Author's note: Here is another, long chapter for you to enjoy.

Pyrrha did not know how much time had passed since she had talked with Nora over the Scroll, nor did she want to know. If I check the clock I'll only get more stressed. That's the least I need right now. For all I know, Nora might be here any second, and I still won't have any answer for her.

She had told Ren and Jaune about Nora's upcoming return. Both of them were relieved to hear that she was well, as Nora had earlier not responded to neither of Pyrrha's and Ren's messages. Even though she was well, none of them knew how Nora was feeling after whatever that had happened between her and her parents in her hometown.

It had been tricky for Pyrrha to tell during their brief conversation over the Scroll, but she thought Nora had sounded like... Nora: happy and bubbly. Did that mean things had gone well for her in Vana, or had she only kept up a charade to not to worry her? She had no choice but to wait until her friend would return, and hope that Nora was willing to fill her in. She would not pressure her to do so, but instead wait patiently for her to do so by her own accord.

Sitting on her bed, Pyrrha looked at Jaune who was talking to Ren. The blonde-haired team leader was trying to explain to him how even fictional characters and heroes from comic books could be a source of inspiration, wisdom, and courage for hunters. Ren occasionally nodded as Jaune rambled, but the absence of interest in his magenta eyes revealed that he was only partially paying attention at best.

Pyrrha too, felt her attention was divided. She did silently agree with Jaune even though she had no personal interest in comic books. His enthusiasm was amusing, but heroes and comics books were not what she wanted to talk about.

She fidgeted upon the bed, waiting for him to come to a conclusion so that she may change that subject. Jaune went on like a machine, and it began to wear on her patience. In normal cases, she enjoyed listening to him and the passion in his voice, even with nerdy interests, but the stress was getting to her.

It feels like I need to… scream.

Grinding her fingertips against her palm and chewing on her lower lip, Pyrrha took a breath and said. "Jaune, Ren…" Her interruption worked, as both of them looked at her with apparent curiosity, especially Jaune, whose mouth was partially hanging open. Now that she had their attention, she continued, an apologetic expression on her face. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, Jaune, but I need to talk to you, to both of you. It's important, I think."

"What is it, Pyrrha?" asked Jaune, sounding concerned. "Is it about-" Before he could finish his sentence, Pyrrha was already nodding.

"Yes, it's' about her." She took a few seconds to gather her thoughts. "If Nora and I would start... dating each other, would you two be alright with that?" She saw her teammates exchange a quick glance. "It's just a theoretical question," she then quickly added.

This feels awkward already, but I mustn't stop now.

"Why exactly are you asking us that?" Jaune replied with a question of his own.

Even though Pyrrha had foreseen that question, she still found it difficult to find the words and explain it to him. "You... you don't think it might be... unprofessional? What if a relationship between two team members, and whatever good or bad it brings, might weaken our team as a whole?"

For a brief moment, there was silence, and it made Pyrrha feel uncomfortable. She wished for answers from her teammates, not silence and confusion. She saw Ren shift before speaking up, "Remember what Professor Ozpin said about why he wanted all teams to change partners for two weeks? It was to improve the bonding between all teammates, and make the whole team stronger. I shared two interesting weeks being Jaune's partner," he said, looking over at the leader next to him.

"Oh, yeah, definitely. It was fun," interjected Jaune, nodding in agreement. "Except for the part where we slept in that mossy and damp forest. I can still feel those nasty bugs crawling beneath my clothes." He shuddered and grimaced.

Ren paid no attention to Jaune's comment, and continued. "And then I spent another two weeks with you, Pyrrha. I learned more about who you are, about your past, what you like and don't like." He quickly glanced at both Jaune and her. "I'm sure you two learned a great deal about Nora. Whether you start dating her or not, Pyrrha, the fact remains that you've bonded and grown closer as friends."

He's so right. In a few weeks, I've learned more about who Nora Valkyrie is than the months we've been at the academy. I know her interests, her favorite pizza, bits about her parents and upbringing. And, she's a lesbian…

Pyrrha opened her mouth to reply, but was gently interrupted by Ren as he raised his finger, signaling her that he was not yet done talking. "I want to assure you something, Pyrrha. I can't speak for Nora, but I have known her my entire life. She's like a sister to me. I know that her feelings for you are real. Every time she talks about you, I hear the desire in her voices, the twinkle in her eyes. I don't wish to make it more difficult for you to choose, but you deserve to know all the details."

Ren remained silent for several seconds, as if giving Pyrrha some time to take in what he just said. Pyrrha did not doubt Ren's words, words that she knew he chose very carefully. She knew it was his nature to only say what he had to, if anything at all, so as to not waste the value of his words, particularly with respect to Nora. No matter how well I'll know Nora, I'll probably never know her as well as Ren does.



"I want you to know, that no matter what you choose, I'll respect your decision, as long as you feel deep inside it is the right choice," he finished.

"Thank you, Ren," said Pyrrha.

Jaune raised his hand a bit, gesturing for her and Ren's attention. Once they both looked at him, he asked, "Uhh, can I say something, too?" Pyrrha nodded at him. "I know you don't want to make Nora sad, but I think it would upset her more if you were pretending to have feelings for her. If you really don't feel anything for her, then she deserves to know that. Plus, you should also consider your own feelings too and what it is that you want. If you actually want Nora, great! But if you want something different, from a different person, then you should be able to pursue that, and give her the same liberty to find what she wants, too."

Pyrrha silently agreed with Jaune. But I don't know which of my two options, to accept or decline Nora's love, will make her the most happy. She had tried to find a third, alternative answer. She had given up on that when she realized there was none.

"But, if I say no to her, she'll be heartbroken." She had once seen Nora cry. It had felt painfully unreal to watch someone who was always bristling with joy and positivism to do that. I hope I'll never make Nora cry. If I do, the guilt would follow me forever.

Ren nodded sagely. "If that happens, then we shall do our best to comfort her."

It's so heartwarming to know that I have such caring friends, who are willing to talk and listen to me. "Thank you so much for your support, both of you." Waiting for Nora did not feel as stressful anymore. She looked forward to see her again.

A little while later, Pyrrha still remained within the dorm. She stood up from a chair, rolling her shoulders. Her body was stiff, and she felt she needed some time alone, some 'me' time. She walked over to the door, and looked back at Jaune and Ren. "I shall go for a short walk. I'll see you soon." She exited the dorm and headed down the corridor. She did not pay much attention to where she was going, as long as her legs got to stretch themselves.

She recalled what her friends had said to help her about Nora and her feelings. Yang had imparted her with some insight to her dilemma. "You shouldn't worry too much about Nora being a girl. Her gender isn't what defines her. Try to think of who she is, rather than what." Whether she wanted to accept or decline Nora's love, she should not let her gender be part of the equation.

Despite Jaune's low amount of experience, just like her, he too had given his share of wisdom. "Nora followed her heart and took a risk when she confessed to you. Maybe you should follow your heart and take a risk, too?" He had told her that sometimes people needed to listen to their heart and dare to take a risk. He had made her realize how much she enjoyed being with Nora, and how she missed her.

Yang, Jaune, and now Ren, had filled Pyrrha with different aspects of insight. Yet, their efforts were still not enough. It felt like one final and important part of the puzzle was missing. I can seek help and guidance from all of my friends… but it will not help me what I'm looking for. The one I need to talk to is none other than Nora herself.

Pyrrha kept on walking. Eventually, a couple of corridors later, she came across a vending machine. The sight of made her realize that she was a bit thirsty. Looking at the colored buttons, each one depicting a different flavor, Pyrrha's gaze stopped at a purple one with a picture of a cluster of ripe, appetizing grapes.

Grape… Nora's favorite.

There were no sodas at the dorm. Pyrrha decided to buy one for Nora as a small, welcome gift. She reached into her pocket, took out a few Lien coins, and inserted them into the machine. After pressing the grape button twice, a pair of purple colored cans was ejected into the machine's take-out port. She pocketed one while keeping the other in her hand.

As she pulled the tab open, she brought the can to her lips and took a few gulps. She knew soda was unhealthy for her body, and bad for her teeth, yet she could not deny herself that the carbonated, sweet, and fruity beverage did taste good. She understood Nora's appetite for it, but not how she could drink so many so often. Pyrrha almost never drank soda, only doing so for some rare and special occasions. Her parents never let her drink any as a child, as they feared she would develop a taste for it.

With the two cans now in her possession, Pyrrha turned around and made her way back toward the dorm. Just as she passed around the corner while taking another sip from her drink, she heard a familiar voice addressing her in a friendly tone.

"Hey, Pyrrha."

As she lowered her drink, she saw two familiar girls walking together toward her. "Hello there, Yang, Blake," she greeted them both, smiling while doing so. Blake said nothing, and simply nodded, returning her smile.

"Sorry, don't have time to chat. We're going to the city. Don't wanna miss the flight," explained Yang. "Talk another time, yeah?"

As the two girls walked past Pyrrha, she turned her head to look at them. "I understand. You two have a good time together."

"Oh, we will for sure. Won't we, Blake?" said Yang suggestively and nudged Blake with her elbow.

"I hope so."

As they went around the corner, Pyrrha was left curious about what they were going to do in the city. Maybe they are going to shop together? Or visit a café? Like I did with Nora? I enjoyed doing that.

Though they had seemed like a regular pair of girls walking and talking together, she knew there was more going on beneath the surface; Yang and Blake were secretly dating each other. Yang had explained that she and Blake were trying things out slowly and steadily. In case their dating did not work out between them, they wanted to easily be able go back to just being friends.

Did Yang and Blake worry about dating each other might risk their friendship and team spirit? Do they still worry? It's so tempting to ask them, but I should not disturb them and unintentionally cause any friction with or between them.

She pondered if she could do the same with Nora; try dating her and then see where it might lead. Was it really that simple to go back to being just friends again? If she and Nora would date and break up on less than good terms, she did not wish to spend her remaining years in Beacon feeling awkward whenever she and Nora were in the same room together. Pyrrha shook her head internally.

No, I don't want to try having a relationship, not if there is uncertainty. It's all or nothing for me.

A few minutes later after Pyrrha had returned back inside the dorm, the door was suddenly opened. "Never fear, Nora is here!" announced Nora boisterously with a cheerful smile, throwing her arms up into the air. Her arrival made Pyrrha smile, her very presence bringing a warm, pleasant sensation in her chest.

Before anyone had a chance to greet her, Nora bounced forward and embraced Ren. "Hiii Rennnnn!" she cried out happily. "OhIhavemissedyousomuch!"

Ren returned her hug, smiling while doing so. "Welcome back… N-nora." He suddenly grimaced and grunted in discomfort. "Hng, e-easy. Not too… hard."

Pyrrha knew that whenever Nora got too excited, she could partially lose control of her Semblance, which granted her super strength. She had experienced firsthand what it felt like to be hugged by an overly happy Nora. Good thing we have Auras, or we would have suffered bone fractures from Nora's hugs.

Nora giggled and softened her embrace. "Sorry!" she quipped, not sounding apologetic at all. She then turned to Jaune. "Hey, Jauney. I got something for you," she said while reaching into her backpack.

"Oh, you do?" Jaune's face lit up with anticipation. Pyrrha, however, recognized that mischievous look in Nora's eyes, and assumed that whatever she was about to take out was not a gift.

Nora pulled her hand out of her backpack and threw a fluffy, black and white colored object that was the size of her head toward him. "Watch out! It's a bloodthirsty Ursa!" she yelled alarmingly.

Jaune gasped loudly, his blue eyes widening. Acting on sheer reflexes, he sidestepped and twisted his upper body away from the flying object just in time. It bounced against a wall behind him and dropped down next to his feet. Pyrrha noticed that the "bloodthirsty Grimm" turned out to be a harmless, Ursa plushy.

Nora's hearty laughter resonated throughout the room. Pyrrha found it impossible to hold back a quiet giggle in response to Jaune's reaction. Even Ren, who was known for his near non-existent humor smiled slightly.

"Oh, Vomit Boy! You should've seen your face there," said Nora teasingly, her laughter having been reduced to a softer chuckle. "It was like an Ursa was charging toward you, ready to maul and eat you, bones and everything. Raawr!" she playfully mimicked a growling Ursa, making clawing motions in the air. "You would merely be a mouthful for an Ursa though, as you're nothing but skin and bone. Maybe it would choke on you and die." She walked up to pick the plushy up from the floor. "Looks like all that training you've helped him with has paid off, Pyrrha," she complimented.

Pyrrha cleared her throat, managing well enough to keep her mirth in check. She gave Jaune an apologetic look along with a sheepish smile. "It would seem that way."

Jaune huffed, his cheeks red from humiliation. "T-that wasn't funny, Nora! I could've sliced that thing in half."

Nora stepped forward and hugged him, more softly than what she had done to Ren. "I'm glad you didn't harm him, because then I would've done something worse than an Ursa mauling you," she quipped with a menacing look in her eyes that immediately gave way to a cheeky grin.

Jaune sighed and smiled in defeat, patting her shoulder. "It's good to see you again. Welcome back."



It was uplifting for Pyrrha to see Nora being so warmly welcomed.

We're here for her, just like she's here for us, she thought and smiled.

Turquoise and green eyes met, as Nora walked toward her. Uh oh, is she about to nearly break my ribs like she had done to Ren? To her pleasant surprise, Nora hugged her in a gentle manner. It felt like they were holding each other for the first time in ages. Pyrrha hugged her, smiling and looking down on the orange-haired head that rested against her chest. She had missed her friend's warmth and softness.

Pyrrha realized how quiet everyone in the room had become, as if time itself had stopped. The stillness ended as she saw Jaune's gaze shift back and forth between her and Nora. He cleared his throat and looked at Ren. "Um, hey, Ren, I'm going to the amphitheater. You want to go with me? We can, uh… watch the public sparring matches together," he suggested and walked over to the door.

"Sure," answered Ren simply and stepped up next to Jaune. Ren turned his head to look at Nora. "I'll see you later, Nora. I assume the journey home made you tired, and that you would like some rest."

Pyrrha frowned as she saw Jaune nod and smile at her. What are they up to? They know the sparring matches at the amphitheater are not until tomorrow. But then it dawned on her that they were giving her and Nora some privacy, and she was grateful for that.

"Bye, you two! Have fun watching people break each other's bones!" Nora excitedly bid Jaune and Ren farewell as they left. "Well then, guess that leaves just the two of us," she added, looking up at Pyrrha while still keeping her arms around her waist.

"You don't want to go with them?" Pyrrha asked, assuming that Nora did not know the truth about the sparring matches being tomorrow.

Nora shook her head. She let go of Pyrrha and straightened her slender arms up into the air, twisting the joints in her hands and elbows. "Nah. Ren's right, I'm way too tired," she explained and reinforced it by letting out a loud and drawn out yawn. She then blinked, as if she just realized something. "Oh, I forgot to give you something."

"Give me what? You're not going to throw something at me, are you?" wondered Pyrrha with a playful smile and a raised eyebrow.

Instead of responding with words, or giving Pyrrha a gift, Nora suddenly jumped up and threw her arms around her neck. The tall girl, caught off guard by the extra weight now hanging from her shoulders, struggled for a second to regain her balance and not cause both of them to fall forward onto the floor. Her reflex kicked in, as she quickly put her arms around Nora's waist to steady her against her.

"N-nora?" Once the moment of surprise had passed, Pyrrha continued, "I-I get two hugs instead of just one?" she asked, giggling shyly. "I feel honored." She quickly realized how different, more passionate this second hug was, as she felt Nora tenderly rub her warm and smooth cheek against hers.

"Mhm, first one was to show you how much I've missed you." Nora's warm breath caressing Pyrrha's neck caused her to shiver for a second, making her involuntarily tighten her arms around her.

"Then… then what about this one?" asked a flustered Pyrrha.

Nora let go of her and put herself back down on the floor. "To show how proud I am of you having gone to the swimming pool all alone! I said I would give you a rain check for a special hug, didn't I? Well, you just got it!" She walked over to her bed and allowed herself to fall backward, collapsing onto the soft mattress.

Pyrrha walked over to join her, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She thought that Nora cooing and writhing with apparent delight was cute to behold. "Feeling comfortable? I guess it must be good to rest in a bed after sitting still in a bus for three hours." She knew Nora being a bundle of seemingly limitless energy, hated sitting still for too long.

"Mmhm, like I'm resting on a fluffy cloud. Ugh, don't remind me of that. Thought I was gonna die of boredom on that bus! Even worse, my Scroll ran out of juice shortly after I called you. I never got to watch the latest episode of Camp Camp!" She took out her dead Scroll and connected it to a charger, putting it on top of her nightstand. "Quite the adventure you had, going off to the swimming pool by yourself. You got balls, Pyrrha!" she complimented with a toothy grin. "Not balls-balls, but you know what I mean."

"Well, thank you kindly, Nora. But I wasn't completely alone the whole time. Yang showed up and kept me company."

"Blondie?" Nora looked surprised by the mention of the name. The realization then came to her. "Oh, yeah I did tell her where the pool was. Did she have anything fun to say? Any juicy gossip about her team? Has she kicked anyone's ass lately?"

Pyrrha remained silent to think on how to reply to her questions. "Hmm, well, we did chit-chat for a while. I think she too recently bought herself a new bikini, just like I did. Oh, she has a sparring match tomorrow. We should go there and support her." She could say more, but she had made a promise to Yang not to tell anyone that she and Blake were dating.

It's probably for the best not to mention that I talked to Yang about me and Nora. If she hears about it, then she might seek Yang out and ask her what I said. Maybe talking to Yang was not the best thing to do after all… I trust her, but what if she decides to talk to Nora about me?

Pyrrha's deep thinking was interrupted by Nora wolf whistling. "A new bikini? That's something I wanna see. I wonder which one of you is the biggest. Next time I see you two together, I'll bring out the measuring tape," she said suggestively, waggling her eyebrows.

Pyrrha smiled shyly and looked away in a vain attempt to hide the unmistakable warmth radiating from her now rosy face. "Nora, please."

"Hah! I saw you blush there!" Nora pointed out. "We should totally go and see Yang fight! It's fun watching her brawl! Maybe I can redesign Maggy so that she can transform into a pair of huge gauntlets that zap and crush anything into oblivion, huh?" She threw some punches up into the air, trying to mimic Yang's fighting style. After a brief giggle, she wiped that silly grin off her face, and took on a more serious expression. "Did you tell Yang about… you know, your phobia thingy?" she asked, sounding concerned.

Pyrrha shook her head. "No, not yet. I want to tell her and the others what happened to me, and why I'm afraid. But now is not a good time to do that. I've only been going therapy for three weeks. I feel I want to make more progress before I start telling more of my friends. I'll then ask Ruby if she and her team can come over to our dorm, or I'll visit theirs."

Nora widened her eyes and raised her right index finger. "That's an awesome idea, buuut I have an even better one! We could invite them and make something really super fun outta it! Play games, eat snacks, and watch a movie or two. I still haven't seen Spruce Willis' latest one. I hear there are more explosions than words in it!" Her suggestion left her face bristling with excitement.

Spending a relatively calm evening together with my friends at the academy does sound more appealing than drinking and dancing at a nightclub. Not that my first and recent visit was boring.

"That sounds lovely. I suppose I should tell them near the end of the evening. I don't wish the ruin the mood by suddenly telling them right in the beginning that I drowned last year," said Pyrrha.

"Uh-huh, makes sense," said Nora. After adjusting herself on the bed, she asked, "So, anyway… I bet you're just dying to hear the details about my little adventure back to my hometown."

She blinked at Nora's sudden change of subject. She had not expected to tell her so early. "Well, yes, of course. I wouldn't mind to know what happened in Vana, as long as you feel comfortable talking about it," she replied in a respectful manner.

Nora sat up from the bed, and moved to sit next to Pyrrha on the edge. "You're so cute when being all friendly and polite." She reached up and gently pinched Pyrrha's cheek.

"Can you blame me? It's because I care about you," she explained sincerely, rubbing her cheek after Nora let go.

Nora buried her face in her palms. "Stop! Now you're gonna make me blush! I'm already doing it, am I?" She composed herself, rubbing her chin. "Where to begin? Well… the weather was nice. The countryside's beautiful during the summer. Last time I was there, it rained like crazy. Moving on! Better not get sidetracked. I got home, unpacked my things, relaxed for a bit, and then I talked to my dad." She paused briefly, her gaze faltering, and voice trailing off. "I… uh… I finally did something that I've wanted to do for years. I told him. I told him that I like girls."

Pyrrha recalled that on the same evening that Nora had confessed to her that she was a lesbian and in love with her, she had also mentioned how her father, whom she loved and respected, was sadly a bigot. Nora had kept her sexuality a secret to everyone except Ren, because she did not want her to father to find out.

Pyrrha could partially relate to keeping a secret to herself because she did not want the truth to hurt or worry others. Not even her own parents knew that their only daughter had drowned and developed aquaphobia. She wanted to tell them, but they deserved to hear it from her face to face, and not via a CCT video call. When she would do that, she was not sure. Just like Nora, she felt she too needed to take a weekend off and go visit her own parents in Mistral.

"You did? How did that go?" Pyrrha asked, worried what Nora might answer.

"Well…" began Nora softly, looking down on her fiddling fingers in her lap. "Have you ever been in one of those awkward moments, where someone who loves you, yells at you?"

"I have." The first thing that Pyrrha thought of was how Nora, shocked and disturbed by her mother's unexpected return, had angrily lashed out at her, even thrown an empty soda can at her. The burst of anger had taken both of them by surprise, Pyrrha even more.

It's probably best not to remind her of that. I know how ashamed she felt for having snapped at me.

"I mean, sure, it's not the first time he's raised his voice at me," said Nora. "I used to be a bit of a mischief-maker as a kid. But the way he yelled at me yesterday, accused me of terrible things... I thought he was going to slap me."

"Has ever he done that before? Laid a hand on you?"

To Pyrrha's relief, Nora shook her head. "Never. He's always treated me well, spoiled me as if I was a princess. I haven't thought of it much before, but I think he did that to not make me think too much where my mom was, and why she had run away." Nora looked up at her, and smiled in a strained manner. "Ironic, huh? Pit me against a bunch of Beowolves and I'll scream like I've won a free visit to amusement park. But seeing my dad angrily glare at me, and listen to his hate…"

As Nora's voice trailed off, Pyrrha noticed how her dear friend was trembling ever so slightly. As much as she wanted to hear what had happened in Vana, it pained her to see her friend like this. Her stomach tensed up from the guilt. She tightened her arm over her shoulder. "Oh, Nora," she said sympathetically. "You don't have to go on if this is too difficult to you. I'm sorry for asking."

Nora placed her hand on top of Pyrrha's, and leaned closer to her. "No need to apologize, silly. I wanna tell you this. You're an awesome listener." Pyrrha nodded at her, silently telling that she was free to continue. Nora did so, by yawning first. "I caught zero sleep that night, I think. I kept hearing my dad's angry voice in my head, his eye glaring at me."

"But, Nora, when you called me earlier this morning, you sounded so happy.

"That's because my story has a happy ending. My dad apologized to me this morning. He even cried a bit. Never seen him do that. I guess he needed some time to cool off."

"He apologized? Just like that?" questioned Pyrrha. I'm happy that her father felt remorse and apologized. But was it really that simple? I guess I had to be there to understand it.

"Yep. Just like that," reaffirmed Nora. Since Pyrrha had not been there herself, she trusted Nora and did not pry any further. "That's not all," continued Nora. "I even met my mom; had a pretty good chat with her. I think we bonded a little bit. Felt really good. I look forward to chatting with her again."

Pyrrha now understood."I'm so glad to hear that," she said sincerely with a warm smile on her face. She was happy for Nora , borderline giddy even. She felt a strong, growing urge to express it to her.

"And-" Nora stopped in mid-sentence just as Pyrrha put both her arms around her, hugging her. "P-pyrrha?"

"You said it was brave of me to go to swimming pool by myself. That's nothing compared to what you did. You dared to meet your mother who abandoned you so many years ago. You told your bigot father that you're gay." She heard how a caught off guard Nora whispered something unintelligible. "I'm proud of you, Nora," she said and rubbed cheek against the top of her head.

As Pyrrha ended the hug, she saw Nora's eyes glistened with unshed tears of happiness. She let her have a short, comfortable moment of silence before she continued. "So besides talking to your parents, did you do anything else? Did you get a chance to do something fun in Vana?" she asked in an attempt to shift the conversation to something that was more lighthearted.

"Yeah, I met Charlene."

The name made Pyrrha curious. I've never heard her mention that name before. "Who's' that?" she asked.

"She's a young and beautiful girl. I've known her for years. I love bringing my fingers through her silky, black hair and rub her nose." The answer made Pyrrha even more curious. It sounded almost like Nora and Charlene were more than friends. "I was supposed to ride her, take her through the forest, but there was not enough time for that," continued Nora and pouted.

Pyrrha's curiosity immediately turned into confusion. "I'm sorry, what? You ride Charlene? In what sense exactly? I mean, uh, is she really okay with that?"

Nora looked up at her. Her lips twitched, as if trying to hold back a grin. The mirth building up within her exploded as she threw her head back and laughed hysterically. All Pyrrha could do was to sit still and frown at her friend, while futilely trying to understand what she had missed to understand.

"Ooh, that was hilarious! Should've seen your face. Lemme take a breath," said Nora, panting and gradually composing herself. "Charlene, she neighs happily when she sees me, and she likes it when I take care of her hooves. Her owner usually lets me ride her," she elaborated while wiping away tears of mirth from her eyes.

Neighing, hooves, and owner? Pyrrha put everything together. "Charlene… is a horse? Oh!" As the full realization came to her, she too began to laugh, louder and longer than she wanted to. It felt good to lose herself to amusement, as if she had not laughed in a long time. It was as if Nora had given her a medicine that made her feel better. This was one of many reasons why she liked being with her; she always knew how to make her smile and laugh.

"Oh, Nora, you're too much. It's great to have you back."

"Hey! Do you think there are any waffles left at the dining hall?" asked Nora all of a sudden.

"Hmm, I wouldn't count on it. They seemed to be going pretty fast. Everyone ate as if they were starving, myself included." I should not mention that I ate six myself. "But you might get lucky if you go and ask the kitchen staff."

"I will!" replied Nora and bolted up from the bed.

Pyrrha smiled, amused by her friend's sudden surge of energy. "Weren't you tired just recently? I could have sworn that you were just about to doze off, like a child all tuckered out," she reminded.

Nora bounced up and down on the balls of her feet before Pyrrha, her eyes bristling with excitement. "Delicious and crispy waffles with whipped cream and jam will always have priority Pyrrha, no matter how sleepy I may get! You wanna join me on an adventure to the dining hall?"

I don't feel particular hungry. But… if there are spare waffles I guess I can one, maybe two. "Sure." As she replied, Nora took her hand and hurried to lead her out from the dorm.

Nora had indeed been lucky, as she managed to get a few leftover waffles from the generous kitchen staff. The waffles had not been as fresh and crispy as she had hoped, but some extra maple syrup helped compensate for that. Pyrrha had eaten a couple as well.

After Ren and Jaune had returned to the dorm, Nora told both of them a shorter, simpler, and less dramatic retelling of what had happened back in Vana. Mental fatigue and food coma had taken away her energy to go through all the things she had told Pyrrha earlier. Ren, her best friend and "brother" since forever, deserved to hear the full story, but she would keep him waiting until tomorrow. She needed at least one night's worth of real sleep to let everything truly sink in.

After she finished brushing her teeth, Nora walked out from the bathroom while dressed in her usual sleeping wear, which consisted of pink shorts and a dark gray t-shirt. Things had become dark and quiet outside the large, ajar window. The only source of illumination within the room was the small lamp on top of her nightstand. Jaune had recently gotten into bed, and Ren was tucking himself in.

Nora heard light footsteps behind her, followed by a hand being gently placed on her left shoulder. She looked to the left and up. Pyrrha's tall and red-haired silhouette looked down on her.

"Good night, Nora. It's good to have you back here again," said Pyrrha sweetly, her beautiful face smiling.

I'm so HAPPY to hear you say that.

Perhaps a little too happy, as she almost lost focus on what was happening. It felt great to have been missed by someone dear to her. "Y-yeah, it's great to have you back, too. I-I mean, good night," stammered Nora and smiled in a goofy manner. Pyrrha giggled softly at her before walking over to her bed. As Pyrrha walked away, Nora let her gaze linger at her and the flimsy, violet nightgown she was wearing. She felt lecherous, but could not take her eyes away. Her passionate gazing ended only as Pyrrha got into bed. Nora walked over to her own. She and Pyrrha exchanged one last, brief smile and look with each other before Pyrrha closed her eyes.

Nora turned to look at Ren. "Night, Ren. Dream of us killing Grimm together, as we travel to Pancake Land," she said.

"I'll try. Sleep well," he replied. A half-asleep Jaune on the other hand, simply grunted against his pillow.

As Nora reached for and turned off her nightstand lamp, the dorm became dark, save for the vague, blue moonlight seeping in through the window. She let out a quiet sigh of delight. It felt good to finally be able to relax after a long and emotional day. She had missed her dorm bed. Sure, there was nothing wrong at all with the softness or size of her bed back home. She did not, however, enjoy sleeping alone. Whenever she travelled home to visit her father and friends living at Vana, Ren usually accompanied her, sometimes even sleeping in the same bed as her.

Her father had, at more than one occasion, asked her if she and Ren were dating. He liked Ren, but Nora had assured her father that they were just friends, even though she had wished they could be more than that. Here, inside her dorm, she had Ren, Jaune, and Pyrrha. The girls from team RWBY were just across the hall.

I'm surrounded by friends and still it feels like someone is missing…

She looked over to Pyrrha's bed, barely seeing her still shape in the darkness. Pyrrha had not said anything if she had come to a decision or not. That's a bad sign for me… right? If she loves me, she would've said something by now. Pyrrha's a smart girl, much smarter than stupid, silly me.

Nora sighed against her pillow to muffle the noise, wrapping her bed. It's okay… We'll still be friends. I'm… I'm okay with that. Power of friendship and all that. At least that was what she wanted to believe.

Will I really not feel heartbreaking, soul crushing envy whenever I see Pyrrha inevitably go on a date with a handsome, charming, and funny guy? Someone who is better than me in every way? Watch her hug and kiss him, knowing that it should have been me? No… I'll not be able to do… and I hate myself for it!

She wondered if she should switch team, or move to another academy. No! My friends would never accept that. I won't run away like my mom did.

She and Pyrrha were going to train, study, and fight together until graduation. What would happen after that, she did not know, and that scared her. She did not want to split up after graduation. She did not want Pyrrha to become someone on her Scroll's contact list that she only rarely and briefly sent simple messages and calls to stay in touch. What she wanted was her team to stick together forever. What fun was there in being a hunter, killing Grimm, exploring the world and having a lot of fun if she did not do it together with her friends?

The excitement she had felt from Pyrrha saying how good it felt to have her back, was now being twisted and defiled by her own sadness and worry. As much as she tried to force those negative thoughts away, she only made them grow stronger. She gripped her sheets, pulling them tighter around her.

Nora needed comfort, to be with someone. Ren was always dependable. She could sleep in his bed and hold him anytime she wanted, and he would never object.

She felt she needed to be hugged and comforted. She looked at Ren's bed. She could go to him. He would not object. He never did. Aww, what would I do without him? Best friend and pancake maker ever!

Her gaze slid from Ren's bed over to Pyrrha's and lingered at the still and silent form in it. Pyrrha and her bed look so comfy… She knew it was best to not force the issue, yet she wanted nothing more than to get close to her, tuck herself in beneath her sheets, like a frozen child wanting to rest by a lit fireplace.

Ugh, I feel like a drug addict, wanting one last fix before quitting for good.

Self-restraint had never been one of her stronger sides. As if a ghostly force took control of her body, Nora stood up and slowly walked forward. The moonlight was just bright enough to prevent herself from fumbling around, as she silently and slowly navigated her way over to Pyrrha's bed.

She was evidently not silent enough, as the red-haired girl shifted slightly in her bed. "Hm? Who's there?" asked Pyrrha tiredly.

Nora already felt regret for having approached her. "Did… did I wake you up?" She kept her voice as low as possible to not disturb Ren and Jaune.

"Nora?" Pyrrha asked before yawning. "No, it's quite alright. Did you want something?"

Nora said nothing at first, and kneeled down on the floor. She reached out with both her hands and took one of Pyrrha's, caressing it from both sides. "Pyrrha… I don't wanna seem clingy, but… I didn't sleep so well last night, and-"

She stopped in mid-sentence as she felt Pyrrha squeeze her hand gently, silently interrupting her. "I know what you want, Nora, and you don't need to ask." With her free hand, Pyrrha lifted her sheet up. "Come on in," she beckoned at her.

W-wow! Didn't expect it to go like that. But hey, I'm not complaining! Grinning while under the influence of a victory rush, Nora got into Pyrrha's bed and joined her beneath the sheets. Even though Pyrrha's bed was identical to her own, she still believed this one was more comfortable and warmer.

"It might not be as cozy as your so called 'Bed Castle', but I hope you'll find it to your liking," said Pyrrha.

"It's like your bed is from heaven. I've missed this." As Nora adjusted herself and inched closer to Pyrrha, she felt warm and soft mounds against her face. She pressed her face against them. "I've missed these," she said, her voice being partially muffled.

Her action caused a quiet chuckle from Pyrrha, sounding embarrassed. "N-nora, I know you've missed my 'boob pillow', as you like calling them, but you should rest your head on an actual pillow. Otherwise you might wake up tomorrow with a stiff and aching neck."

Nora protested by groaning in a playful manner. I would gladly suffer some stiffness and aching if it means I can fall this close to you. She respected her too much to argue about it, however. As a guest in her bed, she needed to behave and follow the rules. With a sigh of defeat, Nora moved herself up along the bed and placed her head on top of Pyrrha's thick and soft pillow.

The new position was not so bad after all. In fact, it was even better, as her face was so close that she could feel Pyrrha's warm breath caress her face. "You're right. This is more comfy," agreed Nora.

For a short moment, both of them remained still and silent. Nora could vaguely see the dark outline of Pyrrha's head, but not of her face. Even in darkness, Nora thought Pyrrha to be beautiful.

I wish I was a Faunus, because then I would have night vision and be able to see during the day and the nights. Oh, and I wouldn't trip over things when going to the bathroom at night.

"Are you... looking at me?" asked Pyrrha, ending the silence and surprising Nora.

"What makes you ask that?"

"I think I can see the moonlight's reflection in your eyes."

Caught in the act, like when I got my hand stuck in the cookie jar. "Maybe I am. Are you?"

"Maybe I am." Pyrrha's response caused them both to giggle, music to Nora's ears. It sounded to Nora like Pyrrha was smiling. She hoped she was.

After another, shorter moment of silence, Pyrrha politely asked, "Nora, not to sound rude, but are you okay if I roll over and face the other side? I sleep better that way. It just feels more... natural for me."

Nora silently gulped. Uh oh! "Does my breath stink that much? I made sure to rinse my mouth with syrup after brushing my teeth," she quipped in a nervous manner. "Sure. Can't argue against what feels natural."

As Pyrrha rolled over, she carefully said, "You can hold me… if you want to."

Nora's recent worry was washed away by those words, and was instead replaced by excitement, and a bit of boldness. She grinned and slid closer to Pyrrha from behind. "I'll hold you and be the small spoon. It just feels more natural for me." As she playfully returned Pyrrha's words, she carefully slid her arms around her waist, resting her open hands on her flat and warm stomach.

Unf! I wanna squeeze your belly! Get a real feel how firm those awesome abs are. There are other places I wanna squeeze, too… softer and larger ones.

Nora relaxed, and leaned her face closer to Pyrrha's neck. As she inhaled through her nose, she caught the sweet and citrusy fragrance of green apple scented shampoo lingering in Pyrrha's red and silky hair. As pleasant as it was to lie so close to her, feeling her warmth, sensing her scent, was a painful reminder for Nora that she would never have the one thing she truly desired: Pyrrha Nikos as her girlfriend, her soul mate.

Nora sighed as quietly as she possibly could. Why does it have to feel so painful to be rejected?

She was thankful that Pyrrha could not see her right now, or she would ask about the tears welling up in her eyes. She wished she and Pyrrha could remain like this, but knew deep within that she would need to stop seeking Pyrrha out for cuddles.

Having listened to her heart had formed both happy and sad memories together with Pyrrha that Nora would carry with her forever. She did not want to stop listening to her heart. One rejection could not lead to her living a life of celibacy. Nora planned to shed her fair share of tears, let her be comforted by Ren. Then, once she was ready, she would try to find a new, potential girlfriend. One who was confident about her sexuality, and would love Nora for who she was.

She needed to say something, wanting Pyrrha to hear words from her heart. "You mean so much to me," she whispered into Pyrrha's ear before pecking her cheek. "Good night, Pyrrha," was the last thing she said as she closed her eyes, preparing herself to drift into sleep. Things got quiet. It was a comfortable silence for Nora, thanks to the ambiance of Pyrrha's slow, quiet, and drawn out breathing, her heart beating steadily inside her chest. She could not possibly ask for a better, more soothing lullaby.

Nora's eyelids twitched. Pyrrha's heart beat louder and faster. Her body felt warmer than usual. She tensed up as she felt Pyrrha place her hand on top of hers, fearing that she would remove it away from her stomach. Instead, to her pleasant surprise, Pyrrha hooked her fingers in-between Nora's, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Nora... get up," said Pyrrha calmly.

Nora widened her eyes, and dropped her mouth in fear and shock. "Are… are you kicking me outta the bed? D-did I do something wrong? I'm so sorry! I-" She was about to raise her voice and garble hysterically, but was gently interrupted from doing so as Pyrrha rolled over and put her fingertip on her mouth.

"Shh, calm down," urged Pyrrha, "You're going to wake up Ren and Jaune, and probably the whole building if you start screaming. I'm not kicking you out. I need to talk to you."

Even though Nora was reassured that she was not being kicked out, the worriedness in her chest remained as strong and painful as ever. "A-about what? I'm not in trouble, am I?" she asked for confirmation, wanting to put her worry fully aside.

Pyrrha moved her finger away from Nora's lips and placed her hand on her shoulder. Even in the darkness, Nora felt the gaze of Pyrrha's green eyes looking deeply into her. "You know what we need to talk about."

Nora blinked. Pyrrha said she knew, but Nora struggled to find out what it was herself. Did she just have a nightmare? Have I been too clingy lately?

But then the harsh truth sunk in. Nora realized that her moment of reckoning had come, and Pyrrha was about to render her judgment. "O-oh, okay," she whispered as she slowly got up from the bed. She dared not to ask in that moment, and waited for Pyrrha to inevitably give her an answer to the one question she desperate wanted answered. I hope she will soon, for the uncertainty is making my poor stomach twist in knots!

"Let's head to the rooftop, quietly. You should put something on. The days are warm, but the nights are cold," suggested Pyrrha as she got up as well. Instead of her slippers, she put her bare feet into her boots.

While Nora was putting on a pair of sweatpants, followed by her pink sneakers, wrapping herself in a blanket, she looked at Jaune and Ren who remained silent and still in apparent sleep.

As she left the dorm together with Pyrrha, Nora thought, I got a baaaad feeling that I'm not gonna like what I'm about to hear next. She silently and desperately prayed she would be wrong.

End of chapter 18

Author's note: So, what do you think is going to happen now?