics had been disposed of and the drywall dust vacuumed up. As she approached Solstice Modeling HQ, she was surprised to see a familiar face out front. "Mel?" Yang asked.

Melanie was snapped from her thoughts, jumping and turning to face Yang. It was the first time she had seen her in person in years. Sure, Yang's ads had inspired Melanie to apply with Solstice, but they had had no contact. She was not sure if she should laugh or cry. "Xiao-Long?" She gasped.

"Don't Xiao-Long me." Yang laughed. "Come here!" She stepped forward and pulled Melanie into a hug as the latter froze up. "It's been years! I'm sorry I never visited but, well, you know how things went and I didn't want to push my luck by going back. How have you been? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here looking for work." Melanie replied, still shellshocked. She maintained a steady voice and a straight face. "I've been...surviving."

"So you did get into modeling!" Yang cheered. "Awesome! So did I. Well, I kinda' fell into it, got really lucky after I left and it all kind of snowballed. Where's Mil? Is she inside? How's she been?" Melanie squared her jaw, attempting to swallow the lump in her throat. Her eyes began to burn regardless. "Mel?"

Yang's voice was gentle, too gentle, like Miltia's, like when she knew Melanie was in a bad place and she needed to tread lightly, when she was liable to break. She was breaking now. "Mil's...gone...s-she…" Melanie sobbed. She slumped into Yang's arms, and she quickly secured her hold on the weeping girl. "She's gone Yang. She left me, a-and I can't handle it."

Yang squeezed Melanie as she cried into her shoulder. The door to Solstice HQ opened, Blake peeking out. Yang waved her away, Blake nodded and ducked back inside. "Mel, sweetie, I need you to look at me, okay?" Yang instructed. Melanie choked and sniffled, pulling away to look at Yang. "Come inside. We'll get you some tissues, a latte, and someplace comfortable to sit, and we can talk about this, okay?" Melanie nodded and allowed Yang to direct her inside.

After dropping Melanie off in the breakroom where Blake made her some coffee, Yang headed off to see Winter. "Win, Mel's here to see you." Yang announced.

"Malachite?" Winter asked.

"Or Xiong, whatever name she's going by." Yang shrugged.

"Bring her on in." Winter requested.

"She's crying in the breakroom." Yang sighed. "Something about her sister being gone."

"Oh…" Winter trailed off.

"What happened?" Yang asked.

"She and her sister were models." Winter explained. "Her sister...committed suicide a few months ago. After that Melanie was moody, occasionally violent. She was fired from her last job after she broke her boss' nose. She's basically unemployable."

"If she's unemployable, why is she here?" Yang asked.

"I want to give her a chance." Winter replied. "I understand her loss. Everyone here does. The way I see it, with Glynda's help and our support, she can turn her life around. If that happens, we'll gain a valuable and dedicated employee for life."

"And if she can't turn it around?" Yang asked. "Just playing devil's advocate here."

"It's no big loss." Winter shrugged. "I'm just giving her a chance."

Yang returned to the breakroom. Melanie had cleaned herself up, and was now nursing her latte. Yang sat beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, how're you feeling?" Yang asked.

"Better." Melanie replied. "Thank you Yang."

"I didn't know you were coming." Yang noted. "Would've caught up with you before if I did."

"It's okay." Melanie sighed. "You've uh...come a long way...working for the woman you punched."

"Heh, yeah, well, she's actually my girlfriend." Yang chuckled.

"No shit?" Melanie gasped.

"No shit." Yang confirmed. "Turns out she's a massive masochist."

"The only type who could handle you." Melanie joked, eliciting a laugh from both.

"It's a long story, but I'll tell you another time, or hell, ask Winter herself." Yang smirked. "I've gotta' go. I'll be back later, but trust me, Win understands. You can be honest with her. It's better if you are. We're family here, you can talk to us about anything."

Melanie nodded, looking down. She allowed Yang to hug her again, before she got up to leave. Melanie flinched as the door closed. She swallowed, fumbling with her cup, tracing the patterns in the cardboard, trying to lose herself in them, trying to still her beating heart and will the nerves away. She could not afford to lose her cool, not now. This was all or nothing, her last chance, live or die.

"Ms. Malachite?" Winter asked, slipping into the room.

Melanie snapped her gaze up to meet Winter's. Her anxiety flared. She adjusted her posture and expression, formal and blank. "Ms. Schnee, thank you for meeting with me." She finally managed. "I apologize for my appearance. I'm not at my best. I promise I will improve given the chance."

Winter sat beside Melanie, who shifted over to give her more of the couch. It was unnecessary, but anything to show more than due respect could tip the scales in her favor. "It is of no matter." Winter declared. "I am aware of the circumstances, and I sympathize. After all, I went through the same thing, hence my unacceptable behavior in the club that night."

"Oh...Yang said you two are together?" Melanie asked.

"We are." Winter confirmed. "When I extended my apologies, she extended a helping hand. We both attended therapy together, and the rest is history."

"She punched you in the face." Melanie noted.

"I will be forever thankful." Winter smirked.

Melanie chuckled dryly. "So...I…" She started.

"You are in a very precarious place Ms. Malachite, all but blacklisted." Winter cut in.

"I know." Melanie sighed. "I know...sorry I...I just snapped. It was hot, the boss was a misogynistic pig and he...he said something that set me off. It's no excuse, and I really, really fucked up, but I won't do it again, I promise. I...please just give me one chance, I'll prove myself."

"I will give you one chance, one, on several conditions." Winter offered.

"Anything." Melanie begged.

"First, before anything, you will attend therapy." Winter demanded. "Glynda is a very dear friend. She can and will help you if you give her the chance. She helped me, she helped Yang, as well as most of your future coworkers."

Melanie blanched. Suddenly, heat flared across her hands and she gasped. In her anxiety she had crushed the latte cup in her hands, the still hot beverage splashing over them. She flung the cup away, sending its remaining contents splashing across the floor. "I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!" She hyperventilated. "Please don't kick me out. I'll do anything! Please, j-just…" Firm arms pulled her close, and Melanie shuddered as she once again felt that comforting familiarity.

"It's okay, it's okay Melanie." Winter encouraged. "You're fine. You haven't done anything wrong. Nothing will happen to you. Just breathe, calm down."

Melanie sniffled and nodded against Winter's chest. "I'll do it...I-I promise." She declared.

"I know, just relax for now." Winter soothed. "We can deal with that later."