She still couldn't believe it. Even as she stood outside of her home, watching with a warm smile and a blush as Yang's car disappeared from her driveway, it still seemed to Weiss as though the past few hours of her day, she'd been living a dream. Her heart was so high, so full, every nerve in her body so much more sensitive than she was used to. She could still feel Yang's chapped, yet somehow gentle, lips against hers, the memory still bringing her absolute bliss.

They hadn't yet talked about what that kiss, and what their shared time together at Beacon that afternoon, had meant about their relationship going forward. Weiss wanted to introduce Yang to her father before they made that decision, and although she was nervous, and a little skeptical about her father's response, she still hoped that at the end of it all, she would be able to proudly call Yang Xiao Long her girlfriend.

Oh, how incredible it made Weiss feel to finally have the opportunity to call someone, especially someone who had such an immense impact on her life, her girlfriend. She just needed to figure out how, exactly, she was going to be able to convince her father that dating her writing partner wouldn't become a conflict of interest. How had Winter and Jim hidden their relationship for so long? How had her sister been able to bear it, not being able to see him outside of the confines of work?

Weiss drew in a deep breath, and finally turned toward her house. She hiked her messenger bag up her shoulder, squared her back, and stepped inside. She was greeted almost immediately by bright and knowing smile of her older sister, who was leaning against the windowsill by the front door, making it clear she had watched Weiss's and Yang's entire exchange.

"Well, well, well," Winter breathed coolly, pushing away from the windowsill and walking over to Weiss as the door closed behind her. "That was quite the goodbye."

Weiss bit her lip, her cheeks already starting to burn as she looked away from her sister. "I don't know what you're talking about." She started up the stairs wordlessly, hoping Winter would let it go, but she found no such luck as she was stopped by a hand enclosing around her wrist.

"I'm not blind," Winter whispered as she came up behind her. She glanced around the foyer cautiously before moving her hand up to Weiss's back, and leading her gently the rest of the way up the stairs. Weiss let out a sigh as they reached the top, and let her sister lead her to her bedroom, where she let Winter finish her thoughts. "Isn't that your friend's sister I caught you making moony eyes at?"

"We're just friends," Weiss lied, and it was quite a bad one. How was she supposed to explain to Winter now what was going on between her and Yang? Her sister was smart, she would've put two-and-two together in no time, and Weiss was not prepared to be lectured about the dangers of a work relationship, as hypocritical the words would've been coming from her.

Winter shook her head. "Something tells me that's not the slightest bit true… I know you like her, I've been watching her drop you off for weeks, now. And the way you looked at each other just now, that was mutual."

Weiss let out a groan, and plopped back on her bed. "Am I really that obvious?"

"To me, you are." Winter let out a light laugh, and moved over to Weiss's bed, sitting down beside her. "So… are you two together?"

"I…" Weiss closed her eyes, trying to think. If she was already so transparent that Winter could tell they were… more than friends, then it was probably just best to get the rest out of the way. After all, they'd all know by the time her party rolled around that weekend, anyway. Which reminded her, she still needed to invite the rest of her friends… She opened her eyes and sat up in bed, reaching for her Scroll.

Winter furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you ignoring me?"

"What? No!" Weiss opened her Scroll to her messages. "I just remembered something I really need to take care of. Give me a few seconds." She composed a group message to Ruby, Blake, and Pyrrha, and told them to clear their weekend schedules. She sent the message and set her Scroll back on her bed, turning back to her sister. "We don't know what we are, yet. We kind of just sorted out our feelings this afternoon."

Her sister let out an understanding hum. "So what's stopping you from becoming something more?"

Weiss looked away, finding a loose thread in her bedspread that seemed far more interesting than her sister right now. She swallowed, wishing there was just an easy way to say this, an easier way for her family to just accept a positive relationship when they saw it. She wanted to be with Yang so much, but she wasn't about ready to give up her job for it. Working with Yang was a dream come true, it was a blessing, and she didn't want to stop just because her feelings for Yang didn't match up with her family's work ethics.

"Weissy?"

She let out a sigh, and looked up at her sister again. "Yang is… Yang is Blondie…"

Winter knitted her brows together in confusion, not seeming to understand what Weiss was saying at first. "Blon—" But then her expression fell, her eyes widening, and suddenly, her face took on a much more stoic, unreadable look. "Your boss."

"Well, she's more of just a writing partner than my boss," Weiss started timidly, though either way she spun it, Yang played a big part in directing Weiss at the end of the day.

"She's still a coworker," Winter responded, as if Weiss needed her to point out the obvious. "What did I tell you about keeping your feelings distant? You know Father—"

"I know," Weiss snapped, quickly cutting her sister off before she had to subject herself to an unwanted lecture. "I know the risks, okay? But Yang and I can't help how we feel for each other. Just like you and Jim can't."

Winter drew in a deep breath, her expression still unfaltering. "Weiss, contrary to what you may believe, I'm not trying to talk you out of this." She turned to Weiss, now, her lips falling into a concerned frown. "I just… don't want you to get your hopes up. I don't want you to get hurt, either. There's a reason Jim and I are keeping our relationship a secret. You're young, and feeling so many things you're not used to. Keeping a secret that huge could really take a toll on you."

Weiss nodded. "I know that, Winter. That's why I'm not going to keep it a secret." She turned her attention back to that loose thread. Oh, how she wished that stupid little thread was her only problem right then. She reached for it, her nerves starting to spike, not out of bliss anymore, but in anxiousness. "I'm inviting Yang to my birthday party this weekend. Yang wants to meet Dad, to try to change his mind herself. She doesn't want to keep that secret from him."

"That's… that's quite the bold move."

"I know." She took the thread between her fingers and began to twist it, not wanting to think about the consequences if Yang's meeting with her father didn't go according to plan. She wanted Yang so, so much… "Winter… she makes me so happy…"

Her sister sighed. "She sounds like she means a lot to you."

Weiss let go of the thread, and glanced warily back up at Winter. "I don't know what I'll do if we don't get Dad's blessing… This job is the most important thing that's ever happened to me, and I refuse to give it up… But Yang, she… I don't know if I could take it if I couldn't be with her the way we both want to be…"

Winter closed her eyes, seeming to mull this over. Weiss waited for her to respond, each second that passed feeling like an hour of excruciating suspense, not sure what her sister was thinking or what she'd say next. She could only hope it was something good… Finally, Winter opened her eyes, and turned to Weiss with the smallest of smiles. "Perhaps I can help…"

Weiss's eyes immediately lit up, her spirit finally lifting again as she gave her sister a hopeful look. "Really?!"

"I can try," Winter said, her tone conveying a hint of hesitance. "I'll talk to Father. It's the least I can do."

"But you'll wait until after the party, right?" Weiss asked, just to make sure. "I don't want him to be suspicious before Yang and I even get the chance to tell him."

"Yes. I'll wait until after the party." Winter smiled again, this time more genuine than before. "So aside from the excitement with Yang, how was the rest of your birthday?"

Weiss let out a small huff. "That's… a complicated question…"

Her sister raised an eyebrow. "Did something else happen I should know about?"

"Well—" She turned back to the thread, her heart suddenly sinking again as she thought about her earlier run-in with Cardin. So much had happened that day, she just wasn't sure where she should start, or whether she even wanted Winter to know about it at all. Her sister could be… dramatic at times, especially when it came to protecting Weiss, and the last thing she needed was for Winter to feel like she had to get involved in an issue that for the most part had already been resolved. "I'm out to the whole school, now."

Winter blinked. "Really? Weiss, that's great! What made you decide to finally—"

"I actually," Weiss started, her fingers fidgeting nervously in her lap, "didn't come out. Not the way you think I did, I mean…" She forced herself to meet Winter's confused expression, swallowing down the small lump that began to rise in the back of her throat. "A few weeks ago, I finally came out to Ruby. It was after class ended, and I thought we were the only ones around, but someone overheard us, and… and she told someone she thought was her friend, who turned out to be a massive jerk. He started a rumor about my sexuality around school, and it finally all came to a head today."

"Weiss—"

"I don't think that jerk will be bothering me anymore, but I'm not going to go out of my way to deny the rumors," she continued, hoping to quell her sister's obvious concerns. "They're true, after all, and if things work out between me and Yang, I want to be able to share my feelings and talk about her out in the open. I'm so sick of hiding…"

Winter let out the breath she'd been holding, and lifted a hand to Weiss's shoulder. "And you shouldn't have had to hide in the first place. I'm proud of you, Weissy."

Weiss smirked. "Don't you think I'm old enough now not to be called that nickname anymore?"

Her sister laughed. "As long as you're my little sister, you'll always be 'Weissy' to me. If you ever have a little sibling, you reserve all rights to call them whatever you want."

"Somewhere, there's a world where I have a little sister or brother," Weiss joked, glad that they had moved past the drama of her birthday dilemma so quickly. "And they think I'm the nicest, coolest big sister that there ever was."

Winter's eyes widened in feigned offense. "Even cooler than me?"

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "I would hardly call you 'cool'."

"You only say that because you're a little sister."

"Maybe so." Weiss grinned, and leaned into Winter's embrace, most of her previous anxiety about that day finally leaving her. Though it had had its bumps and rough patches, she wouldn't have traded her birthday for any other day in the world. Through it all, Weiss had found she had more friends than she could have ever imagined, and she didn't have to lie about who she was any longer. She could be herself, in the open, and she had a large group of people who cared for and accepted her exactly as she was. She glanced up at her sister, and let out a content sigh. "So you said in that card this morning that you have a surprise for me?"

Winter gave Weiss's shoulder a gentle squeeze before pulling away. "I do. Thank you for reminding me." She pushed herself up from Weiss's bed, and turned toward the door. "I'll be right back."

Weiss fell back against her mattress and stared up at her high ceiling, smiling to herself as she awaited her sister's return. She wondered how she had gotten so lucky in the past month, how her life had changed so much from the mundane, everyday struggles of being an heiress with no clear direction, to the ever-exciting roller-coaster that was the life of a thriving comic book artist and high school student. So much had gone right that she could hardly recall just how horrible the previous year had been, how lonely, how isolated, how wrong she had once felt for so long after her accident. She didn't need to dwell on it anymore; she had almost everything she could've possibly wanted, and even when things didn't go her way, she knew she had an endless amount of support from those around her to make sure she got right back up and kept trying.

"I know it's not as exciting as, I don't know, a confession from the girl you like," Winter said as she walked back into Weiss's room, her hands hiding something behind her back. "But this once meant a lot to me, and I hope it can come to mean a lot to you."

Weiss sat up and eyed her sister curiously. "I'm sure I'll love whatever it is."

The older Schnee sat back down beside Weiss, and slowly moved her hands out in front of her, where she revealed a long, white velvet box. She passed it over to Weiss with a patient smile, who took it eagerly, and opened the lid with the utmost care.

When she saw what was inside, Weiss let out a tiny gasp, her bright eyes widening at the beautiful hairpiece that rested inside. It was the same tiara-shaped hairpin their mother had given Winter on her eighteenth birthday, the same day their father had announced that he had chosen Winter to inherit the family company. It had certainly been one of the best days of Winter's life, and Weiss hadn't seen her sister smile as purely ever since. There was a small pang in her chest as she reached for the tiara, and turned to Winter with both sorrow and uncertainty. "But this is your most prized possession."

Winter shook her head. "I've no need of it anymore. It'd mean a lot more to me if it you kept it."

"But, Winter—"

"Weiss," her sister started, a regretful smile crossing her lips, "I may not have the life I used to, but I'm still so proud of how far I've come. I don't need a hairpiece to remind me of that. Besides, I was never into jewelry much, anyway, and I have a feeling this will look much better on you than it ever did on me." She reached for the tiara and lifted it to Weiss's head, still smiling as she gently pushed back a few strands of Weiss's hair, and set the hairpiece in place.

Weiss gave her a sheepish smile. "H-how does it look?"

Winter simply clicked her tongue. "I think you will knock Yang right off her feet when she sees you wearing it this weekend."

Friday passed excruciatingly slow. School had dragged on without incidence, Cardin having kept his distance after Weiss's growing group of friends had come to her defense. Ruby and Emerald finally seemed to be on pleasant terms, and Emerald was slowly but surely beginning to warm up to the rest of their group. They had all eaten lunch together that day, had talked about the party in which they were all invited, and Weiss couldn't have been more excited for the weekend if she'd tried.

After school, Ruby, who had been acting so much bubblier than usual — and even that was saying something — had finally confessed to Weiss that she and Sun had kissed, and that they were "sort of kind of" a couple, now. Weiss teased her relentlessly until Blake had come to pick them up that afternoon, and Blake spent the entire car ride picking on Weiss and Ruby both for their newfound love interests. Yang had taken the entire weekend, including that Friday, off from work, so Blake brought Weiss and Ruby over to the Rose-Xiao Long home, where Yang had immediately ushered them all into her own car to take into town.

Yang had made sure to stop at every single comic book store and newsstand that Vale had to offer, pointing out the new issue of Lost & Found that had, after weeks of struggle and hard work, finally been released for all the world to see. She bought one from each stand and store, because she could, while Blake flipped through her Scroll and read all of the positive reviews about the release. Multiple reviewers agreed that Blondie's beloved storytelling was stronger than ever, and many also raved about the "mysterious new artist" under the name of Snowpea whose work was "reminiscent of Junior himself but refreshingly poignant and different in their own." Yang and Weiss had been on Cloud Nine the whole afternoon, and Blake and Ruby were just as happy to see Yang actually excited, proud, of her work again.

Later that evening, after Weiss had been dropped off at home, she sat with her father in the kitchen as they went over the last few details about her party, making sure everything was set for the following day. Her Scroll went off in her pocket probably about ten times by the time they had finished, each time, her father shooting her a suspicious look and asking if she needed to answer it. She'd lied, and told him that it was just her friends all confirming, again, that they'd be there, but by the time she finally escaped to her room, she had found multiple messages from Yang, most of them dorky pictures of herself in some of the most ridiculous outfits Weiss had ever seen, asking Weiss which she preferred for the party. Weiss had told her that if she wore a single one of them, Weiss would deny ever knowing her, and Yang joked that she would just show up naked instead.

They had texted back and forth the remainder of the night, talking about anything and everything, until Weiss finally drifted off to sleep. She awoke the next morning to a few teasing messages from Yang, poking fun at Weiss for having fallen asleep on her. Weiss wished her a good morning and told her she'd see her later that night, and the rest of the day, Weiss was an anxious mess, making sure the open family room was more than presentable for her guests when they arrived.

Her parents had promised to make themselves present as minimally possible, but her father made sure Weiss promised to introduce each and every one of her friends to him. He wanted to know who his daughter had spending all of her time with, if they were treating her well. Her heart and mind were swarming with so many different emotions throughout the day, so much excitement, nervousness, and impatience as she waited and waited for the night to draw closer. Finally, about an hour before the party was supposed to begin, Blake, much to Weiss's surprise, called Weiss, and let her know she was waiting outside.

Weiss had immediately rushed to the door, her heart racing frantically as she feared she had lost track of time, but Blake had insisted she show up early to help Weiss get ready to "blow Yang away". Blake's teasing tone had taken Weiss completely off-guard, this being the first time since they'd made up at Beacon that Blake had finally fully approached Weiss in a lighthearted and unguarded matter. It was a welcomed surprise, and Blake spent the time helping Weiss get ready in her bedroom also reassuring Weiss that everything between her and Yang would work out by the end of the night.

"If you're honest about how you feel, I think you'll be surprised by the outcome," Blake told her with the most confidence Weiss had ever heard her use. She was sitting on Weiss's bed, now, helping Weiss tie the back of her dress. When she had finished, Weiss turned around to face her, and met her with a look of uncertainty.

"I just… I don't want to mess this up."

Blake stood up from Weiss's bed, and moved over to the pristine vanity table that stood several feet away. She picked up the box that housed Weiss's hairpiece, and offered Weiss the most genuine of smiles. "Weiss, in all the time that I've known you, you've done more to repair Yang's life than any of us have been able to in a year. You got through to your father about working at Beacon, and I think you'll be able to get through to him about seeing Yang, too. Once he sees how inseparable you two are tonight, I don't think he'll have it in him to tear you apart."

Weiss huffed. "You'd be surprised what my father is capable of. You heard about what he did to my sister last year, didn't you?"

Blake furrowed her eyebrows as she glanced down at the box in her hands. She looked back up at Weiss and walked back over to her, setting the box down on the bed. "I… I've heard a lot of things about you and your family, but I've been wrong before. I'd rather you tell me about what happened."

"Oh…" Weiss nodded, lowering herself to her bed. She reached up for Blake's hand, pulling her friend gently down beside her. It had been a while since she'd had to explain the accident to anyone; she'd thought it was public knowledge by now, and Weiss had never been one to argue with the public, even if almost everything they'd written about Winter since then had been completely and utterly false. "Well, I'm sure you already know about the accident."

"I know your sister was driving," Blake confirmed. "You were a passenger, right?"

She nodded again, letting out a low sigh. "The reporters don't know the whole story, though. My parents still don't, either…" Weiss picked up the box and turned it in her hands, gently rubbing her fingers against the smooth velvet. "I went to my first comic book convention that night. My father, of course, never would've approved of me going to such an event, so I made up a story that I was staying at a friend's house, and Winter went along with it. But my father got out of work early that night, and he wanted to surprise me at my friend's. He told Winter not to pick me up, that he'd be getting me, and of course she panicked because he was going to find out when he got to my friend's house and didn't find me there that I'd lied to him—that we both did."

Blake hummed thoughtfully, but she didn't say anything as she waited for Weiss to continue.

"Winter called me and told me I had to leave the convention immediately, that she had to get me to the other person's house before our father showed up. I was upset, all I wanted to do was enjoy myself without having to lie for once." Weiss bit her lip. "But Winter… Winter was the heiress at the time, and she didn't like lying to our father. She didn't want to risk hurting his trust after everything he'd done for her. So we bickered back and forth until Winter finally talked me into getting in the car, and no matter how many times I told her to slow down…"

"She ran a red light."

Weiss lifted her head, hoping to find some sort of emotion in her friend's face, but Blake was as stoic as always, patient, understanding. She hated telling this story. As often as she thought about it, Weiss always found it difficult to verbalize, always afraid the guilt would eat her alive if she ever told anyone how she truly felt. "I still think…" Her voice was almost a whisper, now, her gaze averting from Blake's, silently praying her friend would not find the regret that shone in Weiss's eyes. "I still think it should've been me… should've been me who was punished, and not Winter… It was my fault she was rushing all over the place, my fault she had her title and her life completely stripped away…"

That was all it took for Blake to finally react. In an instant, the older girl's arms were around Weiss, pulling her into the warmest, most unexpected hug. "Please don't say that. It wasn't your fault, Weiss."

She leaned into Blake's embrace, finding a surprising comfort in her arms. Even after all this time, Weiss still blamed herself, still wanted more for her sister, still wished there was a way she could somehow make things right for them both. They had both long since accepted their own fates, but it just wasn't fair — Weiss had been the one who had talked Winter into lying, the one who had made her sister choose Weiss's dream over her own. Winter had never truly been the same since the accident, hadn't been able to look their father entirely in the eye, to address him with the freedom she once had. Weiss had taken it all from her, and even though it was something Weiss had never wanted for herself, it still never quite hurt the way it had broken up her sister inside.

"It was just one little lie," Weiss finally spoke after a few moments. She lifted her head, and finally met Blake's sympathetic gaze. "But it was a lie that pretty much ruined my sister's life. My father doesn't take lying very lightly, and for good reason. When Yang and I finally tell him the truth about who she is, what's he going to do? How's he going to react? What if he makes me choose between Yang and Lost & Found?"

Blake reached over Weiss's lap, and picked up the box that was sitting beside her. She opened the lid, and smiled down at the glistening tiara inside. "You're not lying this time, though. If you're telling the truth, then how can it be wrong?"

Weiss sighed. "I wish I had your confidence, Blake."

Her friend lifted the tiara out of the box, and offered it to Weiss. "This is all the confidence you need. With this obscenely extra hairpiece, no one will be telling you 'no' tonight."

She took the hairpiece from Blake, letting out a light laugh. "I never would've pegged you as the type of person who puts faith in inanimate objects."

"Oh, I'm not," Blake agreed with a chuckle of her own. "But I have faith in you, and I have faith in Yang, and it's also almost time for your party to start. So you better put this on and get your butt downstairs before everyone else arrives."

Weiss rolled her eyes, but didn't try to hide the wide grin that was now stretching across her lips. "Thank you, Blake." She finally got up from her bed and moved over to her vanity, finding her reflection as she lifted the hairpiece to her head. She pulled forward a few loose strands of hair, and tucked them behind her ear before turning to face Blake once more. "How do I look?"

"Like the geekiest, most adorable rich girl I know."

She laughed. "I'm the only geeky, adorable rich girl you know."

Blake smiled, and walked over to Weiss. "So you know it must be true." She gestured toward the door. "Are you ready?"

Weiss nodded. "As I'll ever be."

Twenty minutes later, the family room was full and bustling with all of Weiss's friends, upbeat music playing in the background as the people she cared most about chatted and took in the luxurious surroundings of the Schnee Manor. Weiss had been pleasantly surprised when Emerald showed up dressed in her best, and sheepishly thanking Weiss for the invitation. She and Ruby were much more easy-going around each other that night, and Weiss even heard Ruby offer the girl a few genuine compliments and suggestions on how to make her poses more dynamic during art class.

Yang, who hadn't bothered to come inside after dropping Ruby off, arrived shortly after with Sun and a blue-haired boy that Weiss didn't recognize, immediately beginning to apologize for previously taking off as soon as she stepped in through the door. However, her apology was cut short as she finally took in Weiss's appearance, her mouth hanging open and her lilac eyes shimmering in awe, a look Weiss had only previously seen the girl use upon admiring the finished panels of the recent issue of their comic. It took Yang a moment to gather her bearings as Weiss did her best to hide her blush, letting out a joyous giggle at being able to render her partner so easily speechless. It was only Sun's teasing that broke the girls out of their shared little world and reminded them that they weren't alone, and Weiss had to almost force herself to look away from Yang so Sun could finally properly introduce her to the blue-haired boy named Neptune.

He was tall and quirky, and despite his smooth, flirtatious way of talking, Weiss could tell that he was the slightest bit nervous, and trying a little too hard to impress her. About halfway through his quickly failing attempt to engage her in a story about the bike he'd saved up all year to buy, he cut himself off and admitted that he wasn't used to making new friends, and that he didn't want to come off as a dork. Weiss had laughed, reminded him that they were all dorks, there, and that she would much rather get to know him while he was being himself. She thanked him for coming before he took off into the family room after Sun, and began to join Blake in teasing Sun and Ruby about their newfound relationship.

When Weiss and Yang were finally alone, a moment of awkward silence passed between them, neither knowing just what to say, or when to say it. Finally, Weiss decided to address the elephant in the room, and asked Yang if she was having any second thoughts about coming out to Weiss's father later that night. Yang admitted she was nervous, but promised Weiss she had no plans of backing down, and she paused for a second to glance around the foyer before quickly pecking Weiss on the cheek. With the tension quickly dissipating between them, Weiss happily took Yang's hand and led her into the family room to enjoy the party.

Pyrrha and Jaune were the last of Weiss's friends to arrive, about an hour later than everyone else. Pyrrha had apologized for being late, explaining that they had a rehearsal for the school musical, and had been held up after Jaune got stuck in his costume and had to wait for the crew to help him out of it before they were able to leave. Their entire group of friends laughed at the misfortune while Jaune simply let out an embarrassed groan, but thanked Weiss for her patience. She thanked him again for the necklace he'd given her on her birthday, and even revealed to him that she had chosen to wear it that night, saying she was happy she could finally fully be herself.

The party passed without incident, and Weiss couldn't remember the last time she'd had a night so full of fun. This was the first time she'd had all of her friends in the same place at once, just genuinely enjoying themselves and celebrating Weiss's presence as a member of their group. For the first time in years, she actually felt like she was truly wanted, truly appreciated, like she really belonged. And the best part was that she didn't have to pretend around any of them. She could just be the comic book artist, the bubbly fangirl, just another girl who happened to really like another girl. And it was okay. She was okay. Everything was fully, perfectly okay.

When the time came for the party to come to a close, Weiss's father finally came downstairs to fulfill Weiss's promise, and insisted she introduce him to all of her friends. Much to her surprise, her father seemed to get along well with each of them, offering the sincerest of smiles even toward Sun and Blake, the latter of whom had still been just the slightest bit apprehensive about meeting a man of such high social power. Just as Weiss had previously assured Blake, her father didn't seem to pay any mind to Sun's tail or Blake's ears at all, and simply thanked them for being such great friends to Weiss.

After the majority of her guests had left, Blake, Ruby, and Yang had stayed behind to help Weiss and her father clean up, Ruby, to no one's surprise, managing to talk the man's ear off about all of the projects she and Weiss had worked together on in school. He listened intently the whole time, and Weiss internally thanked her best friend for being such a great distraction to her father while she and Yang exchanged looks across the family room, the nerves beginning to set in as their inevitable confession drew closer. Finally, Blake had to pull Ruby aside and tell her it was time to go home, and Yang and Weiss were left with her father to face the music together.

Her father had gotten up from the armchair in the far corner of the room, and was about to head back upstairs when Weiss approached him timidly, clearing her throat to get his attention. He stopped at the large archway that separated the family room and foyer, and smiled down at his youngest daughter. "Did you enjoy your party?"

Weiss returned his smile, however cautiously. "Yes I did. Thank you again for letting me do this."

"Good. I'm glad." He glanced over Weiss's shoulder at Yang, who had finally shuffled over in their direction, and was quietly hanging out by a plant just a few feet away. "Oh, I believe your friend is waiting to say goodnight to you. You should see her out."

"Actually," Weiss began, inhaling deeply as she turned to get Yang's attention, "Yang and I were hoping to talk to you about something."

Yang, taking her cue, finally cleared the rest of the distance between them, and nodded politely to Weiss's father. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity, looking from Weiss to Yang. "What is this about?"

Weiss bit her lip, wondering how she should even start. "Well, you know Yang is Ruby's sister, and she's been bringing me to and from work for a while, now."

Her father's expression remained stoic, as professional as ever as he seemed to process Weiss's words, to uncover the meaning behind them. He still kept his attention on Yang, waiting for the blonde to say anything at all. "Yes, thank you for accommodating Weiss."

"It's no problem at all, Sir," Yang finally said, her tone quiet, betraying the confident smile she'd feigned across her lips. "I have to pick up Ruby from school, anyway, and since Weiss and I always go to the same place, it's much easier to carpool."

His mouth twitched, his eyes widening just the slightest bit as he seemed to finally start to catch on. "Do you also work at Beacon?" he inquired, his tone now tinged with a hint of amusement.

Weiss fought the urge to just blurt out the truth then and there, wanting to just rip off the bandage, but knowing better than Yang was the one who wanted to come clean. She shifted her feet beneath her, beginning to feel restless as she turned to Yang, wishing she could just grab her hand and give it a squeeze of encouragement. Oh, how she wanted this all to just be over…

"I actually work in the same office as Weiss," Yang answered, straightening her back in what Weiss thought was probably an attempt to come off as more professional and sincere. "I'm the author of Lost & Found, the title that Weiss is drawing for."

He blinked, his expression finally beginning to crack as he moved his gaze quickly to Weiss before turning back to Yang. It took him a moment longer to respond than he previously had been, his mind finally seeming to mull over all of the information he'd just received. "I see," he finally stated, his royal eyes seeming to light up with several questions. He extended his hand, the corners of his lips moving upward into a surprising smile. "Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Blondie. From what I've read, you're quite the talented writer."

Now it was Weiss's turn to blink. Did she just hear him right? From what he'd read? She glanced at Yang, who appeared to be just as shocked as Weiss, her own eyes wide with an array of emotions — confusion, acceptance, excitement.

"Thank you, Sir, that really means a lot to me," Yang said more enthusiastically now, her smile widening into a grin. "I didn't realize you've read my comics."

Weiss took this chance to echo her partner's sentiments. "Neither did I." She stared at her father quizzically. "When did you start reading it?"

Her father nodded, seeming to already expect this question. "After that argument we had a while back, I finally decided to purchase one of those books and see what all of the fuss was about." He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them and meeting Weiss with a smile. "I was waiting to tell you before I had the chance to pick up the newest issue. You were right about it, it's a very compelling story, and the art style, while it took a while to get used to, definitely has a certain… whimsical flair. I can understand why you enjoy it."

She couldn't believe she was hearing these words coming from her father's lips. Was this really happening? Did he actually… like… comic books? Had he actually picked up her favorite title just to understand her a little better? Weiss was grinning, now, too, a part of her still unbelieving, but most of her overjoyed by this new revelation. "Do you really mean that?"

He nodded again, his smile widening. "Yes, Weiss, I mean it." He cleared his throat, and turned back to Yang. "Was this all you wished to discuss?"

Yang just looked to Weiss, signaling that it was her turn to speak. Yang had told the truth about her identity. Now all that was left to do was tell him about their feelings…

"There's another thing," Weiss said, her stomach tightening as her nerves once again began to spike. She swallowed, knowing the easy part was finally out of the way, and there was no more avoiding what would come next. "Yang and I… Well, we've been working very closely together for a while, now, and during that time, we…" Weiss trailed off, lowering her gaze to a spot in the shiny surface of the luxurious marble floor. "We've developed a strong affection for each other."

Her father hummed. "You like each other."

"Yes, Sir," Yang confirmed, her voice, much fuller, more confident than before, drawing Weiss's attention back to her partner. "Weiss has come to mean a lot to me, more than anyone has in a very long time."

"I see." He closed his once more, drawing in a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds, seconds that felt like a lifetime to Weiss. Was he getting ready to lecture? To yell? To… to calmly disapprove? Finally, he opened his eyes, his expression stoic as he met Yang's gaze. "How old are you, Yang?"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "U-um, nineteen, Sir. I'll be twenty in just a couple of months."

"Very well."

Weiss frowned. Very well? She exchanged a confused look with Yang, neither knowing what to say next. They'd said all they had to say, and her father was still there, still stoic as ever, not blowing up, not disappointed, not… not anything…

Her father raised an eyebrow as they stood there in silence, glancing from Yang to Weiss as he cleared his throat. "You wanted my blessing, that's why you wished to speak to me, right?"

"Yes, but—"

"But what?" He raised a hand to Weiss's shoulder, an uncharacteristic display of affection from her father, but she didn't shun it away. It felt… reassuring. He did the same to Yang, laying his free hand on her shoulder, and he smiled between them both. "I've been watching you two all evening. It's very clear you both care very much about each other, and I trust my daughter enough to keep things professional in a work environment. I trust you do, too, Miss Xiao Long."

Yang's cheeks reddened, an awkward smile finding her lips. "Yes, Sir."

Weiss's mind was reeling. She couldn't understand why this was going so… so well… Had someone secretly been monitoring her father and replaced him when she wasn't looking? This man was different, more open, more understanding than he'd been just weeks earlier. Had that one argument really been enough to change his mind? To give Weiss the freedom she truly seeked? She was about to question him when his words finally completely sank in, and another question pushed its way out. "Wait, you were watching us? But you were upstairs the whole night!"

Her father lowered his hands, his gaze moving away for the first time that evening. He appeared… embarrassed? "I have cameras installed in almost every room in the house, Weiss. You know this."

"Yes, but… you were… spying on me?"

"I wouldn't call it 'spying'," he deflected, letting out a small grunt. "I was curious to see how you interacted with your friends. It's been years since you brought anyone home, I wanted to make sure you were having a good time."

Weiss let out a small sigh of relief. She couldn't blame her father for being protective, for being curious. And now that she knew the truth, it felt a bit endearing. Everything about her father's behavior as of late had seemed to be, actually. She just wished she would have noticed sooner. He really had been pushing himself out of his comfort zone just for her sake, and she had to appreciate that he was even willing just to try, just to see things her way for once. She smiled up at her father, wider, more genuine than she'd smiled at him in a long time, and she couldn't help but throw her arms around him. "Thank you, Dad… Thank you so much…"

He let out a startled gasp at the sudden embrace, but after the initial surprise had faded, he returned the hug, his arms strong and warm as he pulled his daughter tight. "You're welcome."

She pulled away and turned to Yang, reaching for her partner's hand, an overwhelming feeling of joy that words just couldn't describe welling up inside as Yang's fingers intertwined with hers, lilac irises meeting Weiss's icy blues. She couldn't believe it. She still could not believe it. Yang was hers, now, and Weiss was Yang's. And nothing, no one, for the first time ever, was standing in there way.

"I'll let you see Yang out," her father murmured with a smile. "Thank you for being honest with me, Weiss. I'm glad you had a great night." He stepped around them and into the foyer, glancing back at them one last time before disappearing up the stairs, and leaving the new couple to themselves.

Once he was gone, Weiss let out the happiest of giggles, and jumped up into Yang's arms. Yang joined in the laughter as she lifted Weiss off her feet, and started to step backwards toward the front door. It had been such an amazing night, such an amazing birthday week. Just as Blake, just as Yang, just as Winter had promised, everything had turned out perfect. For the first time, everything was going Weiss's way. Everything was just right.

Yang gently set Weiss down at the door, and took her by the hands, holding her out at arms' length. "Did you know you're even more beautiful when you laugh like that?"

Weiss's eyes lit up, her cheeks burned, but she didn't dare try to hide it. She wanted Yang to see every little thing that Yang made her feel, every blush, every flutter, every dorky little smile. "I just can't believe it…"

"I can," Yang said softly, pulling Weiss back into her embrace. She lowered her head to Weiss's shoulder, whispering the sweetest of words in her ear. "After all we've been through, it seemed impossible for this not to go our way."

Weiss sighed, breathing in Yang's scent, not wanting to pull away. She wanted to stay like this forever, in Yang's arms, basking in her warmth. "I don't want to say goodnight…"

Yang let out a breathy huff. "Then don't." She pulled back just slightly, a smile still painting her lips, lingering only inches away from Weiss's own. "How about we say 'until tomorrow'?"

Weiss brought her gaze down to Yang's lips, desire itching at the back of her mind, of her heart. She glanced back up to meet those beautiful irises, reflecting back the same desire, the same tenderness and affection. "I like the sound of that."

She glanced behind Yang, finding an empty foyer much to her elatement, and turned her gaze quickly back to the beauty before her, the few seconds she'd looked away having been a few seconds much too long. Finally free to act, she cleared the rest of the space between them, and drew Yang in for a kiss. Their lips moved smoothly, slowly together, just as gentle as their first, but every touch, every tingling breath against each other's lips felt just as exciting, just as passionate, just as new. If this was what kissing Yang would always be like, Weiss hoped the feeling would never go away.

When they finally parted, Weiss's heart was so full, she felt like it might burst. She held Yang's gaze for another long moment, memorizing every twinkle in her violet eyes, every little freckle and touched-up blemish on her face. When she was sure she had Yang's image burned into her mind, she finally allowed herself to step away, and reach for the front door. "You should probably get going, now."

Yang nodded. "The sooner I get home, the sooner I can text you about my night."

Weiss smirked. "I can't wait to hear all about it."

"Oh, it'll be a good one." Yang grinned, giving Weiss's hands one last squeeze before she backed out of the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Weiss."

She smiled, watching Yang disappear out into the night. She stood there even a few minutes later when Yang had reached her car, and pulled out of the driveway, the obnoxious yellow vehicle glowing bright even in the dark. She stood there until she could no longer see the car rolling down the street in the opposite direction, until she could no longer hear the quiet sound of tires against the pavement. And only then, did she close the door, the image of Yang, of her partner, of her girlfriend, still fresh in her mind. Until tomorrow.

...And they lived happily ever after!

That's it! That's the end!

I want to thank everyone who has been there with me ever since Day 1 of this rollercoaster of a story. I know the wait has been grueling, but if it weren't for all of you continuing to support me and sending in all of your wonderful reviews, I would never have had the motivation to finish this piece. Thank you so much to each and every one of you, and I can only hope you enjoyed this ending as much as I did writing it.

I would also like to share with you all that this fanfiction has really opened a lot of doors for me, and it has inspired me in a way that I never thought possible. I've decided I'm going to be adapting this story into an original, multi-volume book series featuring much more drama, angst, fluff, and beautiful characters than before! Anyone who is interested in learning more about the original adaptation can stay updated through my tumblr account, which you can find in my profile info.

Thank you all for sticking with me, I hope you'll continue to stay with me as I start some new stories and explore more RWBY characters and pairings. Who knows, maybe I'll even add some little expansions to my collection of L&F one-shots "Creative Cure" in the future ;)

Keep being awesome,

-Eli