Nameless (ch10)

Early release for patrons!

Thanks for the little wait for this final chapter, guys. I'm so glad you all followed it this long! Thanks to everyone who's supported me for this whole fic!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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						     Chapter 10. Home

All that night, Blake couldn't stop thinking about all she and Weiss had been through.

They limped their way to Vale, treading quietly through the town all the while.

Weiss' memories of her family were still hazy, though they were on the verge of returning now with the curse broken.

Still, it wasn't enough for her to remember where she'd once lived or what her last name was.

So Blake took her to the less-wealthy section of town where smaller homes were built and typically inhabited by Faunus families.

All was still and quiet until they were spotted by a man with a canine tail, sitting out in the night to watch the stars. He confronted them, though not maliciously, inquiring who they were and what they were doing out at such an hour.

"Blake," she told him. "My name is Blake. I...I used to live here, but... a long time ago I went missing. I was... kidnapped, and so was she. But we're free now."

The man's eyes widened, as if in realization, as though her words had sparked the memories of hearing about a young Faunus child who'd been abducted in broad daylight so many years ago.

Incredulous, he nodded and hurriedly stood.

He took them past Blake's old home, informing her that her parents had moved since then, to a different house.

They were both still alive, but had lost their smiles along with their daughter on that fateful day so many years ago.

But as soon as Blake hobbled up to the door with Weiss at her side and gave a knock, that all changed.

Her father answered the door, dressed in a sleep robe with his black hair scraggly and ears back, clearly miffed at having been woken at such an hour.

But the second he saw her, he fell silent.

Shock.

Confusion.

Then relief like nothing they'd ever felt before.

Shortly afterward, his cries alerted Blake's mother, who quickly come running to his side.

There was no mistake about who was standing there on their doorstep.

She was familiar. So familiar.

Blake's mother looked the girl over, inch by inch, from ears to toes,

Her eyes lingered on that familiar purple bandana.

And the two adults choked out a tearful whisper:

"Blake..."

They threw their arms around her and wept, the entire family collapsing to its knees.

And Blake hugged them back fervently, fiercely, wailing into their clothes like any lost child who had finally been found.

"Mom... Dad... I'm home..."

That embrace...

It shattered the years of pain and agony they'd suffered through, replacing it with love and warmth.

And all of it, irreplaceable.

As the three of them wept tears of the utmost joy, Weiss thanked the man who helped them, and after wiping a few tears of his own, he respectfully took his leave.

Weiss stood there in the doorway, her heart swelling at the sight of Blake's reunion with her parents, her face already drenched by warm wetness.

Only after Blake's parents had composed themselves enough to speak and stand did they usher the two girls inside, helping them to stay on their exhausted feet. They brought them through a humble living room and had them sit on the couch together.

Blake's mother prepared them all tea and fetched a few slices of bread for them, which the girls gratefully accepted. The Faunus woman then grabbed wet towels and a bottle of disinfectant to clean up any visible wounds on them.

Blake told them all she could manage at the time. She told them about the witch, about the kidnapping itself, about how Cinder had stolen Weiss away as well.

She told them of the horrors they'd seen together, of the curse and how they'd eventually come to have broken it.

At one point, her parents moved to sit on Blake's other side and simply held her and one another for a long time.

When they parted at last, the sun was rising, and Weiss had slumped back and fallen asleep at the Faunus girl's side.

Blake's parents insisted their daughter get some rest as well, as much as she needed. Her father scooped Weiss up into his arms, and her mother helped Blake hobble through the house beside him.

They stopped at a door that seemed to have been closed for a long time.

Upon opening it, Blake's mother revealed a small bedroom, where the blankets were clean, but untouched.

"After we moved," she said. "We simply couldn't have asked for a house without this. We never gave up hope that one day you might come home..."

Blake merely hugged her close and cried.

Blake's father laid Weiss down onto the bed before kissing his daughter leaving the room. After that, Blake undressed herself, and her mother did the same for Weiss. The woman gave Blake a fresh pair of clothes - some of her own older ones to wear - and she slipped Weiss into a fresh nightgown.

With murmurs of love and wishes of sweet dreams, Blake's mother kissed her daughter goodnight for the first time in a decade.

Then, she quietly left the room, praying she would wake again later to find this wasn't all just a dream.

Blake stayed awake for a while longer, even as the sun rose over the wintry world. Her ears flicked as she listened to her parents' hushed voices, still sobbing on occasion in the next room over, and then speaking excitedly.

Her heart beat fully, calmly, and warmly.

She was finally home.

She curled onto her side, draped an arm over Weiss, and fell asleep at long last, breathing in the girl's familiar scent...

. . .

And she woke to the present scene.

A room filled with sunlight and color, several windows all letting in rays of warmth and brightness.

Weiss continued to sleep soundly, and Blake didn't disturb her.

After all, never before had they ever slept or woken together in a room where they were completely free of fear and pain.

It must have been midday or early afternoon, as she could smell food being prepared in the kitchen, and heard her parents moving about, surely preparing to greet Weiss and herself as soon as they got up.

It was so strange to wake here in this foreign room, the room that should've been the one she'd been waking up to for years now, but had never even known until a few hours ago.

She was excited to see the rest of the house - her house. She was excited to finally start her new life.

But she didn't want to begin without Weiss.

Everything else could wait for her, but she would only wait for Weiss.

As the white-haired girl slumbered in the meantime, Blake flashed her gaze down to Weiss' still form, scouring her chest for any signs of red.

But the mark was gone, truly and entirely.

Unable to suppress a smile, she laid her head over Weiss heartbeat and listened for a long while.

Her eyes flicked about the room, noticing a few trinkets and toys that had belonged to her in her childhood years, things her parents had made sure not to leave behind. She took in the little bookshelf across the room, the windows, the dresser, as well as a closet.

She wondered what kind of memories she might've had here if Cinder had never kidnapped her all those years ago, if she'd never been forced to leave her parents...

But of course, that would've meant she never would have met Weiss, nor would she have been able to help her.

And she never would have fallen in love with her.

Blake soon found herself crying softly once more, still baffled and overwhelmed by it all. She hugged Weiss loosely, savoring that familiar scent in her lungs, and that rhythm beneath her ear. One hand rubbed subconscious circles over the girl's stomach, in the spot where Weiss had stabbed herself about half a year ago now.

A little less than another hour passed by in this manner, before the pulse beneath her ear quickened ever so slightly, and a tiny, tired sound escaped Weiss' throat. Her deep breathing soon turned into livelier breaths, and Blake pushed herself up to allow the girl to move.

At first, when Weiss blinked open her eyes, there was only confusion in them as she gazed about the unfamiliar room.

But the second blue met gold, everything came rushing back to her.

"Blake..."

The first thing Weiss did was sob her name, followed by a needy hug and a gentle kiss. Blake held her for a while, petting through her hair, and in turn feeling careful hands caressing her ears.

After a time, she coaxed Weiss into a sitting position beside herself.

"You up for some breakfast?" Blake wondered.

With a nod and a smile, Weiss wiped her eyes yet again.

After staggering out of bed, Blake kept her hand around Weiss' as she led the girl to the kitchen area.

Her father – who had been reading the newspaper at the table – stood instantly to embrace Blake, and her mother wasn't far behind.

"Come, sit down," she insisted. "I've made eggs, and we've got fruit as well."

Blake remembered her mother had only ever made eggs in the past for very special occasions like birthdays, or when one of Blake's parents had found new work.

She and Weiss gratefully took seats at the humble table and began to eat slowly, their first meal outside of the mansion in years.

Once Blake's mother had sat down as well, her father cleared his throat.

"Now then, I think you two ought to know..." he began.

Blake looked up from her meal, sharing a puzzled glance with Weiss before looking back to him.

"Know what, Dad?"

His eyes went back down to the newspaper in his hands before he turned it around for them to see.

"Your mother and I called the police last night to report everything. But it turns out, before they could even get up to that mansion, it had already burst into flames. There's nothing left now but ash."

Again, Blake and Weiss met one another's eyes, but there were no words to be said about it. They could only pray that the witch was gone for good and wouldn't be destroying any more families in the future.

Once they'd finished eating, Blake's mother encouraged them both to bathe.

Blake had Weiss go first, and in the meantime, she sat in the living room with her parents as they told her about the hardships they'd faced since the day she'd been taken. After falling into a horrible depression, their closer friends had eventually convinced them to keep going, to live with the faith that one day Blake might come back to them.

With that renewed strength in mind, they'd found work and had been able to save up enough money to purchase a new house, small as it was, but they'd never once forgotten about Blake.

"The whole town heard about it when Schnee's daughter got kidnapped," her mother sighed. "It was assumed the kidnapper merely wanted a ransom. Her father offered three million lien to whomever had taken her, but no one ever came forward to return her in exchange for the money. No one ever thought the person who'd taken her would ever want Faunus children as well. I... I can still remember that look in her eyes when she ripped you from my arms..."

Her mother started to weep softly, and Blake moved close to hug her. From there, her father took over the conversation.

"Schnee's been a broken man ever since," he said. "Hardly ever shows his face around town anymore. He's always locked up in his study, trying to love his other daughter enough for the both of them. He fell ill not to long ago, I heard, and I'm not surprised."

Blake's ears drooped, and she watched as her father's eyes flicked to the bathroom door.

"We should let her rest here for a few days," he went on. "But then I think you should take her to her father. He's been missing her for five years longer than we'd been missing you. He needs her back before it's too late. Poor man's past his limit already."

Blake understood, and she agreed to her father's words decisively.

Once Weiss had emerged from the bathroom, dressed in one of Blake's mother's old black sun dresses, the Faunus girl marveled at her appearance, her damp, silvery hair contrasting the fabrics of the vestment.

Blake's mother composed herself and offered to brush Weiss' hair for her as Blake took her turn in the bath. But even from there, she could hear the words Weiss spoke to them:

"Do you know anything about my father?" she asked them timidly. "I can't remember much, only that I had him... and a sister, too."

Blake listened to her father's soft response.

"Yes. We know of him. He's still around. And your sister, too. She's always been looking for you. Never rested for a day since you went missing."

Blake's mother's delicate voice came next.

"To this day, they both miss you very much."

Blake's ears flicked as Weiss spoke again.

"I miss them, too. My father and my sister... I miss them terribly."

"Don't worry," Blake's mother soothed. "You'll be home before you know it."

Blake sighed as she sank into the warm water up to her shoulders, letting the ends of her hair soak.

Her mother was right. Weiss would be home soon.

But then... what of them?

What of the relationship Blake had built up with Weiss? What of their love? Were they going to separate now?

She knew it was awful and selfish, but a part of her didn't want to bring Weiss back to her father.

But Blake was fully aware of how horrible such thoughts were, and though they passed through her mind, she never for a second intended to actually go through with such a thing.

A few tears dripped into the bath water, and Blake wiped her eyes before dipping her head under.

Once she'd finished and dried herself off, she put on a warm pair of pants and a sweater her mother had laid out for her. They fit Blake perfectly.

By then, evening had already fallen, and after a light dinner, Blake wished her parents goodnight and kissed their cheeks.

She then led Weiss back to her room, insisting they get a full night's rest tonight.

"Tomorrow we'll just rest up and continue to get our strength back," she told her. "I'll help my mom make big meals. Then we'll sleep another night, and the next day I'll take you home."

Weiss nodded, both anxious and excited to finally return to her family.

The two girls laid down in bed, and it was the first night where Cinder's presence didn't seem to be hovering over them both. An intangible burden had been lifted, that much was for certain.

They cuddled close for a few minutes, nuzzling into shoulders, petting ears and kissing scars. Whispers of love were exchanged between them, and they soon drifted off into a real slumber, unplagued by nightmares or coldness.

There were no chains any longer, and at long last, their lives were ahead of them.

The following day passed just as Blake had predicted.

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She and Weiss rested up a bit more, regaining their strength and indulging themselves with the meals Blake's mother prepared for them.

A few of Blake's old acquaintances stopped by briefly at about midday to see her and confirm for themselves that she was truly home after all this time.

Among them was Adam, the person she considered her big brother, and the second Blake saw him, her jaw dropped. The skinny, lanky, boy she'd once been known to play with out in the streets was now at least half a foot taller than her with broad shoulders and a muscular build.

He'd been a stoic child for the few years she'd known him, but upon seeing her again after so long, he too, was overwhelmed by shock.

Blake went to him, simply throwing her arms around his torso as he wrapped her in his strong arms.

"Adam..." she whispered. "It's really you..."

"Look at you, Blake," he said. "Even after everything you've been through, you still came back to us. You're really incredible. I'm so proud."

She shed a few silent tears against his shirt, and they talked together for some time before the boy ultimately took his leave for the day.

All the while, Weiss had been sitting on the living room couch, reading. Blake returned to her side, having the smaller girl lean into her.

She wanted that for Weiss, too. She wanted the girl's old friends and family members to be able to see her alive and well again.

She wanted to see Weiss that happy, as happy as Blake herself felt right now.

She promised it would only be a little longer now...

The rest of the day passed by, and they both bathed once more, enjoyed dinner, and eventually curled up for bed.

It was only when she was in Blake's arms that night when Weiss confessed her fears to her.

"What if... they don't remember me...?" she whispered.

It didn't take Blake long to figure out what she meant, and the Faunus girl pulled her closer.

"Of course they'll remember you. You're family."

"But... But what if they don't want me back? What if they've been better off-"

"Don't say that." Blake stopped her with a small kiss to the lips, swallowing the rest of Weiss' concerns. "You know they want you back. Remember what my dad told you? Your father's missed you every day since you've been gone, and your sister's been looking for you day and night."

"...You really think so?"

"I know so."

Blake emitted a small purr for a little while, helping to soothe Weiss enough until she'd closed her eyes.

It was just a few kisses and "goodnight, sleep well" murmurs more before the girl drifted off.

Blake savored her warmth, shifting a bit so that Weiss may lay on top of her. She savored that gentle, familiar pressure against her chest, locking her arms around the small of Weiss' back to keep her there.

Blake closed her eyes, breathed in her scent, and soon joined her in slumber.

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The next morning was bright, and the two girls woke early, both too excited to sleep in very long.

Blake's mother gave Weiss another old dress to wear, this time a sky-blue one.

"Please keep it," she insisted with a wink. "It was never really my color anyway."

Blake put on a pair of long black pants and a dark violet sweater. She brushed Weiss' long hair for her that morning as they waited for breakfast, and Weiss opted to leave it down for today. She took the liberty of brushing Blake's hair as well, being very careful near her ears.

They took turns in the bathroom, ate breakfast, and then it was time.

Weiss stood before Blake's parents and bowed her head deeply, thanking them for their hospitality to her these past few days.

"Oh, please, dear!" the woman said. "There's no need for such formalities. We'd have done the same for anyone who brought our daughter back to us."

"And," the man added. "I should tell you that you've got our official welcome. You may stop by anytime to see Blake, as it's clear you two are... involved."

He grinned, and Blake's entire face turned red.

"D-Dad!"

"I'm not wrong, though!" he laughed.

Blake rolled her eyes playfully at Weiss, and the latter smiled.

"Thank you." Weiss dipped her head again. "I'll certainly be coming by every so often. I really... do love Blake."

Blake's parents fell silent, covering their smiles with their hands and even tearing up a bit.

Blake was touched as well, by the fact that Weiss could admit such a thing in front of them. The Faunus girl hugged her briefly and kissed her hair.

After that, they headed to the front door, preparing to venture outside.

It was then Blake realized something.

"Hold on a second." She tugged on Weiss' wrist to prevent her from opening the door. "We... I mean aside from a few nights ago, we haven't been outside in almost ten years. And before, it was at night. I think the sunlight might be a bit much..."

Surely, Weiss' skin was exceedingly delicate and would burn, and Blake didn't fancy the thought of turning red, either.

Her mother stepped in, holding up a finger before hurrying off. She returned a minute later with a small, pink parasol.

"Your father bought it for me when we were dating," she said, handing it to Blake.

"Mom..." Blake sighed, blushing a bit.

"We'll take very good care of it," Weiss reassured her pleasantly. "Thank you again."

Blake opened the parasol, positioning over both Weiss and herself, though she leaned it more toward the other girl just to be safe.

Weiss reached the door, and with a few more waves over their shoulders, the two girls stepped outside.

The town was still covered in a bit of snow here and there, and a cold breeze cut through the air. But when the wind wasn't blowing, the sunlight was strong and warm.

Blake kept her free arm around Weiss' back, drawing her close and keeping her away from the street-side of the sidewalk. Her father had given her directions as to where Schnee's house was located, and it was about a ten-minute walk from here.

All the while, Weiss was silent, likely nervous and lost in her own world of thoughts. Blake rubbed the girl's back a little, ensuring she was shielded from the beating rays of the sun.

They passed many people, especially when they neared the marketplace, and Weiss was sure to keep close to her companion.

It was when they'd traveled about halfway to their destination and just gotten past the market when Blake's ears swiveled and flicked at the sound of... strangely familiar voices.

For the past ten years, she'd only ever heard Weiss' and the witch's voices.

So to hear voices other than those that were familiar to her could only mean...

She turned around swiftly, coaxing Weiss to do the same.

"It's them..." she mumbled, stunned.

Weiss followed her gaze and gasped.

Two girls were playing together a little ways down the sidewalk. The taller one with blonde hair was trying to fit a banana sideways into her mouth to make it look like a smile. The shorter one was laughing hysterically, making an effort to balance a red apple on the tip of her nose.

Weiss' eyes went wide when she saw them.

"Th-That's... ah, Ruby and-"

"Yang!" Blake's voice was raised intentionally, calling out to her.

The blonde girl heard her name and removed the fruit from her mouth, and her little sister ceased her antics as well. The pair looked around, until they'd spotted the two other girls.

Weiss and Blake watched the shock come over their expressions, eyes going wide as they muttered a few words together. Then, they dropped their fruits and raced forward towards Blake and Weiss, screeching to a halt just a few feet away.

"Whoa! Oh my gosh!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Is it... is it really you guys?" Yang wondered. "F-From the mansion? Holy shit..."

"Yes," Blake nodded. "It's us."

It felt very strange to admit. These girls were the only other people in town - in the whole world - to have ever been in that mansion, known its horrors, and gotten out alive.

"Wow..." Ruby gaped. "You guys made it..."

Weiss spoke up next.

"It's good to see you two are doing well."

"Oh yeah!" Yang lowered her voice to a whisper. "Don't worry! We kept good on our promise. Never told a soul. But... how the hell did you guys...?"

"It's a long story," Blake said, not wanting to revisit the events or make Weiss recall them. "But we escaped. I just went home to see my parents, and now I'm taking Weiss home, too."

"Oh my gosh!" Ruby exclaimed. "That's incredible! After all this time, you're finally gonna go home! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you," Weiss smiled.

"Your guys' stories are gonna be all over the news by tomorrow!" Yang said. "Everyone in town's gonna be talkin' about your coming home after all this time! Didja hear, though? Apparently, that whole mansion burnt down the other night! But it only reached until the very end of the property and didn't go so much as an inch past that. How the heck does a fire event start in the middle of the winter?"

"And they said they found nothing but ash!" Ruby continued. "Like, no furniture, no bones, no nothing! Just ash!"

Blake and Weiss shared a glance, but neither could make a certain assumption about what had transpired the night after they'd left.

Evidently, their unease was noticeable, because Yang pulled her little sister back a step.

"Anyway, at least you guys weren't inside when it burnt. And it's all over now, huh? Well, that's awesome. Because I honestly had trouble sleeping some nights just 'cuz I'd think about you two, still trapped there..."

"Well, now we can all sleep easy," Blake reassured her.

"Yeah. That's great. I'm so glad you guys are alright now."

The four girls came to an unspoken agreement to move into a brief embrace. They hadn't been together for long in the past, but something told them they might be seeing more of each other now in the future.

With a few final words and farewell wishes, Ruby and Yang headed off back toward the marketplace and scooped up their discarded fruits. The other pair fondly watched them go.

"I'm glad they're alright," Weiss sighed.

"Yeah. Me, too."

Blake made an effort to keep them moving toward the Schnee residence then, but Weiss didn't seem ready just yet. She'd grown still, her face downturned and eyes slightly watering.

Blake dipped down a little to catch her eye.

"Weiss? Are you okay? What's the matter?"

Weiss brought a hand to her face and shook her head.

"I just... remember seeing them for the first time... like that..."

Blake's ears drooped. She understood.

The first time they'd ever seen the sisters, they'd been tied up and bound, shivering and terrified in the corner of that dreadful dungeon of a basement.

And Weiss had been ordered to kill them.

That incident had been the reason behind the scar on her stomach.

Without a word, Blake walked Weiss to the side of the nearest building and drew her close. One had continued to hold the parasol, but the other clung to Weiss' back, rubbing small circles as the girl wept quietly into her shoulder.

"It's alright..." Blake murmured. "That's all over now."

She let out a slow, rumbling purr for Weiss, knowing that it calmed her. The girl sighed again, keeping her arms looped around Blake's neck to keep herself on her feet.

Blake kissed her ear, then moved a bit to let her lips meet the scar on Weiss' eye. The action seemed to remind Weiss of new worries she'd been entertaining in her thoughts.

"And that..." she whispered in reference to the scar. "Why is it still there? The other one she gave me went away, but why not this one? I remember my father and my sister now. I remember a bit of those first few years I spent with them. So why...?"

Blake nuzzled her head against Weiss', brushing their cheeks together softly.

"I think... the other one disappeared because we broke the curse," she murmured. "That witch, she... she marked you with it to keep you inside that mansion for sure, but once the curse was broken, it had no purpose anymore. So the scar faded. As for this one... I'm not sure why it's still there," she confessed. "But it doesn't hurt, does it?"

"...No," Weiss shook her head. "It never did."

"I think that's how she stole your memories," Blake guessed. "But just because you got them back now doesn't mean the scar will go away."

"Oh..." Weiss' voice was fragile, almost ashamed.

Blake pulled her closer.

"But that's alright. It's been a part of you for as long as either of us can remember. Don't hate it, Weiss. Love it. Accept it. Because it's a part of you."

The conversation was very familiar, but Blake was more than willing to go through it again.

"It's proof, isn't it?" Blake went on. "Proof of what you lived through, proof of what you overcame. You survived that awful place for so many years, and this scar is a reminder that will remain forever." Blake planted a light kiss over the pink line, just above Weiss' brow.

"You're so strong, Weiss. You saw a lot of terrible things. You went through a lot of terrible things. You went through a lot of pain. But you never gave up. You made it."

Weiss didn't know why she started to cry again, but she did, clinging softly to Blake once more.

"It's... because of you, Blake..." she whispered. "I only found the strength to go on... because you were beside me. I wouldn't have made it otherwise. So... thank you again."

Blake nodded, a few of her own tears slipping free.

"It's the same for me, Weiss. If you hadn't been there with me, I wouldn't have made it."

It was Weiss' turn to kiss her cheek, and Blake could feel the smile in her lips now.

"But we did make it," Weiss breathed, blinking open those dazzling blue eyes. "We both did."

Blake nodded.

"We did."

They shared a quiet kiss as the tears dried in the cool, winter air beneath the parasol, and despite the breeze they were both undoubtedly warm.

After a moment, Blake slipped herself back into place at Weiss' side, leaning the pink parasol over their heads.

"We've got somewhere to go," she reminded her.

Weiss wiped her eyes and nodded.

"Yes. Indeed we do."

The initial hesitance was gone now, and Weiss only longed to see her family again.

They continued onward down the sidewalk, passing a few dozen more people before the bakery shops and clothing buildings turned into houses again.

Blake looked at the numbers on each of them, searching for the one her father had told her to look for.

As for Weiss, many things came rushing back to her as they walked.

She remembered playing in this part of town when she was very, very young. She'd play with her sister and her father, or they'd all simply gone on walks together. She recalled her father had often been a busy man after his wife had passed, but he'd always make time for his daughters.

A few minutes later, Blake spotted the designated house.

It was quiet - motionless - as though it had been waiting for something for many years now to come along and breathe life back into it.

She caught Weiss' eye and nodded toward the house. The shape was familiar to Weiss, though the white color had turned a bit grey over time.

"Well..." Blake murmured. "This is it. Are you ready?"

Weiss was trembling slightly, but she nodded her head with unmatchable determination.

"Yes," she declared. "I've been waiting... for so long..."

Blake nodded.

Together, they walked up the small sidewalk that led to the front doorsteps, the grass here also covered in a bit of snow. They bested the steps together, keeping close.

Once they reached the door, Blake did the honors of ringing the bell.

Weiss stood stiffly at her side all the while, her heart hammering so hard she knew Blake could hear it.

There was a moment of silence.

Then, Blake's ears flicked at the sounds of movement from indoors.

There was a click.

The door opened slowly, revealing a man in a white business suit. His hair was light grey, his eyes darker so, and dull. His cheeks were sunken in and spoke of many sleepless nights.

He was the definition of exhaustion, and Blake truly believed her own father's words that this man must have been gradually falling ill.

But the second he saw the pair of girls – even before he could speak so much as a word of greeting or inquiry – his expression changed.

His eyes went wide, and a small sparkle appeared in them, a sparkle that seemed to have been lost for a decade until this very second.

It was disbelief at first, and Blake feared he might turn them away or something of that nature.

But he never did such a thing.

The disbelief almost immediately melted into recognition, and something else.

Joy.

Pure joy.

His weary lips parted, and a single word was produced.

"Weiss..."

It wasn't a question.

He knew who she was.

His daughter's posture was rigid, her eyes already threatening water as she looked up into his.

And her response was what had Blake's tears overflowing as well.

"Papa!"

Weiss had never known him long enough to change or formalize the way she addressed him.

But he didn't care at all.

He opened his arms, and his little girl threw herself into them, wailing louder than her voice had ever gone before.

The man got to his knees, sobbing as he held her, unable to speak.

Blake took a step back, wiping her arm over her eyes as she watched such a heartwarming, empowering scene.

"Welcome home, Weiss," she murmured.

A moment later, another pair of footsteps had her ears flicking, and when she looked up, there was another girl in the doorway. She had grey hair tied into a tight bun, a bit darker than Weiss', a more professional-looking face, and deep azure eyes.

Blake recalled her name was Winter.

She too cried out her sister's name and instantly collapsed to her knees to embrace her.

Their father pulled them both close, speechless as he lived the moment he thought he'd never see.

Heavy hearts were lightened pound by pound until they were weightless, elated, and nothing short of soaring.

The family of three cried for a long time, but Blake didn't mind.

They needed this. All of them. Even she needed it.

But more than anything, Weiss needed this.

Blake was more than content to watch her have it.

Finally.

Finally.

She was home.

The tears continued for a while longer, until their eyes had all gone dry. Weiss' father got back onto his feet, helping Winter up with him while Blake supported Weiss.

He brought them all inside, the older sister rushing into the kitchen to prepare tea for them all.

Weiss found her home was much the same as Blake's, if perhaps a bit bigger.

But there was a bedroom for her, too, one she'd shared with her sister in younger years. There were bunk-beds, the bottom one a bit ruffled, but the top one pristine and unused.

It had been waiting for her all this time.

They followed her father to the living room where they all sat down on various couches and furniture. Winter brought them their tea, and at last, they heard Weiss' story.

By the end of it all, her father had stood again and crossed the distance between them to wrap her in another hug. Winter went to Blake, formally thanking her profusely for all she had done for Weiss.

"There's no need for that," Blake assured her. "Your sister saved me, too."

By tomorrow, Blake's and Weiss' story would be passing through every pair of lips in town; their kidnappings, their years of confinement and solitude, their lives as prisoners to a witch who was presumably - but not proven to be - dead...

But also their tales of courage - how they'd overcome every hardship together through faith and purity, how they'd found strength in one another and fallen deeply in love.

Weiss' father was more than happy to hear of their relationship just as Blake's parents had been; they all knew the two girls had been through so much together, far much more than anyone could ever imagine.

But now, even if they didn't necessarily need to be together anymore, they wanted to be, and that said more than enough.

Weiss' family thanked Blake again that evening before she took her leave, and again she insisted there was no need for gratitude.

Weiss led her to the door and pulled her into another tight embrace.

"Thank you, Blake..." she whispered. "I know you said I don't have to say that, but I don't know what else I can say. You saved me, you gave me a reason to live... and you brought me home. Just like you always promised you would. So thank you..."

Blake lifted the girl up slightly, nuzzling into her collar and kissing the spot over her heart in a familiar habit.

"Thank you, Weiss," she said, twirling her once before setting her back down. "You taught me true strength and true love. You made me into who I am today. I'd be nothing without you. And you brought me home, too. Thank you."

She hugged the girl once more, sighing into ivory tresses. Weiss sniffled, her voice cracking a little.

"I'll... I'll see you again tomorrow, okay?"

Blake kissed her scarred cheek.

"Of course you will. And every day after that."

"Okay... I just feel... it will be hard to sleep without you."

"I know," Blake murmured. "But before long... I promise you we'll have a home of our own. Just the two of us."

Weiss gasped softly.

"B-Blake! Did you just-"

"What? Did you honestly think I wasn't going to propose at some point?" she chuckled sheepishly, blushing pink as her ears flicked. "I'll have to find work so I can pay for a ring, but Weiss..." She grasped the girl's hands in hers, kissing the backs of them before continuing. "There's no doubt in my mind or in my heart that you're the person I'm going to be spending the rest of my life with."

Her golden eyes shimmered with nothing but the truth.

Weiss reciprocated with a heartfelt smile of her own and a warm kiss to her cheek.

"Alright..." she said. "So then, you already know my answer."

Blake nodded and hugged her again.

Their lips met each other's again, conveying things that words never could.

Their hearts beat as one, full and strong.

When they parted, Weiss brushed their noses together.

"Then... I'll see you tomorrow."

"And every day after that," she promised.

Blake looped both of her pinkie fingers around Weiss' and gave a little squeeze.

"I love you, Weiss."

"I love you, Blake."

Their names would forever be engraved into each other's hearts, along with the storybooks painted over their lives, the memories dancing in their minds, and the soft kisses pressing on their lips.

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...

A/N: Thank you all so much for following through and reading until the end. I know it was a rough journey, but we all made it through! It's be a fun few months posting it for you guys!

I tried to add in Winter a bit more in this final chapter, since we now know about her character in the canon. And it's always nice to imagine their father being a nice guy, and Blake's parents being a nice couple.

Again, I hope you all enjoyed this story with me! Thanks for reading!