Gone But Not Forgotten (epilogue)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!

Wouldn't be complete without some closure.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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													Epilogue. Moving Forward

Weeks later on a long weekend, Blake, Ruby and Yang went with Weiss back to Atlas. They arrived at a quiet cemetery where the wind danced across the headstones and fluttered the petals of the flowers planted all around.

Each of them held a few flowers in-hand as they followed Weiss down the little paths among the graves, taking in the profound tranquility of the resting place.

At last, Weiss paused in front of a silver marble headstone, engraved with Liara's name and a message:

Beloved daughter, future huntress, cherished friend.

They all watched Weiss as she stood there, shoulders trembling, lips quivering. She tried to speak, but no words came forth. So Blake reached out to take her hand and eased her back a step. Ruby and Yang went first instead.

"Hi there," Ruby said with a smile. "I know I never knew you, but I'm sure we would've been friends! Thanks for being Weiss' friend when I didn't know her yet." With that, she knelt down and placed her flower at the base of the headstone.

Next, Yang took her turn.

"Hey. Like my sister said, I wish I could've met you. Thanks again for being there for Weiss when no one else could." She placed her flower down as well and took a step back.

Blake nuzzled Weiss' cheek before stepping up toward the grave.

"Hi, Liara. I'm sorry I never got to meet you either. But it's because of you that we got to meet Weiss. It's because of you that I got to fall in love with her. So... from the bottom of my heart... thank you."

She knelt down and laid her flower beside Ruby's and Yang's. After she straightened up again, Blake went to her girlfriend's side and kissed her cheek sweetly.

At long last, Weiss took a step toward her childhood friend's grave. Quietly she dropped to her knees, laid down her own white flower, and settled, closing her eyes to send out silent thoughts and prayers. Blake Ruby and Yang all stood behind her, waiting.

When Weiss was finally finished, Blake offered her hand and helped her up, then kissed her again. Weiss thanked her, squeezing Blake's hand warmly. She turned back to Liara's grave one last time, this time with a smile.

"Goodbye, Liara. I'll be back in a few months for your eighteenth birthday. Rest well."

With that, the four girls turned away and headed back down the little path.

Behind them, the four flowers they'd left on the grave fluttered quietly in the wind.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Thanks again to Bjorn Jeppsson for their support and request!