Archive of Our Own ^beta

December 21

As soon as Ruby woke up, she knew today was the day. Her girlfriends had finally decided to kill her.

Freshly twenty-one (in a few hours), a heart attack might be a weird way to go out. But what else did they expect, knowing that the first thing she would see when she woke up was the notification in their group chat?

And of course she would be excited and wanna’ see what it was! In the list of names covering her phone’s screen, theirs would always be the first to draw her eye.

Her face burned, heat racing up to her scalp when she found their “Happy Birthday” texts hidden under a photo of them.

Together. On Neo’s bed. The vibrant pink made them both stand out really well. They were pressed together wearing only rose petals placed very carefully, Weiss’s arm stretched up to take the photo.

At least Weiss had the decency to be a blushing mess too! Even if she was still right there with Neo!

Neo grinning like that one painting she did of the Cheshire Cat really shouldn’t have gotten to Ruby as much as it did. Weiss said they weren’t supposed to encourage her gremlin behaviour, but she always made it really hard.

Her girlfriends were for sure trying to kill her!

…It would at least be a good death.

And she wouldn’t even get to see Weiss until nighttime!

It was mean. Her smile hurt her cheeks.

“Good morning to you too! Love you both! 🩷” she tapped out with a quiet hum.

Before she could even switch out, a winking face from Neo joined an icy blue heart from Weiss.

Grinning, she made quick work of her other messages.

“Happy bday, sis! You’re blooming awesome!” and a photo of a red rose from Yang. That was a heart.

Next was Blake with a closeup photo of a black rose with 21 painted on it in red.

Her “Happy birthday! Looking forward to our get-together. I’ll make sure Yang’s on time,” got her a heart and a big grinning face.

Last was Ta… her dad. He’d remembered this year!

“Happy birthday, Rosebud! I hope you have a great time with everyone.”

Ruby scrolled down and snickered.

He was in Atlas, visiting Qrow and the rest of his family ahead of Christmas.

The tall blond stood in a grey and blue kitchen, flashing a big grin to the camera and holding his hands in a heart. Next to him, Qrow’s face was bright red, but he was trying to not look embarrassed while flashing her a peace sign. His grin looked like dad had just kicked his shin.

In the background, Robyn was on the counter waving at the camera and holding her other hand to her mouth. She almost managed to cover her smirk.

Ruby would put money on the camera being Winter.

She smirked and sent a heart of her own.

“Thanks! Send my love to everyone!”

Ruby had just let her phone drop back to the bed when it buzzed again.

Pulling it back up brought her another message from Weiss. And her clock.

Seeing the time, she hissed. An hour wasn’t oversleeping by that much… She should probably get moving!

But also… Weiss.

She’d slid it open before her brain could fully catch up.

“Good morning, Rosa! I apologize that I won’t be able to join you at the mall. But I’m looking very forward to seeing you and Neo tonight!”

Ruby’s chest squeezed.

When Neo had suggested spending the day together, she and Weiss had been ecstatic! And then an apologetic Weiss had informed them that her morning and afternoon weren’t free anymore.

It had kind of sucked, but Weiss had looked so apologetic, and Neo had had that little smirk like it was totally fine, and so Ruby had agreed.

It was the same smirk Neo showed any time Ruby had been worried the last few weeks, any time Weiss seemed distracted. Not stressed, exactly, but her head was definitely somewhere else sometimes.

Neo seemed to know about whatever it was, and she seemed smug about it, so it was… probably fine.

Then Yang had texted only a few minutes later saying she and Blake had some plans fall through and were tied up for the night, but they had all afternoon.

Neo had just sent her a bunch of cry-laughing faces when Ruby had told her all scheming should go through her.

So Ruby didn’t know what Weiss was doing. But she was pretty sure they were up to something.

And if Neo had been extra attentive to Ruby when she’d started to worry, well… Ruby couldn’t really complain. Too much.

“It’s fine, Engel! We have all night together! Luv u!” she decided.

She got another blue heart and grinned.

Her steps bounced as she moved through her morning routine.

She moved through the apartment, humming an upbeat tune to herself the whole while.

Sure, she was rushing a little, but she was not missing out on Neo time because she overslept!

Before she knew it, she was sliding her coat on and bouncing by her front window. Waiting for Yang to pull up, she shot another glance outside then checked her phone.

She’d said she would be there in five minutes. That was ten minutes ago. Blake was usually pretty good about making sure Yang was on time, too… Unless she was distracted.

Gross.

Clearly her sisters had decided to torture her with her girlfriends today.

With a quiet huff, she went back through her messages and ignored her right foot bouncing on the carpet.

She was just about to slip back into her girlfriends chat to take another, much more awake look at that photo, when her phone shook in her hands. A second later, a honk sounded outside.

Grinning ear-to-ear, she nearly teleported in her rush out the door and over to Yang’s beat-up gold and black-striped Impala.

Only when she’d thrown herself in the back and shut the door did the frigid late-December air hit her. The cranked heat inside thawed her out before she could even really feel it.

Neo was waiting for her with a smirk. Where Ruby was bundled up almost as much as Blake and Yang, Neo was in a furry but light white and brown jacket, the lining a pretty, bright pink.

It made Ruby cold to look at, but both her girlfriends had always been weirdly comfortable in the frigid winter.

Plus it meant there was less coat between her and Neo!

With a small cheer, she threw her arms around her smirking girlfriend and pulled her tight.

“Mmmornin’, sweetie!” she welcomed with a kiss to the smaller woman’s cheek.

She felt Neo’s chuckle against her, and then a hand was playing with her hair. Before she could melt, a throat cleared and pulled her eyes back to the front of the car.

Yang and Blake were both turned, their smirks making her cheeks burn.

“Hi to you, too,” Yang mused.

“Oh, yeah! Hey!” she tossed back without missing a beat.

Snickering, Blake shook her head and looked back at the windshield.

Rolling her eyes, Yang turned away and pulled out. And suddenly there were lips on Ruby’s, and the world was a little fuzzy.

By the time Yang’s groaning caught up to her, she was wearing her seatbelt and had her head on Neo’s shoulder.

Blinking, she came out of her haze and pouted when Neo shook with another chuckle.

“Y’know, I can turn around and just leave her there with you for the day,” Yang snarked.

Ruby just rolled her eyes.

“Nuh-uh! I get Neo time and I get to mess with you all day. That was the deal!”

“There’s a deal?” Blake mused around another snicker.

Ruby nodded into Neo’s collar.

“Yep! I don’t tell Weiss Yang suggested we go to Junior’s and Yang doesn’t get to complain if I kiss my girlfriends within a mile of her!”

Golden eyes slowly slid to the side, a single brow rising. Even without looking away from the road, she somehow knew. Yang let out another groan.

“You thought taking Ruby to a bar would work? Ruby?”

Ruby wasn’t sure if Blake was calling her childish, or if she was being super considerate of the dad-shaped elephant suddenly in the car with them.

Either way, Yang groaned while Neo and Blake snickered.

Neo’s eyes turned dark and half-lidded as she met Ruby’s stare. Her fingers flew before her eyes.

“I like your deal!” she spelled into the air.

Snorting, Ruby shifted and pressed a kiss to Neo’s neck. Her girlfriend didn’t blush, her infamous poker face holding.

That didn’t stop her from shivering against Ruby, though.

Point to her!

Looking back to the front of the car, Ruby ran her fingers over Neo’s thigh.

Carefully and slowly, she spelled out “ME 2” and was rewarded with another shiver and a peck on her forehead.

Another groan from Yang fell on deaf ears.

It was Ruby’s birthday and her sister could deal with it!

Ruby’s face was burning by the time they’d finished the trek through Vale Mall’s parking lot. In hindsight, Ruby couldn’t be too surprised.

Midday on a weekend right before Christmas was maybe not the best time to go for a mall run. The lot had been packed with last-minute shoppers and they’d been almost as far from the mall as they could get before Yang found a spot.

A nice sister would’ve just dropped Ruby and Neo off at the door then met up with them.

“Put the puppy dog eyes away, Rubles. We’re gonna’ suffer in the cold together like a family,” Yang said instead.

…She was definitely spending too much time with Weiss. But Neo was so touched by the casual acceptance as family! Even if she’d tried to hide it.

Ruby loved her sister to death. But she could hold a grudge like no one else. Yang accepting Neo after years being friends with Ruby’s high school bully was one of the best presents her sister could’ve given her.

So Ruby couldn’t really complain… Much.

Thankfully, the mall was warm and cozy and didn’t have cold wind whipping her in the face. And Neo looked so cute with her face pink!

With a giggle, she leaned down and kissed her short girlfriend on the nose.

Warm, mismatched pink and brown eyes met silver and promised mischief. Neo’s smirk sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the winter trapped outside.

Ruby wasn’t sure if her girlfriend’s stare was a promise or a threat, and she really wanted to find out. Part of her wanted to take Yang up on her offer and have her just drop Neo and her back off at the apartment-

The world turned dark as something warm and soft wrapped around the top of her head. It smelled like citrus and smoke and immediately drew Ruby’s elbow back.

With a snicker, Yang side-stepped the hit and hopped back.

“Good reflexes! You might need that,” she added with a tilt of her head.

Following the gesture, Ruby looked past her sister and groaned.

The mall was packed with last-minute shoppers rushing around. She shouldn’t have been surprised, really. Still, she could feel her anxiety creeping up from the depths.

An arm wrapped around hers before Neo pressed into her side. Looking down, Ruby found Neo’s smirk was a softer smile now.

“Let me know if you need some shins kicked,” she signed.

The tension in Ruby’s chest faded with a snicker.

“Please don’t.”

“Unless we run into Cardin,” Blake chimed in.

When she and Neo looked her way, one of her feline ears flicked.

“Velvet’s set up here for holiday photos for the season. He’s working at the sporting goods and she said he’s been going out of his way to bother her,” she explained with a shrug. “So… kick away if we run into him.”

Neo flashed her a devilish grin and a thumbs-up.

Yang’s confusion cleared up and she mirrored Neo.

“So… shopping!” Ruby interrupted.

Neo snickered and squeezed her arm. Ruby was pretty sure that meant she didn’t need to text Weiss about maybe needing bail money… Probably.

Nodding, Yang spun on her heel and looked for a path through the bustling crowd.

With her sister’s attention off her, Ruby snuck a quick kiss from Neo and tugged her forward. Her girlfriend smiled into the kiss.

Ruby was feeling floaty and warm, her sister’s groans ignored for a few more seconds.

“Oh c’mon! Do I need to get a hose or something?”

Without missing a beat, Neo’s Cheshire Smile showed itself.

“I wouldn’t complain! Red first!”

Blake gave a startled bark of a laugh before covering her mouth. Like it would hide the snickering.

Yang’s pout would’ve been hilarious if Ruby wasn’t wishing Blake would stop laughing! Ruby’s face felt like it was on fire and, for once, was glad her sister couldn’t read sign.

“You were a little too quick, there, all I got was I and first.”

So Yang was learning to read sign. That was really sweet and not at all terrifying.

Face burning, Ruby’s hand shot out and caught Neo before she could say whatever thoughts were behind her smirk. Her girlfriend looked over at her, the picture of innocence.

“Shortie said something punchable, didn’t she?” Yang whined at her girlfriend.

Neo shook with laughter, and Blake’s face turned red as she waved Yang off.

Yang gave the shorter woman a withering glare that only made her laugh harder. The blonde gave up with an eye roll.

“Whatever. I got my eyes on you, Shortstack!”

Before Ruby could do anything, her sister had her hand in a firm grip and she was getting tugged along. She was pretty sure Yang just picked a direction in random.

She heard Blake snickering harder behind her, and she just knew if she turned to look, her girlfriend would be betraying her right with her…

“What do you think?” Yang asked.

Her sister had her hands on her hips and was grinning, looking really proud of herself.

On her head was a comically large pair of pink-framed sunglasses and a headband with fuzzy reindeer antlers stuck out from her golden mane.

She’d unzipped her jacket, giving Ruby an eyeful of the brightest green she’d ever seen. In the middle of the sweater was a cartoon snowman smiling at her over the words “Say it ain’t snow.”

Whatever look Ruby had, it made Yang laugh loud enough that heads swiveled their way.

Ruby felt Neo shaking at her side. A quick flick of silver found her girlfriend flashing her sister a grin and a thumb up.

On Neo’s other side, Blake looked to be having the time of her life stifling a laugh.

Ruby couldn’t help but notice how the few people in the crowded shop who weren’t avoiding them were shooting her sister looks like she was crazy. Normally that would make her mad, but…

“I think it’s a terrible day to have working eyes,” Ruby mused.

Neo snorted and doubled over, Ruby’s side warming under the weight pressing into her.

Yang gave a dramatic gasp and crossed her hands over her heart.

“Are you insulting your big sister’s fashion?”

“I’m fashion blind and even I can see none of that’s right.”

Blake’s laugh escaped that time, and Yang’s grin twitched wider.

With a hum, the ravenette stalked over to Yang and promptly pulled up the zipper on her jacket. There was still blinding green, but everything under the text was covered.

Blake’s head tilted and she promptly pulled the glasses free, revealing bright lilac eyes. She promptly slipped them back in the turning rack without looking away from Yang.

Gold eyes flicked up to the antlers before reaching up. Instead of pulling them free, she angled them back so the band sat further under Yang’s hair.

Nodding like she’d just finished a work of art, Blake smirked and stepped into Yang’s space. Muscular arms wrapped around her without a thought.

“Thanks, Blakey! What would I do without you?”

Blake snickered and planted a kiss on the blonde’s cheek. Red was spreading before she even finished pulling away.

“Probably get arrested by Weiss for crimes against fashion,” she mused.

Yang gave a playful pout and was rewarded with a kiss that left her grinning. Blake’s deadpan mask cracked and crumbled with a quiet giggle, her smirk lighting up her whole face.

Yang grinned at her girlfriend like she’d just seen the sun for the first time.

At Ruby’s side, Neo’s smile was warm. The walls she normally put up around Yang had been slowly dropping lower and lower with each store they’d visited.

Her hands blurred into motion.

“They’re cute,” she signed.

“Not as cute as you,” Ruby fired back with a grin.

Neo’s smile ticked wider and Ruby nearly cheered at the light dusting of pink on her cheeks.

“~I didn’t know I was broken ‘til I wanted to change! I wanna’ get better-”

Ruby’s attention was pulled away by Yang’s phone.

That was Weiss’s ringtone!

Yang snatched her phone out of her pocket to look over whatever the message was.

Ruby didn’t love how her sister looked up at her and smirked. With a quiet chuckle, Yang typed something out and sent it off before dropping the phone back down.

Ruby was able to hold out for a full ten seconds before her curiosity won.

“What’s Weiss up to?”

Yang’s smirk stretched wider.

“Classified.”

Blake snickered at Ruby’s whine, and a soft hand patted the top of her head. She felt Neo snickering next to her.

“Are you guys getting anything in here?”

Here being the joke gift shop. Ruby and Neo shook their heads.

Like every other shop in the last two hours, Ruby hadn’t found anything that called to her for her and Neo’s project there.

Blake hummed and her ears flicked. She reached up and tapped at the fake antlers.

“I think these actually look cute. On you. No glasses, though.”

Yang beamed and pulled her into a quick hug before stepping back.

“Be right back!”

And she was racing off while Blake snickered.

“Doesn’t her sweater hurt your eyes? It’s almost neon, that can’t be good for the night vision,” Ruby mused as soon as her sister was out of earshot.

“Bad,” her future sister-in-law agreed with a nod. “But she likes it and your reaction was everything she hoped for.”

Shrugging, Blake turned to raise a brow at her.

“So still no idea what Weiss is getting for you?”

“None!” Ruby groaned. “Any time I try to ask her anything, she has Neo distract me!”

“I’m very distracting,” Neo signed with a grin.

Blake gave a startled laugh while Ruby’s face warmed.

“Does she just have you there? Like just in case?” Blake mused.

Before Neo’s hands had even lifted, the Faunus was shaking her head.

“Know what? Never mind. I don’t want to have to lie when Yang asks me what you said.”

With a silent laugh, Neo slowly lowered her hands. One of them landed on the front of Ruby’s thigh and squeezed.

It took more willpower than Ruby wanted to admit to not do anything embarrassing as heat spread through the fabric.

Neo wasn’t even doing anything! It really wasn’t fair.

“Well, whatever Weiss has in mind, I’m sure you’ll like it,” Blake comforted, pulling her out of the building spiral.

“Wait. You don’t know, either?”

Yang popped out behind Blake and wrapped her arms around her. She chuckled as her girlfriend’s face flushed.

“No. Apparently I can’t be trusted,” Blake complained.

Her pout had Ruby giggling, Neo’s burning touch almost forgotten.

“What’d you do?”

“Weiss told her, and I quote, ‘her resistance to the Puppy Dog Eyes is too low.’ The look on Blakey’s face was amazing!” Yang laughed.

Blake looked over her shoulder and sent the blonde a playful glare and a pout that just made her laugh harder.

“I’m not that bad!”

Yang’s arms squeezed and pulled her closer.

“Sorry Moonlight, but it’s totally true,” Yang said around a laugh.

“You fold like laundry,” Neo confirmed with a smirk.

“And Weiss doesn’t!?” the Faunus shot back.

“And she has a very distracting girlfriend to keep her very curious girlfriend distracted!” she shot back.

Neo looked way too smug. Ruby was pretty sure it shouldn’t have made her feel so squirmy.

Yang squinted at her then looked to Blake.

“Do I wanna’ know?”

Dropping her glare, Blake shook her head.

“Anyways,” Ruby cut in with a burning face, “Weiss’s been super careful this year… I really hope she isn’t going over the top for me.”

Yang just hummed, and Ruby felt her chest tighten.

She loved Weiss. She’d loved Weiss since she was fourteen and the heiress had opened her doors, no questions asked, whenever Taiyang was having one of his… rougher episodes.

She’d learned a lot about her friend at the time. First among them was that Weiss Schnee saw money very differently than she did. While she wasn’t what anyone would call frivolous, she’d had a habit of seeing most problems as a question of how many zeroes she needed to pay to solve it.

Ruby knew her girlfriend was fine. She had enough that when Neo’s drawing tablet finally died of old age, Weiss had a new top-of-the-line Cintiq to her by the end of the day. She was almost done with a business law degree and didn’t even blink when the bills came in.

So Ruby was very aware that her girlfriend was still rich, even without any of Jacques-ass’s puppet strings. But the money wasn’t endless, and the idea of any gift coming Ruby’s way with more than three digits attached made her skin itch with anxiety.

She hoped-

A warm and soft hand squeezed hers.

Blinking, Ruby’s spiral faded and she realized they’d left the store. Yang and Blake were huddled together ahead of them, Yang whispering something into a twitching cat ear that made Blake smirk. Looking to her side, she found Neo smiling that soft, gentle smile she saved just for her and Weiss.

Her girlfriend shot her a wink and brought her hands up.

“Princess’s gift is really sweet. You’ll like it,” she promised.

Ruby hummed as that tension eased.

While Neo didn’t have as many concerns about their Weiss’s money, she was very aware of Ruby’s. She’d been there, when it had been at its worst, and seen first-hand what the stress did to Ruby.

If Neo was so confident…

Ruby gave a nod and rubbed her cheek against the top of Neo’s head. The pink and brown hair was like warm silk against her cheek.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

She got another soft smile and a lightning-quick kiss to her cheek in answer.

With Blake and Yang ahead, content to keep whispering about whatever had the ravenette smirking, Ruby let herself cling.

Neo was soft and warm as she wrapped an arm around her back. Her girlfriend pressed into her side, hands free and ready to talk.

“So what do you think Weiss will pick?” she mused.

Neo’s head bobbed side to side for a second, eyes screwed up in thought.

“Mage. One hundred percent,” Neo shot back.

Ruby giggled and nodded.

“I mean, you’re not wrong… I hope she likes it. The rig, I mean! And the game, too… It’d be nice.”

Neo’s smile was warm as she patted Ruby’s side.

While it was Ruby’s birthday, Weiss would be 24 in just 3 days and had one more semester to go before she would finally be out of Beacon.

Ruby had her gift ready to go, and Neo was on the final final actually final edits for hers. All that was left was the last touches for their Together Gift.

When plans had changed for the day, Ruby had been thrilled by Neo’s suggestion to make a day of it. A whole day together, and in a place perfect for them to brainstorm for their Princess!

It was a small tradition, but one their throuple had stuck to since the very early days of getting together.

The “rules,” as set by Weiss, were a simple solution while working out those early growing pains. For any “gift” celebration they did, no matter what either of the other parties got for the receiver, two of them would work together on a shared gift. No hierarchy or worrying about differences in effort or cost, it was something collaborative to make sure everyone felt included.

It had been a band-aid while they figured out how the three of them worked as the three of them, but even years later, it was one of Ruby’s favorite traditions they had.

This year, Ruby was feeling pretty good about both of their own gifts, too!

“You would tell me what gift you’re getting, right, Ruby?”

Ruby blinked as Blake’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Huh-wha?”

Looking ahead, she found Yang giggling while Blake pouted at her. At her side, Neo shook with a giggle.

“Yang thinks I’m bad with secrets. You’d trust me to keep a secret, right?”

“I absolutely trust you!”

Golden eyes narrowed, and Yang snorted. Neo shook with a silent giggle.

“That was a really Weiss-specific answer.”

“I plead the fifth?”

The glare narrowed further, looking a little less playful.

“Sorry, Blake. You know I love you! Anything important, I know you’d take to the grave. And with most people, you’re like a vault door. But… um…”

“Yang knows how to pick the lock. Weiss knows the combination. And Ruby knows where the hinges are and how to dismantle them,” Neo concluded.

Ruby nodded and squeezed her girlfriend.

“Yeah! That.”

“Wha-”

“But for your first question, I’m not really keeping it a secret, anyway. Weiss just knows better than to ask me because she knows I get excited and kinda’ get ramble-y and will just tell her, and then there’s no surprise, and she likes surprises when we do it, so-”

A hand gently pressed to her side and Ruby’s brain reset. She reflexively ran a circle over her girlfriend’s back.

“So! Anyway! I’m building her a computer!” she finished.

Yang blinked in surprise.

“Is that why I lost an hour learning what a GPU and RAM are and why it’s so expensive the other day?”

“Yep! Payback for the hour I lost learning about the twenty very specific and niche old parts in Maria’s death trap last time she came to the shop,” she added with a stuck out tongue.

“Payback for-”

“Girls,” Blake sighed.

“Right! So! Weiss’s computer is one bad assignment away from dying. That thing’s a dinosaur!”

“I mean… she’s had it since before high school.”

“Exactly!” Ruby cheered with a finger pointed at Blake. “She refuses to upgrade it because it ‘works fine’.”

Though Ruby knew it was more than that, really. It had been the first computer Ruby built for someone else, a way for Weiss to work on whatever she wanted without Jacques monitoring it.

It had sat at the Xiao Long home for years and had seen the ups and downs as Weiss took refuge away from his grasp.

It had been where Weiss had written her first song for herself without worrying it would be stolen and bastardized.

That computer was important to Weiss. And to her. But-

“It kind of works,” Neo threw back with a light shrug.

Ruby whined and dropped her head atop her girlfriend’s.

“It really doesn’t! She was working on one of those big spreadsheets for an assignment last week, and I heard the poor thing crying!”

That was the core of what bothered her, really, and why she chose this gift. It was almost ten years old. She’d replaced parts enough time that nearly nothing from the original was still there, and what was couldn’t keep up anymore.

It had started hindering Weiss. Weiss would probably never buy a new computer if she didn’t need to. But something new, custom-made by Ruby? She might go for that.

Neo gently patted her head. It felt nice.

Head springing back up, Ruby nodded at Blake.

“So! I’m making her a new computer!” she concluded.

Ruby was proud of it, too! It was a labor of love, the engineer thrilled to have the excuse to put her skills to use for Weiss and bring her into the current century.

The custom, snow-white and ice-blue tower would let Weiss have more than five tabs open at a time and wouldn’t lag out when she scrolled past a few hundred rows of spreadsheet.

If it let her play World of Remnant with Ruby and Neo without looking like an old stop-motion film with fans sounding like a lifelong smoker, well… what a happy coincidence!

“That’s really sweet, Ruby,” Blake congratulated.

Yang nodded, eyes glowing with pride.

“If anyone can get her to upgrade, it’ll be you, Rubes!”

“She’s going to love it,” Neo confirmed with a quick kiss to the cheek.

Ruby grinned and squeezed her tighter.

“What about you, Shortie?”

Neo’s smile turned mischievous. Fire bloomed in Ruby’s cheeks and spread fast.

She still couldn’t even think of texting Velvet, much less facing her since they went to her studio, but they turned out great according to Neo.

Just the thought of how Weiss would react when she saw them had Ruby squirming as she walked. Neo smirked like she knew exactly where her mind had gone.

Yang took one look at Ruby and shook her head before Neo had lifted her hands.

“Flowers you say? What a nice gift! Anyway!”

And then she was spinning around and looking firmly not at Ruby.

Neo snickered. Blake’s stare flicked between them and leveled on Ruby. She wasn’t sure if she was judging or proud and her smirk didn’t help.

Ruby buried her head in Neo’s collarbone and groaned. Her girlfriend just laughed harder…

An hour later, Ruby stepped past a grinning Neo into Weiss’s apartment. A single breath was all it took for her stomach to growl.

The usual vanilla and sugar scent that had long since worked its way into every corner of Weiss’s home was gone. In its place was the smell of food.

Ruby wasn’t sure what kind of food. What she did know was that whatever it was, her mouth started watering when it hit her.

She’d made two frantic steps to hunt for the angel in white when a smaller hand caught her wrist. Ruby heard the stay without a word being spoken.

Freezing in place in a reaction so well-trained it brought fire to Ruby’s cheeks, she turned and looked at Neo.

Her smaller girlfriend was smirking. She totally caught that.

“With me,” Neo demanded with her free hand.

She then lifted a finger over her grin.

Ruby could only nod, face burning as she let Neo pull her along.

She was as silent as Neo while they wove through two hallways and up a short flight of stairs into the living room.

Ruby didn’t know why they were being quiet. Weiss already knew they were there, from the text Neo had sent as Yang pulled up, the ding of the front door security pad, and the mechanical voice announcing the front door was opened.

But Neo had something in mind, and Ruby wasn’t about to stop her.

Neo led her over to an icy blue couch and gently but firmly shoved Ruby onto it. The deep, soft cushions pulled Ruby in.

Ruby looked up to meet her girlfriend’s mismatched stare. Pink and brown eyes had darkened, and with her usually shorter girlfriend towering over her, Neo’s smirk felt a lot more… intense.

It ticked just a little wider when Ruby’s breath stuttered.

“I’m going to go check on Princess. Don’t move from here,” Neo commanded in a blur of gestures.

Ruby nodded and struggled to swallow.

Neo leaned forward and pressed a gently kiss to her lips that spread fire through her veins. When she pulled back, she had her Cheshire grin in place.

A hand softly patted at Ruby’s hair and sent tingles down her spine.

“Good girl.”

Ruby whined, and Neo silently chuckled.

Reaching forward, she took a hold of Ruby’s jacket and pulled. Face burning, she let her girlfriend move her however she wanted and was soon freed from the heavier material.

The house was pleasantly warm against her skin, the couch even softer as it brushed her back.

With that, Neo winked and spun on her heel to stalk away. Without looking, her shorter girlfriend must’ve felt her stare burning on her from the extra sway she put in her steps as she went.

Only when Neo had disappeared down the stairs and around a corner was the spell broken.

Shaking her head, Ruby looked around.

The couch was, by far, her favorite furniture Weiss had in the living room. It was big and soft and got perfectly warm when the three of them were sitting on it. Her favorite thing about it, though, was that it was sized just right for the three of them to cuddle pile together in whatever way they felt like.

She loved the couch.

But she kinda wanted to move over to one of the big, almost-as-soft recliners spaced around the room.

She was spoiled and knew it wouldn’t be as comfortable while she waited for her lovers to join her… but Neo had told her to stay put.

And she kinda’ wanted to know what would happen if she got back and found her sitting somewhere else. Or if she stayed right where Neo wanted her…

Decisions decisions…

Humming, she grabbed the remote off the pink and white coffee table. Her birthday felt like a reward kind of day.

The large screen in the wall flicked to life and filled the room with a woman in the middle of a growling scream over a string quartet.

Weiss tended to fall asleep to club music, so Neo had been here recently. Maybe keeping the heiress company? Maybe helping Weiss with whatever her gift was?

…Maybe picking out their morning photo together?

Ruby’s cheeks burned.

Now that she didn’t have anywhere to be, she could get a better look at that-

Neo popped up around the corner, a pair of covered plates balanced carefully in her hands. She was grinning as she swept across the room.

Without her own jacket, her sheer white blouse with pearl-pink buttons looked comfortable and thin and left Ruby’s thoughts a little foggy.

Weiss stepped in behind her with a bigger plate and a bright blush on her face. But she was smiling at Ruby in that way that made her chest warm and fluttery.

She was dressed down today, her usual dress shirt and pants swapped for a light, airy white dress with lace around the sleeves.

Her hair was down from its usual braid, flowing around her shoulders as she moved.

She was always pretty, but she was so pretty!

For the millionth time, Ruby re-learned that Weiss Schnee with her walls down in that way she only was with both of them was one of the most beautiful sights on the planet.

Ruby’s foot bounced as she watched her girlfriends cross over to the table.

The second they had the plates down, Ruby shot up like a rocket and crossed around.

“Engel!”

She wrapped her arms around Weiss and spun.

Giggling, Weiss’s arms wrapped around the back of her neck. White hair tickled Ruby’s cheek as she pressed in close.

Ruby stopped and let Weiss back down to the floor. Soft lips pressed to her own and lit a bonfire under her skin.

Weiss pulled back just as Ruby started getting light-headed.

When Ruby blinked the spots away, she found her girlfriend scarlet and grinning at her.

“Happy birthday, Rosa,” she whispered.

She stepped back as a smaller hand grabbed Ruby’s and pulled.

Following Neo’s gentle tugging found her back on the couch. In the time she’d been distracted, Neo had also lifted the tabletop, putting it easily in arm’s reach of their seat for what looked to be dinner.

Neo promptly fell onto the cushion at Ruby’s side. Her blouse was as thin as it looked, Ruby’s mind tripping at how little there was between her and soft, warm skin.

Weiss lowered herself down on Ruby’s other side. Like a magician, Neo lifted one of the platters she’d brought in and pulled free several plates and utensils.

Up close, the food smelled even better. Her stomach growled again, louder that time.

Other than a quick stop at the food court, she hadn’t eaten for hours. Neo had promised the wait would be worth it, and she was kinda’ seeing her point now if it tasted anything like it smelled.

Weiss giggled and gave her cheek another kiss.

Then she cleared her throat, and she had Ruby’s full attention.

Weiss was squirming in place and fidgeting with her left sleeve. And her blush hadn’t faded.

She cleared her throat and turned to meet silver eyes with a warm blue stare. Ruby could see the nerves in her gaze, even if she didn’t know what it was for yet.

“So,” Weiss started, “um… If you don’t like it, please let me know. I have something else, if-”

Ruby caught her hand, stopping her girlfriend’s tangent in its tracks. Shooting her a smile, she kissed her knuckles and gently rubbed soothing circles into the top of her hand.

“It smells amazing, Weiss.”

Weiss gave a smile back, shaky but warm.

“So!” Ruby continued with a clap. “What’d you get for us?”

Weiss’s expression did… something. It was a flicker, a shift in her eyes so quick Ruby wasn’t 100% sure she’d seen it.

Before she could question it, Weiss leaned forward and grabbed the top of one of Neo’s plates.

Neo grabbed the other and, with a shared nod like they’d coordinated it, they pulled them free.

On one was a stack of potato wedges, roasted to a perfect golden brown and sprinkled with what smelled like rosemary.

The other held a ring of fluffy biscuits smelling of herbs and cheddar.

Ruby felt her mouth watering just looking at them.

Weiss’s smile was wider and sturdier as she took in whatever was on her face just then. It made Ruby’s chest ache to see.

Taking in a big breath like she was bracing herself, Weiss reached for the last cover and pulled it away.

The larger, deeper dish was filled with glistening slices of corned beef.

She’d been craving meat all day! And she hadn’t had corned beef in forever! And with her favorite sides!

Ruby was pretty sure she was drooling as she watched Neo cheerfully load up a plate for her. Only when it was sitting on the tabletop did she release Weiss from her crushing hug.

“This all looks great!”

Weiss hummed, looking very pleased as she took her own meal. Neo grinned at them, her plate already piled high.

Ruby tucked into a biscuit and her eyes slammed closed. It was light and flaky and buttery, and the cheese was a rich burst of flavor on her tongue.

She promptly let out a sound that would make her want to crawl into a hole and die if she ever made it out in public.

In her peripheral, she saw both her girlfriends’ cheeks brighten.

Humming to herself, she tried a wedge next.

It was so crispy while being soft on the inside, and it tasted so savory! The rosemary was a slightly bitter kick that made her mouth tingle a little.

Clapping her hands and rubbing them together, she forked over a section of beef and took a bite. Flavor filled her as the meat practically melted in her mouth.

Wherever Weiss had gotten their meal from, Ruby decided it was worth every penny!

“This is amazing!”

Weiss smiled around her own bite of beef. Neo nodded and shoveled two wedges into her mouth. Her other hand shot an enthusiastic thumb up.

Weiss’s arm wrapped around Ruby and squeezed. Neo pressed more firmly into her other side, hand gently stroking burning lines up and down her leg.

Ruby felt very warm and fuzzy, her brain turning hazy as they fully tucked into their dinner.

She didn’t know what else Weiss and Neo had in store for her night, but this was an amazing start…

Ruby finished her last bite with a deep, satisfied groan.

Leaning back into the couch, she patted her stomach and grinned. Neo and Weiss, both having finished two portions ago, watched on with mirrored smiles.

Ruby leaned to the side and nuzzled into Weiss’s neck. She gave a quiet hum at Weiss’s usual vanilla perfume.

“That was really really really good, Weiss!”

Weiss shivered against her. She wasn’t sure if it was the words or the breath against the angel’s flushing neck, but she wanted to make it happen again.

Neo leaned forward to wrap her arms around both of them. Ruby felt her grin against her shoulder. Weiss turned to wrap them both back, her lips burning against Ruby’s forehead.

“Where’d you even get that?” Ruby wondered. “I’ve never been able to find good corned beef in Vale.”

That same something flickered behind Weiss’s eyes. Definitely there. It was… nervousness, Ruby decided. Or something like it.

Ruby racked her brain. None of the restaurants had anything that tasted nearly this good. It was almost as good as Yang’s!

Maybe it was Yang’s? It would explain that smugness of hers.

Neo’s hand on Weiss’s back moved up and started playing with her hair. Blue eyes slipped half-closed and her shoulders relaxed.

Weiss’s blush was really pretty! She cleared her throat and tensed back up.

“…I made it,” Weiss confessed.

She braced like she’d confessed to a murder.

Ruby’s heart skipped, then started racing.

Taking her second of silence as something, Weiss started fiddling with her hair.

“The reason I, uhm… I’m sorry I’ve been missing some dates lately… Yang has been teaching me. To cook, I mean. For the last few weeks. I’m sorry I had to pretend I was overworking myself, I… I know you were getting worried about it. Oh! The beef wasn’t too dry, was it? I-mph!?”

Ruby cut her girlfriend off by tackling her into the couch. Her lips tingled as she swallowed Weiss’s gasp.

With a hum, she pulled back to lay kisses on her forehead, her cheeks, the curve of her jaw, and all over.

Weiss let out a giggle and Ruby pushed up on her hands, hovering over her with a grin. A heavy blush and stupefied grin had replaced the nerves.

“Weiss! You learned to cook for me?”

Weiss looked away and nodded. Her smile was soft and fragile and so so so sweet!

Back when they’d both gotten into college, Weiss had tried to cook. Once.

She’d claimed it was just to try it out.

For all of a week, she and Neo had running, lighthearted jokes about Weiss being able to burn water. With an entire childhood spent around family chefs and stuffy restaurants with no listed prices, it had just made sense, and they’d both thought it was cute.

They’d stopped just as fast when Ruby realized Weiss actually felt bad about it and hadn’t brought it up since.

And Weiss had gone to Yang to learn. Yang, who took cooking incredibly seriously and gave no quarter to anyone messing up in her kitchen.

All to learn to cook Ruby’s favorite meals!

She always loved any gift her girlfriends decided to give her. This, though… Ruby felt like she was melting.

Pulling back, she lifted Weiss back up and pulled her into a hug so Neo could wrap her arms back around them.

“Weisss! That’s so sweet, oh my gods!”

She gave her another kiss and felt her grinning against her.

“You did great! It tasted so good!”

Weiss’s smile was wobbly and wide, her whole face bright.

“Are you sure?”

Neo nodded against Ruby’s neck and ran a hand through silky white hair.

Sniffling, Weiss pressed into them. Her head fell onto Ruby’s neck and she hummed.

“I’m so glad.”

With another sniff, she pulled back and wiped her eyes.

“I, um… There’s one more part to the gift. If… If you’re still hungry?”

Ruby was pretty full… There was no chance she would say no when Weiss looked that bashful.

“Whaddya’ got for me, Mo Stór?”

With a kiss to Ruby’s forehead, the heiress slid up to her feet.

“I’ll be right back. Neo?”

Suddenly, Ruby was tipped backward and fell head-first onto soft, warm thighs.

Ruby’s face burned as she looked up at her grinning girlfriend. Weiss chuckled and silently slid out of her peripheral.

“Enjoying yourself?” Neo signed.

Ruby nodded, then shivered as a finger started lightly tracing hearts on her arm.

“She did such a good job! I’m so proud of her!”

The hand slid up to gently scratch at her scalp. Ruby whined as her eyes snapped shut.

Blinking back, she gave her smirking girlfriend a pout.

“She really put herself out there… Yang wasn’t mean to her, was she? I’ll totally beat her up!”

Neo snickered and shook her head.

“Sunshine was really chill about it when she found out what Princess wanted to do.”

“Did you help?”

Her smirk ticked wider.

“I’m very distracting,” Neo reiterated.

Ruby groaned, her face warming.

“It’s not my fault you kiss so good!”

Neo petted her head and smirked when she pouted.

“Maybe a little,” was fired back at her.

Steps sounded on the stairs and Ruby sprang back up with a grin.

Weiss had a black cookie tin in her hands, little glossy rosebuds flickering and shimmering in the light. It was wrapped in a dark crimson ribbon which held a glittery silver envelope to the top.

Weiss put it down on the table before Ruby like she was handling an explosive. Her fidgeting was back hard.

Taking her seat again, she ran a lightly shaking hand up and down Ruby’s side.

With a quick kiss to her pink cheek, Ruby’s eager hands reached out to pull the card free.

Her name was written in Weiss’s pretty, fancy script. There was a small, painted black and red rose curling around it that had Neo’s shading style on the petals’ edges.

She pulled the card free with a curious hum.

Ruby,

Happy 21st birthday! I’ve wracked my brain for months on what kind of gift I could get to celebrate how much you mean to me.

On my darkest days, you’re my guiding light, my sun breaking free and burning away the black clouds. My life has been warmer and brighter since the day we first became friends, and every year I’m more grateful for the day you were born.

I know I made a faux pas last year and felt I needed to do something that money can’t buy.

My hope is that this gift gives you even a piece of that warmth and light back.

Happy birthday! I love you with all my heart, Mein Rosa, and I look forward to many more years to come.

With love,
Weiss 🩵

Ruby whimpered low in her throat, her vision blurred and damp at the edges. Neo sniffled over her shoulder.

Clutching the letter tight to her chest like a precious treasure, she leaned forward to pull Weiss into their hug.

“W-Weiss, th-this is b-b-beautiful,” she rasped.

Hands delicately slid into her hair before a forehead pressed against hers.

“I mean every word.”

Ruby held her tight, luxuriating in the warmth and love of her first girlfriend’s arms.

Only when the budding tears had faded and Weiss’s breathing had steadied did she finally pull back. With another kiss, Ruby turned and pulled the tin to her.

If Weiss’s gifts this year were food and part of it was a cookie tin, she had a pretty good idea what to expect inside.

Grinning, she carefully undid the knot in the ribbon and slid it free from the tin. With a small breath to steady herself, she popped the lid off.

The smell of cookies struck her. There was chocolate and sugar and… something else?

Humming, she peeked inside to find what looked like chocolate chip cookies! They looked good, too, and she already knew they were going to be a great dessert.

Despite dinner being so recent, her mouth started watering again.

Weiss started fidgeting again. So these were also made by Weiss. If they were anything like the dinner…

Grinning, Ruby grabbed one up and took a bite.

The flavor exploded, so sweet with just a touch of tartness. Not just chocolate, like she’d thought…

Strawberries! They were strawberry chocolate chip.

They were amazing!

And… weirdly familiar? But Ruby couldn’t place it. She hadn’t had strawberry chocolate chip in a long time, so it couldn’t have been any of her usual bakeries.

Weird.

Next to her, Weiss startled and pulled out a napkin. She started dabbing it on Ruby’s face, making her blink in surprise.

Only when the napkin pulled away did Ruby realize her face felt wet.

Neo was rubbing her arm like she did when Ruby needed help chasing away a bad dream.

“Ruby? W-what’s wrong!? Did I mess up?”

Ruby’s face scrunched in confusion.

“N-nothing’s wrong?”

She blinked at the sound of her own voice. Why was it wobbly?

“They t-taste a-am-amazing, Weiss!”

She was shaking. Why was she shaking?

Ruby swallowed. That delicious and familiar and weirdly nostalgic flavor hit her again. She sniffled.

Suddenly, Neo and Weiss were kneeling in front of her, faces twisted with concern. Weiss looked pale while Neo’s gaze was… analyzing.

Her vision blurred at the edges. Frowning, Ruby reached up and brushed. Her thumb came away wet. She was… crying?

She was confused.

She wasn’t sad! She was really, really happy, so much her chest was aching!

Arms wrapped around her, nice and tight. A hand ran circles on her back. Another carded through her hair, nails sending tingles down her spine as they ran over her scalp.

She saw Neo tapping something one-handed on her phone for Weiss to see.

Frantic blue eyes raced over the screen before she nodded. She met confused silver eyes and gave a wobbly smile.

“W-what’re you feeling right now, Ruby?”

More tears fell. Ruby sniffled. Despite it, she could think totally fine.

“Confused,” she settled on. “The cookie tasted great. But now I’m crying. And I don’t know why I’m crying? I don’t feel bad or anything… It feels like I’m missing something?”

Weiss bit her lip and nodded slowly.

“I think I fucked up.”

The swear, so rare from her Princess’s mouth, startled a laugh from Ruby.

“W-What? Why?”

Weiss stroked her cheek. Her stare was fragile and nervous and loving.

“They’re your mom’s, Ruby… They’re Summer’s recipe.”

Things clicked into place like Ruby had finally solved a really complex build.

The air was tense and silent as she processed that. With a careful hand, she pulled up the other half of her cookie and took a bite.

Ruby blinked and she was small.

A warm summer breeze played with the kitchen window’s curtain. Her legs swung from atop the kitchen counter.

Next to her, her mom hummed together with the old, beat up radio’s music. Ruby bounced side-to-side along to the tune.

Strawberries and chocolate and sugar filled the air and made her tummy growl. Her mom giggled and paused her mixing in the big bowl.

Leaning over, Summer tapped Ruby’s nose and came away with a finger dusted by the powder Ruby had spilled when she was helping.

Ruby blinked and she was in a white and blue room.

Her girlfriends were still before her, gently soothing her and watching.

That had been the last time she’d had her strawberry chocolate chip cookies. The last week she’d had Summer Rose in her life.

Part of her was sad as the memories played. Other days, different songs, some with winter wind howling outside, others with summer rain gently tapping at their window.

Most of her, though… she was in awe.

They were exactly how she remembered them. Like Weiss had pulled the tin from a time capsule.

“H-how?” she rasped.

She felt the tears drying up. The tightness in her chest didn’t go away, but she knew for sure now that it wasn’t unpleasant.

Just a release fourteen years in the making.

Weiss had given her something no money could ever buy. She’d gifted her memories.

Weiss’s hand trailed down her cheek and over her neck. The touch was gentle and so warm.

She tensed like she was bracing herself, and then-

“I got the recipe from Yang… And I had Neo help teach me how to bake. They both have the patience of saints.”

One of Neo’s arms pulled from Ruby to wrap around the heiress’s back, pulling her closer to them both.

“Weiss did all the work. Her big problem was having something to motivate her, and you are really inspiring, Red. So I just guided,” she signed with that small smile of hers.

She turned and pressed a kiss to their Princess’s temple.

“You worked so hard on this, Engel. You deserve to be proud of yourself.”

Weiss blushed, her eyes starting to look damp.

Ruby nodded and pressed her own kiss to the other side of her head. Pale skin turned even redder under the attention.

Cupping both of her cheeks, Ruby peppered her face with kisses.

Once she had Weiss giggling, she pulled back with a smile.

Before Weiss could react, Ruby flexed and sat back, pulling Weiss into her lap with a startled yelp.

Then, she reached out and pulled a grinning Neo up as well. Their smaller girlfriend settled right against her side, hands caressing them both.

“Sorry for the scare, Mo Stór. This was such a beautiful, incredible gift… I love you both so much!”

Weiss hugged her tighter and sniffled.

Neo pressed in from her side, their smaller girlfriend somehow enveloping them both in affection.

Time passed in a blur of feeling and warmth.

Ruby blinked and found herself sprawled out on the couch. Her head was back on Neo’s thighs, fingers softly playing through her hair. Neo’s other hand was playfully writing letters on her shoulder in a message Ruby’s blissed out brain couldn’t really work out just then.

Weiss was sitting against Neo, supporting the rest of Ruby’s body on her own legs. One hand traced snowflakes and roses over Ruby’s palm, tickling and making her feel fuzzy. The other was around Neo’s back, holding her close and working gentle circles over her side.

Already, Ruby could envision how the night would end. She could feel it in her girlfriends’ stares, the way caressing hands started to lightly explore now that the soothing had passed. They would be passing out exhausted and breathless on Weiss’s bed in a pile of heat.

But for right then, she was happy to soak up the soft, gentle touches and let the warmth lull her into a nice, foggy pink haze…