Growing Ever Closer
Weiss has no idea how Ruby does it.
Fourteen weeks into their pregnancy, Weiss feels gross. Having frequent bouts of nausea, frequent trips to the bathroom, and constant aches and pains, it’s no wonder as to why sleepiness and exhaustion plague her mind. Additionally, there is the issue of her wardrobe. Not wanting her condition to be noticeable, or impact her presence, Weiss had started to wear long, flowy dresses to cover her growing belly.
Ruby was glowing, in every sense of the word. It seems like her pregnancy has had no impact on her cheerfulness or bubbly attitude. Rarely had Weiss ever seen her wife complain, and it was even more rare to see her tired. Ruby’s wardrobe hardly changed to accompany her adorable little bump that seems far more manageable. Truthfully, it makes Weiss feel a pang of guilt for how much she sees Ruby as having to tolerate.
Today is far different.
Weiss feels unusually invigorated, refreshed even. Having had a successful meeting with a large group of investors, it seems like Blake’s charity will get money to help do some good. Looking in the rear view mirror, she sees her wife soundly asleep in the backseat. Part of her wants to leave her, undisturbed, to get some well-needed rest. Mostly, she knows the backseat of a car is no place to rest.
“We’re home,” Weiss whispers.
“Home…”
Supporting Ruby’s weight, Weiss gently escorts her wife out of their minivan. All the while, Ruby replies with sleepy little mumbles. Looking at her big and tired bodyguard, Weiss can’t help but smile. Seeing her so peaceful, relaxed, is really a treat. It helps Weiss to feel that Ruby lets her see a side she doesn’t share with many others.
Approaching the porch, Ruby gives a sharp hiss as she clings tightly onto her wife.
“Oowww, my feet!”
Holding her close, Weiss’s mind runs a million miles a minute. What could have caused this? Who? Immediately she turns to Ruby, blue eyes full of concern. It is time to know for sure.
“Are you alright? Was it something you stepped on back at work? Did someone trip you? Don’t be afraid to tell me! I’ll be sure whoever did will get an earful for it.”
Snapping out of her sleepy daze, Ruby’s silver eyes gain a sharp clarity to them. Managing to wrestle herself out of Weiss’s grip, she shakes her head almost as if to snap herself back into consciousness. Blinking several times, her eyes glance side to side as if computing Weiss’s barrage of questions. Finally, she takes a deep breath. Resting her hand on her wife’s shoulder she gives a patient smile.
“I’m fine, Snowpea. I think my feet are a bit swollen, is all.”
Weiss breathes a sigh of relief. Standing up straight, she suddenly grows stern. Wrapping an arm around Ruby, she guides her into the warm, comforting home. Sitting her on the couch, she gently closes the door behind the two of them. Reaching an arm out to Ruby, she extends her hand to grab.
“Come upstairs with me, let me see if I can help.”
“Upstairs? Is that where your mind goes?” Ruby giggles.
Weiss’s face instantly flushes to a dark red. Groaning, she pinches the bridge of her nose as Ruby’s laughter increases. Finally, she returns her glance to the one seated on the couch. Her bubbly, excited wife is back. Shaking her head, Weiss rests a hand on her hip and tilts her head to the side.
“How on earth did I end up marrying you?”
“Because I’m cute,” Ruby replies matter-of-factly.
Nodding in reply, Weiss smiles at the silly comment. Her wife is the cutest, without a doubt. Helping her up to her feet, the two carefully rise the creaky stairs. Looking carefully back up, Weiss only sees longing and love in those silver eyes. After a whole day of being served, she only finds it fair that she serves back.
“Sit,” Weiss commands, patting a hand on top of the bed.
Obediently, Ruby does as she’s asked, sitting in the designated spot. Kneeling, Weiss slides off her black dress shoes. Chuckling to herself, she remembers the two seeking out slide-on shoes, on account of Ruby getting herself tangled in the laces. Rolling off her rosy, red socks, Weiss stares up worriedly at her wife.
“Ruby, these are swollen!”
“That’s normal, right?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that you need to suffer in silence.”
Ruby gives a relaxed sigh, Weiss’s hands helping to ease some of the tension from the pain she feels. Laying back on the bed, Ruby stares fixedly at the ceiling. Being on her feet all day, she had forgotten how nice it is to take a load off. The coolness of Weiss’s hands really helps her in loosening up. Always feeling a need to fill up the quiet in a room, it’s nice to be able to sit with her in silence.
“So, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Hm?”
“Ruby, this problem could be alleviated if you had informed me sooner.”
Her mind flashes back to seeing Weiss in action. Somehow balancing her growing frame in high heels, her wife remains orderly and focused. Speedily flipping through documents that would make her eyes glaze over, there’s a power and a prowess that follows the white-haired manager everywhere she goes. All the while, her job is to stand and keep an eye out. Her eyes stare now at the carpeted floor.
“I didn’t think it was worth your time.”
Ruby sits up, feeling a thinner hand caressing her own. Looking down, blue eyes glance up at her sweetly with a gentle smile. For a moment, she sees those eyes locked in on her, as if trying to reach through to her soul. Suddenly, she feels her grip tighten. Weiss draws in a deep breath.
“Rosebud, do you know how much nonsense I need to deal with every day? If your problems aren’t worthwhile, then I certainly don’t know what is.”
Feeling the cushy mattress sink in next to her, Ruby notices her wife hopping up next to her on the mattress. Snaking Ruby’s arm around her shoulders, Weiss softly rests her head next to Ruby’s. Reaching a hand up, her hands delicately play with brown hair, lingering at the scarlet tips. Feeling her hair stand on edge, Ruby can feel kisses slowly dot up the back of her neck. With a final smooch on the top of her head, Weiss curls up tightly next to her.
“I just… I just wish I could be as capable as you, you know?” Ruby confesses.
“I firmly disagree.”
Glancing down, Ruby can see a tension grip on Weiss’s body. Her blue eyes lock onto the wall, staring dreamily as if contemplating something. Fingers have stopped with Ruby’s hair, instead trailing down her neck. A hand firmly grips the side of mattress. Weiss’s gaze returns to Ruby.
“Father’s… suitors, they were all ‘capable.’ My feelings never played into his consideration. It didn’t matter how they looked, how old they were, even how they behaved. The only thing that matters to that man is the Schnee name. Not his family, or his ‘friends,’ but only the public perception.”
Cupping Ruby’s face in her hand, Weiss tilts her head down so their eyes meet. A thumb rests on Ruby’s cheek, moving in gentle circles. Her gaze analyzes the woman in front of her, the one she is willing to spend the rest of her life with. No one had decided this for her. Weiss has made this life for herself.
“But you? You’ve never owned a business, you’re not rich, certainly not his type of capable.”
“Hey!” Ruby pouts, earning a grin from Weiss and a twinkle in her eye.
“You’re positively adorable, treat me fairly, and love me outside of being a Schnee. I don’t even think you remembered my last name half the time.”
Ruby opens her mouth to protest, before growing quiet again with a subtle huff.
“You’re exactly the kind of woman I want our children to grow up around!”
Weiss holds her head up high, her face wearing a proud smile. Suddenly, her cheeks turn pink, hands folded over her legs. Feet kicking absent-mindedly, her eyes glance around the room. Twiddling her thumbs, her breath shudders slightly. Ruby scoots closer.
“Weiss, just because you won’t be home all the time doesn’t mean our kids won’t grow up without you.”
Beaming brightly, Ruby peeks over at Weiss only to see her unchanged. A puzzled countenance grows over her own face. Quickly, realization strikes. Starting up slightly, her arms are tightly crossed. Eyebrows raised, she looks to Weiss.
“Are you saying I should stay at home, and leave you all alone?”
“I wouldn’t be alone! We don’t have to be around each other all the time to be together, you dolt.”
Looking to nudge Ruby in the side, Weiss is instead met with a sight that breaks her heart. Her wife’s silver eyes, wide and glimmering, remind her of her of a sad puppy’s. Slouched over, it almost seems as if Weiss’s words are physically weighing on her. Continuing to cross her arms tighter, Ruby looks like she is trying to hide herself away. Wrapping an arm around Ruby’s waist, Weiss supports the small of her back.
“Ruby, you know how much I love Mother. She was always there, even when Father wasn’t. It’s just, she didn’t always seem present. I just want someone to always be there. Does that make sense?”
“It does.” Ruby clutches tightly onto her emblem.
Eyes freezing with fright, a hand covers Weiss’s mouth. She can feel herself trembling somewhat. Glancing back to Ruby, she feels as if she has struck a nerve. Steadying her breath, she firmly rests a hand on Ruby’s shoulder. Eventually, she’s able to form words.
“Ruby, I’m so, so, sorry. I didn’t even think—”
“It’s OK, Weiss, I know you didn’t mean it,” Ruby smiles ruefully.
Placing a hand in Ruby’s lap, Weiss feels warm hands nestle on top of her own. Looking back at her, she doesn’t see any hurt or pain in those eyes. While a mournfulness, a slightly sad expression can be seen, nothing compares to the consideration and love that can be seen. Ruby gives an assuring smile. In a way, she’s glad that this came up.
“Ever since I was little, I wish my mom could be around more. I wish my sister didn’t have to lose her childhood because of me. Now, I think it’s because she went off by herself. She used to be on a team, like us. I just don’t want either of us to leave our family like that.”
Holding Ruby’s head firmly, Weiss looks at Ruby solemnly. Few people have this level of trust in her. Honesty and truthfulness are things she values in a person, and fewer people exemplify these things more than her wife. Running a thumb across the back of her hand, Weiss attempts to treat this situation with the gravity it deserves. Holding Ruby close, she ponders.
“Ruby, I promise that I won’t do anything without letting you know first. Our kids are going to get the chance to be kids, they won’t have to grow up as quickly as we did. They’ll still have each other, like you have Yang and I have my siblings. As for work? You and my family will come first, always.”
Huddling under the covers, Ruby rests her head on Weiss’s chest. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat fills her with warm comfort. Continuing to stroke her wife’s hair, the softness and sweet scent of roses combine to cause Weiss’s eyes to droop low. Ruby rests her chin on Weiss, her eyes glancing up at her curiously.
“So… when do you want me to quit?”
“Quit? Don’t be absurd! You’re staying until you can’t any more. How will I ever find a bodyguard as good as you?”