Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with RWBY.

Author's Note: Hi all! I've been so excited about this story that I've actually finished all the chapters before putting it on here because I wanted it complete so you guys wouldn't have to wait ages for a new chapter. This one has been on the back burner for a while but I had an urge to get it written.

I'm going to update each Friday (before the new RWBY episodes - HYPE) so you guys have something to look forward to before RWBY...that's if you like this fanfic or not. :P

About this fanfic - it's a real world AU (geographically RWBY canon) and there's later mentions of rape/abuse but it does not go into detail but I thought I would put a little warning beforehand. There's lots of drama, lots of love, fluff and all around goodness. :D

Thanks to my good friend Callum for proof-reading this chapter for me and thank you to bsl on fanfiction and tumblr for editing the chapters too! This fic wouldn't be as great without both of your help. :D

So, I think that's all for now, I hope you all enjoy the first chapter!

Reeves3.

Swimming Lessons

By Reeves3

'Dear Parents/Guardians,

Third Grade students at Vale Elementary School will begin swimming lessons next week on Wednesday mornings. The class will start at 9am and students will be taken by bus to Vale Leisure Centre. Each lesson will be 30 minutes long.

Each student is required to bring:

1: Swimsuit

2: A towel

Swimming is a compulsory part of the curriculum, however if there is any reason why your child shouldn't take part for health reasons please explain in the slip below to be given to the head of the P.E. department. We are also looking for parents/guardians to help chaperone the students to and back from the pool. Please tick if you are eligible to volunteer in the box below.

Regards

Professor Goodwitch, Principal.'

Blake Belladonna lowered the creased letter in her hands and peered down at her seven year old daughter, whose similar gazed stared anxiously back up at her. This letter bode quite a problem.

"You could tell them I'm allergic?" Kit piped up, her cat ears raising slightly.

Blake's lips quirked but she shook her head. "I don't think that'll work."

Kit's ears lowered again and she whined. "Why nooooot? My teachers don't know and they don't have to find out." She shuffled forward, hugged Blake tightly around the waist, and stared up with her lips curled into a pout.

After placing the letter down on the kitchen table Blake ran her hands through her daughter's dark locks and smoothed her ears. "I'm not going to lie to your teachers," Kit's pout increased, "but I'm sure you're not the only one who doesn't know how to swim."

"Yeah, they do!" Kit protested. "I heard them all talking about how excited they were. Max said he knew how to dive and swim underwater."

A sigh left Blake as she tried to figure out a way to ease her daughter's worries. Since she was a girl Blake had been afraid of water and so had never learned how to swim - instead deeming it a skill not worth having in order to mask her fears. Now, at twenty-six, she was still afraid and had never learned, but also her daughter hadn't because Blake had been too afraid and unskilled to teach her.

"How about," started Blake, "I go and speak to your P.E teacher tomorrow morning and explain the situation to them."

"Will you get me out of it?" Kit asked, hopeful.

"It's not likely but I'll see what I can do," promised Blake. Kit nodded her head reluctantly and let her arms drop from her mother's sides. Blake watched her take out her homework from her school bag before settling down on the lounge floor to work on it. Blake picked up the letter and placed it on the pile of papers addressed from the school. The clock on the wall ticked to three thirty, so Blake made her way upstairs to change out of her work clothes.

Inside her bedroom Blake set out some casual clothes and stripped herself of the ones she was currently wearing. She worked as a journalist for the local newspaper and although there wasn't a uniform employees were still asked to dress to impress. Soon there was a pile of clothes by her feet and Blake grabbed for her comfortable linen trousers and slid them on. Her eyes briefly wandered across the faded silver scar on her abdomen but she shook her head to ignore the memories that came with it and instead buttoned up her favourite plaid shirt over it.

"Moooooom, I need help," called Kit.

Heading back downstairs Blake approached Kit and sat down behind her on the sofa. "What do you need help with?"

Kit turned slightly to face her mother and placed the piece of paper she was working on, on the coffee table so Blake could see it too. On it was a 10x10 square with numbers from one to ten along the top and side.

"Math, I'm stuck on the nine times table," she said.

At seven years old Kit was already well above her reading age and excelled in everything English, she did well in Science and History too, and even seemed to show a flare for art like her mother, however she was struggling with Math.

"Did you know there's a trick to the nine times table?" Blake asked, earning Kit's undivided attention.

"What is it?" She asked, curious to learn.

Blake's lips spread into a grin and she instructed Kit to hold out her hands in front of her. "Alright, say you're doing nine times four, put down the forth finger on your left hand." Kit did as she was instructed and looked back at her mother for further instruction. "Okay, now count the fingers on the left side of the finger that you put down."

"Three," answered Kit.

Blake nodded. "And now count the remaining fingers on the right side."

Kit glanced at her hands and counted each digit. "Six."

"Now put them together," said Blake.

"Thirty six?" Kit questioned, her brow furrowing slightly.

Blake nodded. "Correct! And that works for each number you multiply by in the nine times table. Think you can fill in the rest of them?"

"Yup!" Kit replied, smiling. She shook her head though, thinking back on something earlier that day. "Why didn't Mrs Peach teach us that in class? She told me to count up with my fingers and that takes ages."

Blake chuckled and leaned down to kiss the top of Kit's head. "You can tell her about the trick tomorrow."

As Kit carried on doing her times tables Blake tucked her feet under herself and reached for the book she was currently reading off the coffee table. Eventually Kit finished her homework and joined Blake on the couch to watch cartoons.

Thursday morning's sky was a dull grey blanket by the time Blake had managed to get Kit ready for school. After locking the front door, the two of them got into Blake's small black Fiat 500 where Kit immediately opened the glove box to pick out a CD to play. Today's choice of music for the car ride was a selection of Disney soundtracks, but as Blake drove her daughter to school a few side glances showed that no amount of replays of Hakuna Matata could help ease Kit's worries about the swimming lessons.

"Remember Velvet is picking you up after school. I'm working late but I'll be home by five," Blake reminded, knowing Kit enjoyed spending time with the rabbit faunus. Blake had known Velvet since childhood and the two had attended same college before ending up living a few streets away from each other.

Kit smiled slightly. "She said she was going to let me borrow her favourite book."

"That's nice of her. Is it The Velveteen Rabbit, she's letting you borrow?" Blake asked, earning a nod from Kit.

"Yup."

Kit's short reply didn't go unnoticed by Blake and neither did her fidgeting in her seat the closer they got to the school's parking lot. "It'll be alright. I'll talk to the teacher and tell her you're nervous. If you want I can volunteer to come watch you in the pool and make sure nothing happens."

"Will you really do that?" Kit asked, her ears perking up.

Blake parked the car in an empty spot and switched off the ignition, effectively cutting off the music, before she twisted in her seat to face Kit. "Of course I would. I can take an hour off work and I'm sure Velvet won't mind picking you up after school while I work late."

Kit grinned widely showing off the single gap in her bottom teeth before launching herself across the car and hugging Blake tightly. Blake smiled and wrapped her arms around her daughter, burying her face in her dark tresses. Every time she held Kit in her arms Blake's memories fondly recalled the first time she had held her. Holding onto that little pink squirming baby, Blake had promised to make sure her daughter would be the happiest she could be.

"Mooom, can't breathe," choked out Kit. Blake quickly let loose her tight grip, not realising how strong she had been holding on, and Kit watched her mother carefully.

"Sorry," apologised Blake.

"It's ok, Mom," Kit reassured, leaning in for another hug.

Eventually the two of them let go and clambered out the car. Blake made sure Kit had put on her gloves and coat before the two of them walked up towards the school. Kit held Blake's hand while kicking at the small pile of orange leaves that had collected on the ground before huddling back to her mother for warmth. Parents stood along the edge of the school fence saying goodbye to their children for the day as the kids screamed and ran around playing with their friends. Instead of waiting by the fence Kit led Blake in through the gate and up to the entrance.

Pressing the button at the side of the building opened the doors automatically and the two of them entered the reception area. Directly to their left was a little open window where the receptionist, Mrs Alistair, busied about sorting through a stack of papers. In front of them was a large hall where the students had their meals, while to the right a couple of hallways led in opposite directions toward the classrooms.

Mrs Alistair noticed them enter before Kit had chance to ring the little bell on the shelf under the window. "Hello there, can I help you?" She greeted, warmly, while walking over to them and taking a seat on her computer chair.

Blake gave a small nod. "Hi, yes I'm looking for the P.E. teacher. Are they available to talk to for a moment?"

Mrs Alistair smiled, "Yes, she's in the staff room. I'll go get her for you."

As Mrs Alistair got up from her seat and left the room from a door at the back of her room Blake glanced down at Kit who was busy taking a pin in and out of a corkboard.

"Who is your P.E. teacher? I don't think I've met them yet," asked Blake. The two parent-teachers conferences she'd attended so far had only been with Kit's class teacher for that year. Physical Education was the only subject that required another teacher for the students and gave the other teachers a well deserved hour break.

Kit grinned. "Miss Xiao Long, she's great and really funny!"

The door between the window and the entrance to the hallway opened and Blake's ears swivelled towards the noise. Her eyes travelled over to the source of the noise as the person stepped through the archway and immediately Blake was transfixed. Golden curls bounced and swayed with each step she took and as her bright lilac eyes caught Blake's, a lopsided smirk was tugged onto her plump lips. Her thigh muscles were on full display thanks to the very short shorts she was wearing, and if they were any indication of how muscular the rest of her was then Blake really wished the woman wasn't wearing that hoodie.

"Hi Miss Xiao Long!" Kit yelled, waving her arm erratically next to Blake.

Amber eyes widened even more considerably as Blake realised this was her daughter's P.E. teacher. She mentally shook herself to gather her thoughts and behave professionally. This was not the time to flirt with strangers. A pang of guilt gnawed at her stomach realising this woman probably got a lot of unwanted attention from the single parents of her students that probably wasn't reciprocated.

"Hey Kit Kat," greeted Miss Xiao Long, with a large wave of her own.

Blake's ears flattened so quickly against her head they made a small clap sound and she suddenly had to suppress a growl. Everything Blake had thought before was ready to fly out the window if this woman was racist towards faunus.

"Excuse me?" She questioned, a little affronted.

Miss Xiao Long's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to reply but Kit beat her to it. "That's my nickname mum! Miss Xiao Long gives everyone nicknames."

"Oh," said Blake, easing slightly, but still suspicious. "So why is yours Kit Kat?"

Miss Xiao Long decided to answer this time, raising her gloved hands up in defence to Blake. "I promise you it's not a race thing," she started, making Blake raise an eyebrow, and the blonde lowered her hands. "See, during one of my lessons Kit's sugar level dropped, she got the shakes so I gave her a Kit-Kat to eat. Well I guess Kit never had a Kit-Kat before because she got ecstatic that her name was on a chocolate bar so I call her Kit Kat now because it always makes you smile." The P.E. teacher directed that last bit towards Kit who giggled and nodded her head.

Blake slowly relaxed, a smile easing onto her face. If it made Kit happy then she would be fine with it. She knelt down in front of Kit and smiled. "Kit, why don't you run along and play while I talk to Miss Xiao Long? I'll see you at five, alright? And remember Velvet is picking you up after school."

"Okay, bye Mom," said Kit. Blake kissed her cheek and stood back up as Kit opened the door and ran outside to the playground.

"She's great at gymnastics."

Blake jumped hearing Miss Xiao Long's voice behind her and she turned around to face her. Realising what she had said Blake smiled fondly.

"I'm not surprised, she takes after her mother in that respect," said Blake.

Miss Xiao Long gestured for Blake to follow her into the large hall. The door shut behind them and Miss Xiao Long pointed over to the climbing apparatus against the wall.

"I had that out for the first time for Kit's grade last month and before I had even got through roll call Kit had managed to climb up to the top of it. I didn't even notice until she answered 'yes miss' to her name!" Miss Xiao Long exclaimed, drawing a small chuckle from Blake.

"Yeah, she has a knack for climbing. When she was four I couldn't find her so I called out her name and I heard her telling me to be quiet because she was taking a nap. Where she was taking a nap? On top of my wardrobe," Blake recalled, causing the blonde to laugh out loud.

"No way!" she giggled. Her laughter soon died down and she held out a covered hand for Blake to shake. "I'm Yang, Yang Xiao Long. I don't believe we've met yet."

Blake smiled and took the hand in her own to shake, noticing how firm it was beneath the woollen glove. "No, I don't think we have. I'm Blake Belladonna. It's nice to meet you Yang."

"Likewise," beamed Yang, as they let go of each other's hand. "So, Mrs Belladonna, what can I do for you?"

Blake's eyes widened. "Oh no, it's Miss."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have presumed," apologised Yang, rubbing a hand behind her neck.

"It's alright, I'm here to talk to you about the swimming lessons," started Blake, earning a nod from Yang, prompting her to continue. "I never taught Kit how to swim and she's worried she's going to be left behind by her class. I've mentioned to her that I could possibly help volunteer on Wednesdays so she can be more at ease."

Yang brought the hand from the back of her neck up to her chin and nodded a couple of times. "Alright, first of all you're more than welcome to volunteer, it'll be a great help when I'm teaching and struggling watch thirty children. The kids are put into groups based on their skill level, so Kit will be around classmates who aren't partially adept to swimming straight away."

"I realise that, but Kit's pretty afraid," stressed Blake. Yang stayed silent for a moment as her lilac eyes searched Blake's, scrutinizing her, as though trying to see into her mind and read it. Eventually she blinked and looked away then back before taking a deep breath.

"Do you mind if I ask you something personal?"

Blake squinted, and arched a brow. "Depends what it is, but go on."

Yang smiled, slyly. "How come you haven't taught Kit how to swim yet?"

'Darn, she's seen right through me!' To anyone else Blake would be prone to say she had never got around to it, but her words from yesterday reeled back in her mind and she realised she couldn't bring herself to lie. Plus, Yang was staring at her with a knowing look and she realised she would be caught instantly.

"I never taught her because I don't know how to swim either. I've been afraid of the water since I was a child," admitted Blake, with a sigh. Yang made a small ah sound and put her hands into her sweater's front pocket.

"So, is it possible you've projected your own fears onto Kit and she's not really scared of the water but has learned from you to be afraid of it?" Yang questioned.

Blake's mouth got caught halfway from arguing with her but reluctantly she realised Yang had a point. She tried several quick times at coming up with a reason why Yang was wrong, but each one failed and she ended up squinting at the blonde.

"Are you a psychologist or a P.E. teacher?" She asked, sceptically. Worry crept up on her as she realised that might have sounded rude but Yang laughed and shook her head.

"Nah, I'm just good at reading people," she said, happily. "And you're pretty easy to read."

A faint blush tinted Blake's cheeks as she hoped Yang hadn't been reading her too closely when she first laid eyes on her. Thankfully Yang broke her thoughts with a small cough of awkwardness of her own and changed the subject; saving Blake from any further embarrassment.

"Y'know, besides teaching, every Saturday I do private swim lessons for all ages at the Vale Leisure Centre. The first class is free and each session is forty minutes. How about you and Kit come along and I can teach you both? I can get Kit comfortable with being in the water in time for her first school swim lesson next week? Does that sound good? I promise everything goes at the students' pace and won't be rushing either of you," offered Yang.

Blake was stunned, that was generous, but now she was also nervous to face her own fears. "Are you sure?"

Yang smiled. "Absolutely!"

She pulled out her phone from her pocket and took one of her gloves off so she could bring up her calendar. "I've got an open slot at ten thirty, is that okay with you?"

Blake rummaged in her bag until her hand brushed against her diary. She grabbed the book and pulled it out before flicking through the pages for the upcoming Saturday. "Uhh, yes, that's fine. Are you sure you don't mind?"

Yang chuckled and shook her head as she typed in Blake's name. "It's no problem at all. Here take my number in case something comes up."

After writing down the phone number Yang gave her, Blake gave her own number to Yang too in case something needed to change on her end. Afterwards the two of them put away their phone and diary and stood staring at one another.

"So, I'll see you and Kit this Saturday then?" Yang asked, running her hand through her golden locks and smiling hopefully at Blake.

'What on Earth have I got us into, Kit?'

"Yeah, you will."

I should probably also point out this fanfic not sponsored by kit kats. :P

So, what did you guys think? Leave a review and let me know! I always love feedback.

Also I adore Kit, she's my favourite lil OC I've made, and I hope you guys find her cute too. :D

Next chapter Friday! :D

Reeves3.