It's always nice to get back to this story! This chapter got a little long, but I'm rolling with it. I'll be starting a new Bee story next week!

"How do I look?"

Spinning in a full circle, showing off her enviable physique from every direction, Yang grinned and waited for an answer.

"You look like you're going out to dinner," Blake joked as dryly as she could muster. She couldn't, however, keep herself from trailing a hand down Yang's arm while taking in the dark, tight jeans and form-fitting top that accentuated some of Yang's best assets.

"You always look fantastic," she added with a smile. "Tonight's no different."

By now, Yang had to know she was gorgeous no matter what she wore; she could wear a pillowcase and modeling agencies would still clamor after her. From her reactions to Blake's compliments, however, she was oblivious to her inherent beauty.

"Yeah?" Still grinning, Yang stepped closer and ran her hand down the front of Blake's jacket before settling at the top of Blake's jeans. "I'm glad you think so, because it's hard trying to look even close to as beautiful as you."

Blake doubted she looked even remotely as stunning as Yang, but her cheeks warmed at the flattery. Even if she didn't believe it, Yang did. And nothing made her feel more treasured, loved, and wanted than knowing that Yang was wholeheartedly attracted to her.

Noticing another emotion spark in Yang's vibrant purple eyes, however, Blake hurried to change the subject. They were cutting it close on time as it was, and that would make them late. It would be wonderful and amazing like always, but it would make them late.

"Are we waiting for Ruby?" she asked, separating from Yang and walking over to the island to collect her bag. Thankfully, the physical distance helped her think a little more clearly, and the question diverted Yang's attention.

"She's meeting us there. Said she had to go home and get ready or something." Shrugging at the answer, Yang grabbed her phone from the table and dropped it into her bag. "Means it's just us tonight - ready?"

"If you are."

When Yang extended her hand, Blake willingly accepted it as they left their apartment behind. Ironically, she was the one who side-stepped the distraction, and now she was disappointed that she hadn't given in. With Yang's soft hand intertwined with hers, and Yang's warmth gently heating her side, she craved intimacy beyond what they already had.

Cooler heads had to prevail sometimes though, otherwise they would be late to everything. Unless they made it a habit to always get ready earlier...like thirty minutes earlier. Or an hour.

Or maybe they just shouldn't schedule appointments at all.

"Let's grab a cab?" Yang suggested as they stepped into the elevator, oblivious to Blake's thoughts. If she had any inkling of what was going through Blake's mind, the ride to the lobby would be starkly different.

"Sounds good...what do you think Weiss planned for tonight?" Blake asked before her mind and gaze focused on Yang's shirt. With the top two buttons left undone, it revealed just enough to be a tease...

"Besides dinner?"

When Yang gave a cheeky grin, nearly catching Blake staring in the process, Blake rolled her eyes and said, "Of course."

"Probably a really, really fancy dinner," Yang surmised as the doors opened and they crossed the lobby of their building. "If there was anything else, I'm pretty sure she's bound by the rules of etiquette to let us know at least twenty-four hours in advance."

"That does sound like her, doesn't it…"

"One of these days she'll loosen up, right?"

Sensing the seriousness in the question, Blake smiled and shook her head.

"What?"

"She invited us over for dinner," Blake pointed out while they walked outside. "She's already loosened up."

"I guess you're right…" Yang mused, and finally smiled when Blake raised her brow. "Ok, you're right. You're always right."

"That's more like it."

When Yang leaned over to kiss her cheek, she tilted her head and smiled at the sweet, light touch.

"I just want her to really let loose, you know?" Yang added while hailing the next available taxi. "I want to look at her and think, 'Now that girl's happy.'"

It was an admirable goal, and Blake gave Yang a kiss for it before slipping into the backseat of the cab. Most people would meet Weiss and interpret her reserved personality as conceited or snobbish. Yang, on the other hand, saw someone who didn't fit the stereotype of a 'celebrity' and desperately needed a real friend. Based on what Blake had witnessed so far, Yang's efforts weren't in vain. Weiss was coming out of her shell, and dinners like these could only help.

"Are you Yang Xiao Long?" the cab driver suddenly asked, glancing at Yang in the rearview mirror with wide eyes.

"Pretty sure I am," Yang replied with a smile.

"Wow - it's nice to meet you! My daughter's a huge fan."

"That's great to hear. What's your daughter's name?"

"Her name's Zel." When he motioned towards the right side of the cab, Blake and Yang leaned forward to find a picture of a young girl taped to the dash.

"She's super cute," Yang said while Blake nodded.

"Just turned eight last month! Says she wants to be an adventurer when she grows up. Explore the world and 'find buried treasure.' She's not sold on the ghosts and stuff though…"

"I don't blame her - neither am I."

After chuckling at the joke, he drifted into silence rather than continue the conversation, probably assuming that Yang didn't want to spend the entire cab ride talking about his daughter. What he didn't know was that she would willingly do just that, but the silence prompted an idea into her head. Not two seconds later, Blake watched her rustle through her bag before pulling out a piece of paper and a pen.

What people also didn't know was that Yang religiously carried a pen and paper around for the sole purpose of writing notes for fans. The habit began when a little boy asked for her autograph but no one had anything to write with.

According to her, it would have been fine if something like that happened with an adult - adults could deal with the disappointment. When it came to children, however, she was the biggest softie. So, Yang being Yang, she took steps to prevent another unfortunate circumstance like that from happening. Not that it was a disappointment for the little boy, who'd been invited to the set and treated like a star for an entire day of shooting.

But that lesson came in handy today, as Yang wrote a short note to a little girl she had never met, and would probably never meet.

Dear Zel,

Heard you're interested in being an adventurer - we could use someone like you! Just make sure to get good grades and practice your adventuring skills daily (with your parents' supervision).

Oh, by the way, your dad's a really cool guy. Maybe the two of you can go on a few adventures together!

Love,

Sky Redd / Yang Xiao Long

Once finished, Yang held up the slip of paper for Blake to read. When Blake nodded her approval, Yang smiled and carefully folded the message in half before writing Zel's name across the front. She then returned her pen and paper to her bag, ready to be used another day, before patiently waiting for the cab to pull towards Weiss' building.

"I hope you both have a great night," he told them while navigating towards the front entrance. As soon as the vehicle stopped, one of the valets hurried over to open the door, and Yang reached over to pay for their drive.

"Thanks for the ride," she said while swiping her card. "Oh, and this is for your daughter."

His eyes widened at the note, but Yang simply smiled and waved before scooting out of the taxi. Blake was quick to follow, though she caught his look of dismay as she gave a soft, "Thank you." Once out of the car, she accepted Yang's outstretched hand with a smile.

"That was sweet of you."

"Eh...just thought it'd be nice. Maybe make him look like an all-star."

"Which makes you sweet," Blake reiterated as they crossed the gleaming marble floors of Weiss' building. Even though Yang shrugged off the compliment, Blake knew it was true. That was one of the many reasons she'd fallen in love with Yang, after all.

"God, I forgot how nice this place is."

Clearly changing the subject, Yang gestured around the lobby while they headed towards the elevators on the other side of the large, opulent room. Unlike their building, which consisted of apartments only, Weiss' home featured constant hustle-and-bustle regardless of the time or day. The atmosphere didn't fit Weiss' personality at all, which made Blake wonder if Weiss even liked it here. Or was it someplace she felt like she should be, therefore she was?

Before Blake dwelled on the question, a man standing near the elevators raised a hand for their attention.

"Miss Xiao Long, Miss Belladonna, please follow me. Miss Schnee is expecting you."

They shared a glance at the formal greeting, but Yang shrugged and nodded for the man to lead the way. He didn't have far to go, as he walked over to one of the elevators and used his keycard to open the door. Holding the door with one hand, he motioned them through with the other.

"Have a wonderful evening," he added once they were inside, and scanned his keycard on the inner panel before pressing the button for the penthouse.

"Thank you," Blake murmured while Yang did the same.

The doors closed soon after, and the elevator moved skyward in no time at all. For as lively as the hotel lobby was, making their way to the penthouse was an experience in isolation. Was this how Weiss liked to live? Alone in a crowd of people?

"Have you ever wanted to get stuck in an elevator with someone?" Yang suddenly asked. "Because that's how I feel when I'm with you."

The comment was so spontaneous and random, Blake laughed.

"You're so romantic sometimes," she teased while Yang moved closer.

"Come on though. Wouldn't it be fun?"

"I think you mean dangerous."

"You know I love living on the edge."

Considering Yang's preferred weekend plans consisted of breakfast in bed, sweatpants, and binge-watching movies, that claim couldn't be further from the truth. Now wasn't the time to argue, however, as the mood from earlier roared back to life the instant Yang set her hand on Blake's waist.

"Don't you dare use that 'sexiest adventurer' smile on me," Blake said, only for her heart to stutter when Yang did exactly that.

"Won't you go on an adventure with me?" Yang whispered before leaning forward and capturing Blake's lips in a kiss.

It was a cheesy line, but that didn't seem to matter with Yang's lips on hers. Being in an elevator also ceased to matter, as she was quickly drawn into the excitement and happiness passing from Yang's mouth to hers.

The kiss deepened in a matter of seconds, and she soon found her back pressed against the wall of the elevator while Yang pressed into her. Yang's hands roamed up her sides now, sending tingles of pleasure down her spine that grew impossible to ignore. Suddenly she couldn't get close enough, and she wrapped her arms around Yang's neck to draw her even closer.

Their kisses grew more passionate as the chime of each passing floor reminded them that time was of the essence. She didn't know what they planned to accomplish in what was actually a very short elevator ride, but that didn't stop her from taking as much as possible right up until the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Only then did she break away and, from the look in Yang's eyes, realize that she'd fallen right into a well-placed trap.

"Short-lived adventure," she got out, though her elevated breathing gave away just how into that kiss she had been.

"We can always go back to the lobby."

When Yang reached for the button to close the doors, Blake grabbed her hand and tugged her into the hall.

"Save it for after."

"So you admit we'll be doing it again."

Blake refused to admit anything, but she'd enjoyed that far more than she should have. Sure, they could have been caught and sure, that would have been embarrassing, but it wasn't like they were doing anything more than making out. And it wasn't like they hadn't been caught making out in quasi-public places before…

"Does my hair look ok?" she asked instead, only for Yang to so obviously check her out that her cheeks flushed and her yearning returned.

"You look so damn sexy."

"You really need to save that for after." Half a second away from dragging Yang back to the elevator, Blake forced her feet to Weiss' door instead. Before ringing the bell though, she kissed Yang's cheek and whispered, "Seriously, save it for later."

When Yang's eyes lit up, finally understanding Blake's current...needs...she ran a hand through her hair and rang the bell. Only a few seconds passed before the door opened, revealing a tuxedoed waiter who graciously waved them inside.

"Welcome. May I take your coats?"

"Uh, sure," Yang said before shrugging out of her jacket and handing it over. Blake followed suit with her own and murmured a quiet "Thank you," as he headed towards the coat closet on the other side of the entryway.

No matter how many times they visited Weiss' home, she would probably never get used to the overt grandeur. From the crystal chandeliers to the marble floors to the impeccable decorations, it looked like a dream house from a magazine rather than a place someone actually lived. Of course, if anyone were to live in such a place, it was Weiss, who looked picture perfect in her beautiful white dress and heels.

"Thank you for coming," she greeted them with a perfect smile that flickered when Yang hugged her.

Yang loved giving hugs in general, but her grin suggested she knew exactly how much she surprised Weiss with the casual affection.

"Thanks for inviting us!" she added before pulling away and patting Weiss' shoulders. "It smells awesome. Can't wait to see what you ordered."

"I hope you'll enjoy it."

Weiss was nervous, that much was clear from the way she clutched her hands in front of her, but her second smile looked more relaxed. When voices drew their attention towards the kitchen, however, she turned that way.

"Oh, I hope you don't mind, but I also invited -"

"Pyrrha?" Yang gasped as soon as Pyrrha and Jaune walked into the entryway. "I didn't know you'd be here!"

"Weiss invited us just the other day," Pyrrha said, smiling at Weiss before accepting Yang's hug. "I didn't think I could make it, but some plans changed last minute."

"I thought it'd be nice to have a couple more people," Weiss explained before anyone asked, not that anyone would protest Pyrrha and Jaune's inclusion. "I'm sorry I didn't let you know in advance. It slipped my mind in the midst of the other preparations..."

"Don't be sorry - this is great." From Yang's radiant smile, she truly believed that statement. "So when Ruby gets here, it'll be a threesome!" she added only for her eyes to widen as soon as she heard the word out loud. "I mean a triple date. Is that the word?"

When Yang turned to Blake for help, Blake quietly shushed her before she said something even more embarrassing. A blush was already growing on Weiss' cheeks, but whether that was due to the topic or to the topic and Ruby, Blake wasn't sure.

"Did you get that from the kitchen?" she asked, gesturing towards the sparkling water in Pyrrha's hand. Fortunately, Yang latched onto the subject change and wasted no time tugging Blake in that direction.

"You're thirsty?"

"A bit," Blake replied, though the humor in Yang's eyes suggested they weren't talking about sparkling water anymore.

"Feel free to have whatever you'd like," Weiss added from beside them, ever the good hostess escorting them to the kitchen - or making sure they weren't unsupervised for any length of time. As soon as they walked into the giant room and saw the mountain of food spread out on the island, however, thirsting after Yang was the last thing on Blake's mind.

"That's a lot of food..."

That was stating the obvious, as a certifiable feast was laid out on the island. Platters filled with main courses ranging from beef to chicken to drool-worthy salmon, plus more side dishes than would be expected at any holiday meal.

"Did you invite more people?" Yang joked while looking over the options.

"No...just the five of you."

Left to choose a menu on her own, Weiss had apparently decided to get something of everything. Now, of course, she looked embarrassed by the indecision, which left Blake scrambling for a way to put her at ease. Of course, Yang was already a step ahead of her.

"This is perfect! Ruby will eat half of that, Pyrrha will have like one grape, and we can share the rest."

"Actually, Pyrrha's only having half a grape tonight," Jaune said, and Pyrrha laughed while playfully nudging his side. "She had a big breakfast," he added with a smile.

"Jaune!"

While Blake chuckled and grabbed a bottle of water from a bucket filled with them, Yang wrinkled her nose.

"Please tell me you're talking about actual breakfast."

"I took her to this all-you-can-eat pancake place!"

"It was really good," Pyrrha explained, smiling as she leaned into Jaune's side. "But I think I ate enough pancakes to last the entire year."

"How many is that? Like...three?"

"Three plates, Yang."

"Seriously?"

When Pyrrha nodded, Yang glanced Blake's way, and Blake had a bad idea where this conversation was headed.

"Alright, Blake and I challenge you to a pancake-eating contest."

"I was afraid you were going to say that…" Blake sighed before meeting Weiss' gaze and shaking her head. Fortunately, the change in topic had settled Weiss' nerves enough that she smiled and even playfully rolled her eyes at Yang's competitiveness.

"Weiss can be the judge!"

Upon hearing her name, Weiss blinked and tuned back into the conversation.

"I'm sorry - what am I judging?"

"Our pancake-eating competition!" Yang explained before gently elbowing Jaune in the ribs. "You've gotta make sure Jaune doesn't cheat."

"How could he cheat at something like that?"

"I'm sure he'd find a way."

When Yang playfully narrowed her eyes at Jaune, he narrowed his eyes right back only to give up the moment Pyrrha laughed. Hearing the light, delighted sound made him smile in no time, and the way he looked at Pyrrha made Yang smile in turn. In the absence of words, Blake knew what Yang was thinking - anyone who made Pyrrha laugh like that, and smiled at her like that, was alright in their books.

"Now we're just waiting for the guest of honor?" Yang asked with a glance around the group. "Where is Ruby, anyway? Thought she'd be here by now."

"I thought she would come with you…" Weiss admitted.

"She said she had plans. Must've gotten caught up."

Though Yang shrugged off Ruby's late arrival, Weiss looked vaguely disappointed by the news. If given a moment of privacy, Blake might have inquired about the look, but there was no opportunity with Yang driving the conversation.

"She can still be the guest of honor, right Pyrrha?"

When Yang nudged Pyrrha's elbow, Pyrrha glanced Weiss' way before smiling.

"Of course, Yang. But Ruby tends to outshine you wherever she goes."

"That's the problem with having a super cute sister.".

"I know how you feel..."

When Jaune sighed and shook his head, Pyrrha patted his shoulder and gave him a consoling look.

"How cute is cute?"

As soon as Yang asked the question, Blake smiled at the rapid about-face. One second, bemoaning the plight of having such an attractive family. The next, playfully competing with anyone who dared think the same.

"Oh, they're all gorgeous," Pyrrha replied on Jaune's behalf. "The entire family is."

"They already love Pyrrha more than me," Jaune added, giving Pyrrha a smile suggesting that knowledge made him the happiest man in the world. Blake wasn't the only one who caught the adoring look, as Yang sent a wink her way and let them share it for a few seconds longer before daring to interrupt.

"I'm going to need a picture. Then we'll decide who's cuter."

The request made Pyrrha laugh, especially when Jaune willingly pulled out his phone to participate.

"Who's going to decide?" he asked while searching for pictures.

"Easy! Weiss will - she's the only one who's impartial."

Having watched the interaction with a small smile, Weiss waved her hands in front of her when she was suddenly drawn into the fray.

"Oh, I shouldn't -"

"How many sisters do you have?" Yang asked when Jaune showed her the phone.

"Seven," he replied with a sigh. "Seven sisters…"

"I'm sorry." After patting his shoulder, Yang held up her phone. "Ok, but look at Ruby. How can you say she's not the cutest person ever?" Still determined to win, Yang walked over to Weiss and showed her the picture. "Come on, Weiss - she's super cute, right?"

With growing interest, Blake watched Weiss struggle to find the right answer to that question. Yang clearly wanted a 'yes,' but how could Weiss agree without also admitting that she thought Ruby was cute?

Did she think Ruby was cute? If so, what kind of cute? The 'cute younger sister' type? Or the 'attractive, adorable, and dateable' type?

"I don't think I can choose..."

"But my sisters are awesome, and there's seven of them!"

When Jaune turned his phone around, Blake leaned forward and smiled at the photograph of an entire family of blonde-haired siblings.

"We're talking quality, not quantity -"

"I have both!"

Fortunately for everyone involved, but especially Weiss, the doorbell chose that moment to ring.

"That's Ruby," Yang pointed out with a grin. "She'll prove how cute she is!"

The knowledge made Weiss blush even more than she already was, and she stared at the front door for several seconds before breaking out of that spell. "I'll answer it," she said before hurrying away, leaving the rest of them to watch from the entrance of the kitchen.

"Feeling a little competitive today?" Blake whispered to Yang while retaking her hand.

"He has seven sisters," Yang whispered in return. "Seven!"

While Yang mulled over the idea of having seven sisters, Blake shook her head and inconspicuously watched the interaction at the front door. Rather than have the butler answer, Weiss shooed the man away and took a deep breath before opening it herself. The brief pause seemed normal enough, but Blake had suspicions otherwise. Those suspicions only grew when Weiss smiled - a real, honest to goodness smile - and motioned Ruby inside.

Over the next few seconds, the two of them shared a few words and took turns looking at the floor before sneaking smiles at each other. Even with no clue what they were saying, Blake thought they looked adorable.

"There you are!" Yang called out as soon as she spotted her sister.

Quick to smile, Ruby joined them with the levity and humor of someone who chose to be happy more than anything else. But the way Weiss stuck close to Ruby's side, and sent more than a few glances out of the corner of her eye, lent more credence to Blake's rising suspicions. There were no overt gestures of affection, but something was going on between them.

"Wow - you dressed up!"

With a blush appearing on her cheeks, Ruby lightly tugged at the sleeve of her nice, collared shirt and sent another glance Weiss' way.

"I just wanted to look nice..." she mumbled before meeting Blake's gaze and smiling. "Hey, Blake! Glad you're feeling better."

"What?"

"Yang said you were s-"

"Sleeping!" Yang interrupted before giving Blake a suspiciously big smile. "You were sleeping, but now you're not."

That was a rather obvious avoidance of something, but Blake let it go rather than pull the information from Yang right then.

"I'm feeling fine, thank you. How are you feeling?"

"Me? I'm excited for dinner!"

This time, Ruby reserved her smile for Weiss only, and Weiss responded with a shy one of her own.

"Well, you're just in time. Weiss was just saying that you're cuter than all seven of Jaune's sisters."

"She didn't agree yet!" Jaune argued while Ruby's cheeks grew rosy red.

"But she was about to."

While Jaune and Yang bickered back and forth, Ruby's cheeks grew even redder, and Weiss cleared her throat but said nothing. Meanwhile, Blake couldn't help but be impressed by Yang's ability to embarrass her sister without even trying. Maybe that was another older-sister trait that would become more apparent now that Ruby was back in Vale...

"You know what sounds amazing?" Pyrrha interrupted, easily ending the argument and drawing everyone's attention. "Half a grape," she joked before taking Jaune's hand and tugging him towards the dining room. "How about we eat?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm starving."

"Me too!" Ruby agreed before turning Weiss' way. "But what do you think, Weiss? Should we eat now?"

"If that's what you'd like to do, then yes. Of course."

"We want to do what you want to do," Ruby said before gently looping her arm through Weiss' and pulling her towards the kitchen. The 'friendly' gesture drew Blake's attention as the pair walked ahead of her, only for her to meet Pyrrha's gaze after they entered the kitchen.

She and Pyrrha shared only a short look before turning away, but it was enough to make her wonder what Pyrrha knew. Had she also noticed how self-conscious Weiss and Ruby were around each other? Had she caught the smiles they snuck each other's way when they thought no one was watching?

"I'm going to say Jaune forfeited," Yang whispered in Blake's ear as they walked over to the large dining table set for dinner.

"Of course you are," Blake laughed before leaning over and kissing Yang's cheek. Yang's eyes sparkled with joy now that everyone was here - all of her favorite people in one place.

"I thought that everyone could get what they'd like," Weiss explained with a gesture towards the spread of food. "And feel free to sit wherever."

"No assigned seats?" Jaune asked, grabbing two plates and passing one to Pyrrha.

"I didn't want to be too...formal."

The moment Weiss' gaze slid to Ruby, it became apparent who she made that decision for. Ruby, however, didn't notice, as she grabbed a plate and stared at the assortment of food. After coming to an unspoken decision, she grinned.

"This is the best buffet I've ever seen."

"I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will - and I'm going to try some of everything!"

That response probably made all of Weiss' fretting worth it, as she smiled and mimicked Ruby's motions in filling a plate for dinner. Where Ruby took full scoops, however, Weiss took maybe half of one, or even a quarter, and had space to share when Ruby inevitably ran out of room.

Sharing a plate...that was cute, and another out of character moment that Blake noted while accepting an empty plate from Yang.

"Pretty sure I saw some salmon with your name on it," Yang teased while drawing Blake over to the food. "Oh look! It does!"

When Yang pointed towards the serving dish, Blake leaned forward in surprise. Finding only mouth-wateringly delicious salmon waiting there, she gently slapped Yang's arm before taking a piece.

"You don't see your name on those?" Yang asked while grabbing a few things for herself. "Because I do."

"Then I've trained you well."

After sparing a smile for Yang, mostly because she just couldn't help but smile at Yang, Blake added some vegetables and pasta salad to her plate before deciding that she had enough. She would like to try more, but there was only so much she could eat in one sitting.

"Where should we sit?" she whispered towards Yang as they returned to the table. Weiss and Ruby had already taken two seats along one side, sitting right next to each other.

"I'll take the end, you sit across from Weiss?"

That sounded perfect to Blake, and she nodded before heading over to her seat. From here, she was close to Yang but also had the perfect position to watch the interactions unfold across from her. If there were more interactions to observe, which...she had a feeling there would be.

"This looks amazing, Weiss," she made sure to say while Pyrrha sat beside her and Jaune took the other end of the table.

"It really does," Pyrrha agreed. "Thank you for arranging everything. I can't remember the last time we've gotten together like this."

When Pyrrha smiled around the table, Blake looked around and felt the same. It was nice to get everyone together at once, and rather difficult given their varying schedules and prior commitments. Yet somehow, Weiss had done it.

Of course, she wanted none of the praise, as she briefly returned Pyrrha's smile before glancing away with a soft, "You're welcome." The muted response was all-but-guaranteed to draw a comment from Yang, who even opened her mouth to say something, but it was Ruby who beat her to it by leaning over and gently poking Weiss' arm.

"You did a great job! With the food and everything - this is nice."

When Ruby motioned around the room, Weiss finally looked up and smiled - a shy but honest-to-goodness smile.

Glancing between Ruby and Yang, Blake also smiled and took her first bite to eat. As she was learning, Ruby was similar to Yang in more ways than one. They might look nothing alike, but their bright personalities and penchant for laughter shone through clear as day. Less obvious, but more importantly, they both possessed an enviable ability to put others at ease.

That amiable nature sometimes made Blake wonder how she ended up with Yang. If Yang got along with everyone...and nearly anyone would trip over themselves for the opportunity to be with her...how had she remained single for so long? How was she just waiting for Blake to come along?

It felt like a fair question, but then Blake got dragged into impromptu pancake-eating competitions and thought that maybe, just maybe, their personalities fit together perfectly. Of course they were more than compatible in other ways...but that wasn't something to be brought up in public.

"So Pyrrha," Yang started off the conversation as the soft sounds of silverware filled the room. "How's work?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. The next few months will be busy..."

"Oh!" Ruby chimed in. "That reminds me - I saw you the other day!"

"Did you?"

"Yeah, on a huge billboard downtown."

When Ruby set her fork down and spread her arms as wide as possible, the rest of the table turned towards Pyrrha.

"I wouldn't say huge," she tried to say, but Ruby was already nodding.

"It's ginormous!"

"How big are we talking?" Yang asked while Jaune patted Pyrrha's leg. "Like roadside attraction big? National monument big? Natural disaster big?"

"National monument big," Ruby replied. "But it's Pyrrha," she added with a gesture across the table, as if that simple sentence explained everything.

"Ok, I have to see this." The response was to be expected, and Yang lightly tapped the table before turning towards Blake. "What do you think? We should drive by after dinner! It'll be like one of those Christmas light tours, only a Pyrrha tour."

"That sounds fun," Blake agreed, just to play along.

"What do you think?" Yang then asked the table. "Jaune? Have you seen this monument yet?"

"I haven't, actually."

"And Weiss? How do you feel about seeing a really big version of Pyrrha?"

"Please don't," Pyrrha interjected before Weiss answered. "It's nothing special!" she added with a soft laugh. "And I'm sure you'll see it eventually. No need to make a special trip."

"Clearly, you don't know how big of fans we are," Yang pointed out. "But alright. No field trip tonight."

She mouthed 'but later?' to Blake, who nodded at that plan. They both knew Pyrrha was admirably humble, but that wouldn't stop them from celebrating her accomplishments. It certainly wouldn't stop Yang from teasing her about it, but those teases always came from a place of love.

"You look really pretty in it," Ruby concluded before glancing Weiss' way, and it was that glance that reminded Blake that the two of them had spent time together without anyone else here at this table.

"You took Ruby on a tour of your studio, didn't you?" she asked Weiss in hope of hearing details.

"Yes, a few days ago."

"Studio tour?" Pyrrha's interest piqued at the news, and she turned to Ruby for answers. "How was that?"

"It was awesome!" Ruby said, much to Weiss' nearly-hidden happiness. "She showed me where the recordings are done and how an album is made. Then we met some...interesting people…"

At that remark, Weiss sighed and shook her head.

"I knew we should've gone at night when no one else was there…"

"Woah there Weiss," Yang replied with a laugh. "At least save that for when I'm not around."

Yang was joking, but that didn't stop Weiss' cheeks from growing several shades darker.

"I would never," she said before sneaking a glance at Ruby and blushing even more. "At least - I would...say something before…"

The rest of that sentence trailed off into nothing, which left Blake filling in the words Weiss didn't say. If there were feelings there, she wouldn't act on them without talking to Yang first. That was a good approach, and Blake appreciated the consideration on Yang's behalf, but...would Weiss ever feel comfortable enough to bring something like this up? Had she even decided how she felt?

Blake wanted to know. Unfortunately, she couldn't climb into Weiss' mind and find the answers, but she could continue to observe her and Ruby's interactions.

"Oh, Yang," Jaune spoke up from the other end of the table. "I'm supposed to invite you onto the show again. Nora's planned 'something cool' for you."

"Something actually cool? Or something terrifying cool?"

"She won't tell me. It can't be dangerous cool though, Ren talked to her about that."

"I might be willing…" Yang hedged before smiling at Blake. "Can Blake come with me?"

"Yeah! Probably. I should ask, but I think that'd be fine? I don't know why they wouldn't want both of you..."

While Jaune trailed off to consider the logistics of that request, Blake shook her head and smiled at how thrilled Yang looked. Her last appearance had been a joy to watch, but neither of them had discussed the idea of returning together. It sounded like a lot of pressure but, at the same time, like a lot of fun. With Yang around...it was guaranteed to be a day to remember.

"And Weiss," Jaune added. "If you ever want to stop by, you're more than welcome too!"

Going on a talk show didn't sound like something Weiss would want to do, but she didn't outright decline. Instead, she dipped her head, smiled, and replied with a thoughtful, "Thank you, I'll think about it."

"You could come with Blake and me!" Yang offered before turning Jaune's way. "That'd be cool, right?"

"You mean awesome. That would be our show of the year."

"But no pressure," Yang quickly added for Weiss' benefit. "It'd be fun though! Although, you'd have to get Nora to make some promises…"

"Oh definitely," Jaune agreed. "Like no pyrotechnics."

"No dunk tank either," Yang added.

While the two of them discussed what other promises would need to be made, with Pyrrha chipping in some good ideas, Blake checked Weiss' reaction to the idea. But she wasn't the first one to check on Weiss, as Ruby had already leaned over and lowered her voice to offer a friendly, "It's probably stressful to go on shows like that, huh?"

Weiss' relieved smile said everything Blake needed to know, so she left them to their quiet conversation while listening to Yang and Jaune debate the merits of Nora's antics.

Was Nora a genius or just crazy? Both arguments were convincing enough to suggest that either applied depending on the situation. Even Jaune, who had worked with her for years, couldn't decide which he believed more. His stories left Blake equally in the dark, while also prompting more than a few laughs as they ate dinner.

Whenever one of his stories ended, Yang chimed in with her work adventures, many of which Blake had heard before but still found enjoyable for the excitement and enthusiasm Yang told them with.

More than enough conversation and laughter accompanied their meal, with Pyrrha and Ruby adding their thoughts, Blake being dragged in to corroborate Yang's claims, and even Weiss offering a few comments about her current projects. Those small remarks were always noted by Yang and Ruby, both of whom asked questions to keep Weiss as involved as possible. But it was Ruby who hung onto every word and looked as though every shred of information was committed to memory.

Even after they finished their meals, there were more stories to be shared. Between Yang, Jaune, and Ruby (once she finished her second plate of food), the conversation had a strong likelihood of continuing for years without pause. But eventually even they tired, and it wasn't much longer before Yang leaned back and reached down to hold Blake's hand.

"That was fantastic." With her free hand, Yang gave her plate a little push away from her. "Best meal I've had in a while."

"Definitely," Blake agreed as the sentiment echoed around the table. "The food was amazing."

Most hosts would accept the thanks as a measure of success. Weiss, however, shifted in her seat and cleared her throat.

"I hope you still have room," she said before gently waving towards the kitchen. "Because there's dessert."

A pair of tuxedoed waiters appeared then, summoned by some invisible cue to clear the food from the island. Once the food disappeared, an equally-impressive array of desserts was left in its place. They couldn't possibly eat even a fraction of the selection, but maybe that was the point - present them with so many options that they couldn't find a complaint.

"I thought we could have dessert in the living room," Weiss suggested while their dinner plates were replaced with clean dessert plates and forks. "Unless you have other plans," she quickly added. "Please don't feel obligated, but if you'd like to stay...you're more than welcome..."

When Weiss trailed off, Blake shared a glance with Yang.

"Sure!" Yang said as soon as she had Blake's agreement. "We'd love to. Come on, Ruby, let's make a dent in those desserts."

As soon as Yang grabbed her new plate and stood, Ruby jumped up to follow. "Where'd you get all this from?" she asked in the process, prompting Weiss to accompany her to the kitchen.

"Several bakeries around town. I tried to order a little of everything…"

"Cookies are kind of like pancakes, right?" Jaune asked while following the three. When Yang pondered her response to that, Pyrrha smiled and leaned towards Blake.

"I hope you're ready for a cookie-eating competition."

"After the dinner we just ate?" Blake replied with a scoff. "I could probably only eat two."

"Same. Which is why I'll be fighting to have Ruby on my team."

At Pyrrha's nod towards the desserts, Blake turned and felt her eyes widen when she saw the mountain of cookies, cakes, and pastries on Ruby's plate. Weiss had accumulated an equally-stunning amount, which could only be overflow from Ruby's never-ending appetite. Regardless of who ultimately ate the sweets, Weiss Schnee carrying around a plate piled with brownies and tartlets was quite the sight.

"There's also ice cream."

When Weiss nodded towards the freezer and Ruby gasped in delight, another smile crept onto Weiss' lips.

"Blake? Want something?"

Distracted from the adorable interaction, Blake smiled at Yang and shook her head.

"Thanks, but I'll be right there."

Satisfied with the response, Yang picked up her conversation with Jaune as the two of them grabbed several different treats and headed towards the living room. Now that the initial rush had passed, Blake and Pyrrha finally stood and walked over to the island, which featured nearly every dessert Blake could dream of.

"How have you been?" Pyrrha asked while they looked over their many, many selections.

"Pretty good. How are you? It looks like you and Jaune are doing great."

Pyrrha looked over her shoulder and smiled at the boy, who somehow thought it was a good idea to challenge Yang to an arm-wrestling competition.

"We are," she said, and spent a few extra seconds smiling at Jaune before turning back to Blake. "What about you and Yang?"

"We're great. Really, really great."

Just looking at Yang, who threw her long, blonde hair behind her shoulders and playfully cracked her knuckles before taking Jaune's hand, Blake felt her heart warm with love. Not that long ago, if someone had told her that she would spend her life fawning over that blonde actress from those action movies, she would have referred them to a doctor. Flash forward to today, and she couldn't imagine her life any other way.

"Do you need anything?" Weiss asked, glancing at their empty plates as if worried she somehow missed their favorite dessert. Fortunately, Pyrrha shook her head and picked out a piece of chocolate cake for herself.

"I've been dreaming of chocolate cake for weeks now," she said, much to Weiss' relief.

"And I haven't had a lemon bar in ages," Blake added before setting one of the small yellow squares on her plate. "Thanks, Weiss. This is great."

"You're welcome." After taking a step away, Weiss paused and turned back to them with a small smile. "And please take some home with you. I'm worried I'll get diabetes from the smell alone."

When Pyrrha and Blake laughed at the joke, Weiss' smile grew easier, and she nodded before joining everyone else in the living room. Before she could even question where to sit, seeing as how there were more than enough seats spread around the room, Ruby patted the sofa beside her.

While Weiss hesitantly claimed that spot, close but not too close to Ruby's side, Yang didn't spare them a look. She was so busy arm-wrestling that she didn't notice the glance Weiss sent her way. With that look alone, Weiss admitted that she felt like she needed permission to sit there - but why would she need permission when they were all friends?

"You know…" Pyrrha began slowly, drawing Blake's gaze away from the living room. "Yang isn't dense, but Ruby might be her blind spot."

Just like that, Blake confirmed that Pyrrha held the same suspicions she did.

"I think you're right," she agreed and nodded so Pyrrha knew they were on the same page. "She probably still thinks of Ruby as her little sister."

What Yang hadn't yet realized - or maybe she'd realized but hadn't yet accepted - was that Ruby had grown into a mature, beautiful young woman. That beauty combined with her joyful, upbeat personality was bound to attract suitors. Weiss might be a surprising entrant on that list, but there was little denying that she was drawn to Ruby in some way.

"Should we tell her?" Pyrrha asked, and Blake thought about the question while watching Yang. Being surrounded by her closest family and friends had brought out the best side of her, and she practically radiated happiness for all to see. While laughing about something with Jaune, however, she failed to notice Weiss and Ruby sending inconspicuous glances at each other.

"Maybe we should wait for them to figure it out themselves," Blake finally replied. "You know how Yang might be about this."

"True…"

"If they even get there at all."

At that comment, Pyrrha gave Blake a surprised look.

"You don't think they will?"

"They could, but...it's Weiss."

The answer was self-explanatory, as Blake sent a look towards the reserved songstress. Even if Weiss figured out her feelings, she still had to act on them before anything could happen. Would she ever do that when Ruby was Yang's sister? Or would she assume that Ruby was off limits?

"Then maybe we should help them."

"What do you mean?" Blake asked, turning back to Pyrrha for clarification.

"I mean...that I've known Ruby for a long time, and I've never seen her so smitten."

"So...you think we should meddle?"

"I think we should help," Pyrrha corrected with a smile. "The least we can do is present some opportunities, don't you think? Whether or not they accept is up to them."

Normally, Blake preferred to stand back and watch. In this case, however, she felt an incredible desire to help the two of them figure this out. They seemed to enjoy each other's company, they spent much of their time sneaking glances or smiles at each other, and they were, quite simply, adorable together.

If Yang loved them both, which she did, she would be happy if they were happy. And if they made each other even happier...

"I can work on Ruby," Pyrrha suggested. "I think she'll talk to me if she doesn't want Yang to know yet. And Weiss trusts you; I think she'll take your feedback."

It sounded like a subtle way to help, which Blake was willing to do. They wouldn't push anyone together, but they could offer advice or a somewhat-impartial ear to listen. If nothing came of it, then so be it.

"Alright, I'm in."

After nodding to Pyrrha, who beamed at the agreement, Blake forced a neutral expression as Yang hopped up and walked over to them.

"God, you two are so beautiful I can't look over here without blinding myself." When Pyrrha laughed at the compliment, Blake smiled and accepted Yang's hand. "What're you two whispering about anyway? Sharing secrets?"

The way Yang directed the question to Pyrrha gave Blake reason to pause, but Pyrrha just laughed and waved one hand.

"We're talking about some upcoming work," she replied, a clever response that technically wasn't a lie. "The next few months should be...interesting."

"They always are!"

Easily falling for the diversion, Yang smiled and didn't put up a fight when Blake tugged her towards the living room to rejoin everyone. Pyrrha followed them and sat down on the loveseat beside Jaune, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders when she leaned into his side and took a bite of her cake. Yang, meanwhile, very conspicuously chose an oversized chair to share with Blake.

Considering Blake no longer held any reservations about being affectionate with Yang in public, she willingly snuggled into the seat and smiled when Yang's arm wrapped around her waist. As she took her first bite of the lemon bar, which was utterly delicious, her thoughts returned to the look Yang gave Pyrrha when discussing 'secrets.'

What did that look mean? Was there a secret they didn't want her to know about? Because she could only think of one secret Yang might keep from her...and thinking about that secret made her heart flutter. Rather than dive into those thoughts though, she focused on enjoying her dessert and listening to the conversation.

"Is it good?" Yang whispered in her ear as she took another bite. The way Yang's lips brushed her ear sent a shiver down her spine, but she did her best to hide the reaction while sectioning off another piece and offering it to Yang. Apparently, that was exactly what Yang wanted, and her eyes lit up while she took the dessert off of Blake's fork and hummed happily.

"Let me know if you want more," Blake offered quietly, and Yang kissed her cheek before nuzzling closer to listen to the end of the story Ruby was retelling.

" - so I end up chasing this truck down the street!" Ruby's hands narrated her actions, moving up and down as if she was running - or chasing a truck down the street, apparently.

"I'm trying to get the driver's attention," she continued, now pretending to wave at the invisible driver in front of them. "But he couldn't see or hear me, so I ran even faster - but then I tripped over a rock, and I just went flying -!"

The rest of them were in the midst of a laugh when Ruby flung her arms out to symbolize falling, only to pause when something slipped from her grasp, flew across the room, and landed right in the fireplace. The action was so sudden and unexpected, no one seemed to know how to respond. Then Ruby squeaked and ran over to retrieve whatever it was.

The first popping sound clued Blake in - it was Ruby's phone.

"Ah crap," Ruby groaned before grabbing the tongs and pulling the device from the flames. After setting it on the mantle, she gave it a poke, and it responded with a small fizzling noise. That was all it took for Yang to dissolve into giggles, and everyone else struggled not to join in while Ruby smiled sheepishly.

"Whoops," she said, running a hand through her hair before chuckling. "Guess I shouldn't talk with my phone in my hand…"

"Or you should strap it to your arm," Yang suggested between her laughter, which on its own was enough to make Blake smile.

"I can buy you a new one," Weiss quickly offered, but Ruby waved off the suggestion.

"That's ok! It wasn't your fault."

"Yes, but -"

"I'm the one with butterfingers."

"But it's my fireplace -"

"That doesn't mean you're responsible for people throwing their stuff in it!" Ruby said before laughing and waving her hands again. "It's ok, really. I can get another one."

"Didn't you just buy two so you'd have a backup?" Yang asked, and Ruby's sheepish smile returned.

"Yeah, but the other one...disappeared."

"Disappeared where?"

"Down the garbage chute somewhere."

Even though Ruby shrugged off the admission, and Yang laughed at the continued misfortune, Weiss looked concerned bordering on worried. Either she didn't like the idea of Ruby being without a phone for an evening, or she couldn't accept that her fireplace caused the destruction.

"I'd like to buy you a replacement," she offered again, but Ruby shook her head.

"You don't have to buy me anything! I can get another one, no problem. This is why I buy the cheapest ones!"

Anyone else might let it go at this point, but Weiss' hesitation showed in her eyes. She wanted to buy Ruby another phone, for some unspoken reason, but Ruby didn't want to accept Weiss' money for what had been a personal mistake.

Weiss would have to accept Ruby's decision. At least, that's what Blake thought until she caught Pyrrha's gaze and had an idea.

"Weiss, why don't you go with Ruby to pick out a new one?"

Suddenly looking like a deer in headlights, Weiss turned Blake's way and blinked in surprise.

"That sounds like a great idea," Pyrrha agreed before Weiss responded one way or the other. "That sounds like a fair trade, right Ruby?"

"Um…" From the glance Ruby sent Weiss' way, she wasn't sure if she was allowed to say 'yes.' "If you're not too busy?" she asked instead.

"Would you actually want me to go with you?" Weiss asked in return, only for her surprise to grow when Ruby nodded. "If you're sure, then...I have time tomorrow. Maybe in the morning?"

"I don't have any plans! So...whenever you're free."

With that shy, tentative meeting set, Blake and Pyrrha shared a look of success. If Ruby and Weiss were that willing to spend time together, this would be easier than initially thought.

"That's awesome," Yang added, reminding Blake of one of the reasons why this wouldn't be easy. "You can introduce Weiss to your boyfriend at the phone store!"

"Yang!" Ruby yelped before turning back to Weiss for damage control. "He's not my boyfriend. He just works there and I'm there a lot, obviously. I don't have a boyfriend. I'm not dating anyone, actually - boys or girls - not that I don't want to or anything! I totally would if someone I liked asked me out, but that hasn't happened so I'm just...I'm just...not?"

By the time Ruby stopped rambling, Blake was trying very hard not to cringe, Yang looked baffled, and Pyrrha was hiding a smile in Jaune's shoulder. Weiss, meanwhile, took a few extra seconds to digest that information before flashing a smile.

"Um, great. So, eight then?"

"Eight is perfect! I'll meet you here?"

When Weiss nodded and turned away to hide a growing blush, Ruby caught Yang's gaze and made a silly face. Blake, meanwhile, smiled upon discovering yet another way in which Ruby and Yang were alike. Not only were they kind and compassionate, but they also possessed an innate ability to make the biggest fools of themselves around someone they liked.

Yang grew out of that over time, unfortunately, but Blake held onto the memories fondly. When she leaned into Yang's side and looked up into lilac eyes, she confirmed that Yang didn't see the similarity at all, which was just as well. One day, they could all share a laugh about this moment.

Now seemed like the perfect moment to start another story - it would certainly save Weiss and Ruby from dwelling upon their quasi-date tomorrow - and Yang opened her mouth to pick up the mantle only to pause when Pyrrha checked the time and sighed.

"I should get going…" she explained with an apologetic smile. "I have a flight to Vacuo in the morning, and I haven't packed yet."

"I can help you pack," Jaune added, standing up and offering a hand to pull Pyrrha to her feet.

"You're going to help her pack?" Yang asked with a laugh, only for Pyrrha to send her an amused smile.

"Seven sisters, Yang," she pointed out while Jaune sighed and shook his head.

"I know more about women's clothing than my own…" he admitted, though his smile reappeared the instant Pyrrha reached down to hold his hand.

"I love it," she said before turning towards Weiss, who stood to see her guests out.

"Thank you for coming."

"Thank you for putting this together," Pyrrha replied while everyone else nodded. "We should do this again sometime. Maybe someone else can host?"

"I volunteer Jaune and his sisters," Yang joked before standing up to say goodbye. Blake was quick to follow and smiled while accepting Pyrrha's hug.

"We'll talk when I get back," Pyrrha whispered to her before moving over to Yang. "I'll be back in a few days if you want to grab lunch."

"Sounds good." After hugging Pyrrha, Yang smiled and waved to Jaune. "See you guys later!"

While Blake, Yang, and Ruby remained in the living room, Weiss escorted her guests to the door as any good host would do. Compared to earlier, however, she was far more relaxed than when they'd arrived. Her smile came easier, her words freer - she even laughed at something Jaune said and showed little hesitation accepting Pyrrha's hug before she and Jaune were on their way.

By the time Weiss returned to the living room, she looked modestly relieved. Whether due to having fewer guests or the belief that Pyrrha and Jaune had a good time, it was hard to tell. What wasn't hard to tell was the way her gaze locked onto Ruby, and the most endearing smile emerged.

"I was hoping to send you home with leftovers," she told Ruby before glancing Blake and Yang's way. "All of you," she added, though her eyes were quick to return to Ruby. "If you pick out what you want, I can have it boxed up for you?"

"If you're sure?" Ruby asked, but it took nothing more than Weiss' smile to prompt her towards the kitchen. Sensing an opportunity, however, Blake reached out for Yang's hand before they followed.

"Actually, would it be alright if Yang and I look around again?"

With Weiss' nod as permission, Blake tugged Yang away from the kitchen.

"Ruby can pick some stuff for us!" Yang added before following Blake towards the beautiful piano on the far side of the living room. "Shouldn't we help?" she asked once they were out of earshot, shooting a look towards the kitchen.

"We can help in a bit," Blake answered, hoping to buy Weiss and Ruby even just a few minutes of alone time. "First, look at this view with me."

Without a word of protest, Yang stood beside Blake in front of the two-story window taking up the far side of the penthouse. The sun had disappeared already, leaving Vale in dusky twilight while night set in. The stars would appear soon, and the city would sparkle to life via streetlamps and never-ending headlights winding down the freeways.

"Think we can see our place from here?" Yang joked after several seconds, and Blake smiled while shaking her head.

"Probably not, considering we live in the opposite direction."

With Yang chuckling at the response, the two of them looked out the window together. They might not be able to see their building from this view, but that didn't mean there was nothing to look at. Plenty of other landmarks drew Blake's interest - the convention center, the theater, and several restaurants they liked.

"This place is nice, right?" After looking at the tall ceilings and balconies running along either side of them, Yang met Blake's gaze. "Would you ever want a place like this?"

"What's wrong with where we live now?"

"I like where we live," Yang clarified before taking another look around. "This place is just...nice, you know? And we could probably afford it, or something kinda like it. Maybe not quite as nice, but, you know, if you wanted…"

Finally figuring out where the conversation was going, Blake brushed her fingers through Yang's hair and smiled.

"I don't need any of this," she said, glancing over the expensive chandelier, the sparkling piano, and the polished banisters leading to the upper level. It was all beautiful but...it wasn't for her.

"Unless you want a personal recording studio?" she added, and Yang relaxed into a smile.

"Maybe not a recording studio, but I could have a room to practice my expressions!"

When Yang went through some of her 'expressions,' a fancy way of saying 'making faces,' Blake laughed and lightly shoved her shoulder.

"Don't you already do that in our bathroom mirror every morning?"

"You said you like that!" Yang argued, only to pout when Blake made a teasing 'so-so' motion with one hand. The pout was so adorable, Blake couldn't resist kissing it away, and Yang was smiling again within seconds.

"I know you love it," Yang said, and this time Blake nodded.

Honestly, she did. But what wasn't to love about watching Yang make faces at herself in the bathroom mirror? It was one of the funniest, most endearing things about her.

When laughter drew their gazes towards the kitchen, Yang motioned that way.

"Should probably see what they're up to, right?"

"I suppose so." Still holding hands, Blake set a slow pace across the penthouse floor. "Thanks for looking at the view with me."

"Anytime. You know I love being with you." After a short pause, Yang smiled towards her. "And I mean that in every possible way."

That was all it took to make Blake's heart flutter, and she gave Yang another kiss before they made it much further.

"You want to go home now?" she asked after breaking away from Yang's lips, and watched the suggestion ruminate in Yang's eyes before a smile pulled at her lips.

"I'm ready if you are."

With Yang's approval, Blake led them to the kitchen and smiled at the sight greeting them. Weiss was talking about something - excitedly, at that - while Ruby held onto every word. As soon as Ruby started laughing at whatever it was, Weiss' eyes shone with delight.

"Hey guys!" Yang called out, finally drawing their attention away from each other. "We're heading out now. Ruby, you wanna walk with?"

The glance Ruby sent Weiss' way was more than enough of an answer. But, even though it looked like Weiss wanted to speak up and say something, she didn't.

"Maybe you could show Ruby your home studio," Blake suggested when Weiss didn't ask Ruby to stay. "I'm sure she'd love to see that."

"Yeah!" As expected, Ruby lit up at the possibility of spending more time together. "I mean, if you're ok with that...I can hang out a bit longer?"

"Of course. I can give you a tour."

Armed with an excuse to spend more time together, the two of them smiled. It was the blush on their cheeks that gave away their feelings, but Blake didn't dwell on their reaction long enough for Yang to catch on.

"Is this for us?" she asked, motioning towards a bag that had hers and Yang's initials written on the side.

"Oh, yes. Just some leftovers -"

"Some awesome leftovers, you mean," Yang said before Weiss brushed off the kindness. "Thanks, Weiss! Now we don't have to cook for a week."

When Yang grabbed the bag and grinned at Weiss, Weiss actually accepted the gratitude. Either she had grown tired of fighting it...or because she was distracted by Ruby leaning against the island beside her.

"Have a good night, you two," Blake added before tugging Yang towards the door. "Don't worry, we'll see ourselves out," she added, waving off the formality when Weiss moved to follow them. Surprisingly, she relaxed and smiled one last time before her attention returned to Ruby.

As Blake and Yang headed out, one of the waiters appeared with their coats in hand.

"Have a wonderful evening," he said, offering the jackets before opening the door and bowing them into the hall.

"You too!" Yang replied before they headed back to the elevator. "That was fun, right?" she asked while waiting for one to take them downstairs.

"It was. I had a great time."

"I did too. I can't believe Ruby threw her phone in the fireplace." Remembering that moment, Yang chuckled and shook her head. "She's usually pretty weird, but tonight she was extra weird, right?"

This was it, Blake thought to herself, and held her breath waiting for the lightbulb to light up. Before that happened, however, a soft ding announced the elevator's arrival, and Yang shrugged as she walked inside.

"Probably because Weiss is such a big star and Ruby doesn't know her well."

"That's...probably it," Blake replied, though she didn't necessarily agree. Weiss was a star, and Ruby might not know her very well, but that didn't explain everything going on between them.

Sneaking a glance at Yang, Blake wondered if she thought anything else about how her sister behaved around Weiss. Or how Weiss behaved around Ruby.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Blake realized that wasn't what Yang was thinking about at all.

"So…" Yang began, setting her hand on Blake's waist and gently pushing Blake towards the wall. "When does 'later' start?"

They probably had only twenty seconds before the elevator arrived at the lobby, but that somehow seemed like a good place to start.

"Right now," Blake said before drawing Yang in for a kiss that started at hungry and grew from there. They might not have much time, but...if anything, this could be their appetizer, with the real meal arriving the moment they got home.

One thing was for certain...any observations not revolving around Yang - how she felt, how she tasted, where her hands were - would have to wait until tomorrow.