Road To Recovery (epilogue)

EARLY PATRON RELEASE~

At last, the girls can get back together!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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												Epilogue. Teammates

Yang sat propped up in her hospital bed, listening to the panicked murmurs of the nurses just outside her door.

She'd been asleep when Blake had slipped out the window, and upon waking to an empty room, Yang had admittedly been rather concerned. But she knew her partner, and she knew that Blake would be back on her own time.

Yang rested for most of the day, doing her best not to look down at her right arm - or what was left of it. She was still scared about having to live the rest of her life this way, but she was seriously considering Winter's offer. Still, she knew it would be a while longer before she came to a definite decision.

About three hours after noon, Yang heard a small commotion in the hallway, from the nurses again. But rather than frantic, this time they sounded relieved.

Yang perked up and looked to the doorway expectantly. Not a minute later, Blake walked in with a sheepish smile on her lips.

"I got in trouble." Yang chuckled softly.

"Yeah. I heard."

"Sorry."

Blake entered the room slowly, and then Yang noticed there was someone else behind her whom she was supporting and whispering gently to. The blonde girl felt her heart lift at the sight of her.

"Weiss!"

The heiress couldn't help but smile and tear up upon seeing her, too. The others had all seen one another since the battle, but she and Yang were the only two who had yet to be together since.

Blake happily helped Weiss over to Yang's bed and let her sit on one edge. Weiss was already crying before she could manage to bury her face in Yang's shoulder. She wrapped her arms around her and wept softly, mourning her teammate's sacrifice.

Blake quietly walked around to the other side of Yang's bed and sat down, putting one arm around either of the others.

Yang sighed shakily, overwhelmed with emotion to have them both back safely with her once more. And she was grateful that none of them seemed to mind that she could only return their hugs halfway.

For a while, she just held them close, and appreciated the feelings of their arms around her.

"Thank god..." she whispered. "You're all okay..." She brushed her cheek against Blake's while rubbing her left hand up and down Weiss' back gingerly. "Ruby told me... what happened to you, Weiss. God, I was so worried about you..."

Weiss exhaled slowly against blonde locks and found her voice.

"Me, too... I was so worried about both of you." She pulled away a little, and her eyes flicked down to Yang's right arm. "Yang... I'm-"

"It's alright. You don't have to say it. It's not like it was your fault or anything."

Even though Yang was smiling, Blake and Weiss could tell it was pained. Yang had been through so much already. Why did it have to be her?

But it seemed she wasn't letting it get her down as hard as it could be.

"Actually," she continued. "Your sister offered me a bit of help."

Weiss blinked in confusion.

"Winter? She came here?"

"Yeah. While she was waiting for you to wake up. I'm still thinkin' about what I want, but it was awfully nice of her to offer. Next time you talk to her, tell her I say thanks again, will ya?"

"Of course."

"Where's Ruby?"

Weiss was busy wiping her eyes again, so Blake answered Yang's question.

"She went to town again to help out."

"Gosh, that girl. Weiss, does she even sleep over there at all, or no?"

"Barely," the heiress mused. "She rolls around all night drooling."

"Sounds about right!"

They all chuckled together for a while, finding comfort in keeping close together on the bed. Weiss kept checking the time, and when suppertime was nearing, she told the others to expect Ruby back before long.

They talked together in subdued voices, about all the troubles on their minds. Talking helped to ease the hurt.

But at last, a small but excited knock sounded on the door. All three girls chorus an answer.

"Come in."

And Ruby darted in like a red tornado, all but jumping onto the bed and throwing her arms around all three of them at once somehow. They all called out her name softly and held her close.

Ruby was already sobbing as she clung to the three of them.

"I'm s-so glad..." she mumbled. "Everyone's okay. W-We're all o-okay. Team RWBY is back together!"

"We were never apart, you dolt."

"She's right."

"Agreed."

Ruby more or less curled up in her sister's lap with Blake and Weiss on either side.

They engaged in one more group hug, so warm, so soft, so gentle...

Ruby's stomach rumbled first, and the others chuckled.

"So," Yang spoke up. "How's about we have our first team dinner together again?"

"Sounds great," Blake said.

"Yes, please," Weiss added.

"Yeah, yeah! I can't wait!"

They politely ushered in a nurse who soon took off to fetch them some supper.

The four girls sat on the bed together with trays on their laps and enjoyed themselves for the first time in a long time.

They all helped Yang when she needed it, but never once pitied her, nor she herself.

Blake's stomach still ached a bit when she ate too much, and Weiss' throat still hurt when she swallowed. Seeing their little winces of pain always hurt Ruby in a way, too.

But they were all still here.

They'd overcome a lot of troubles together thus far, in only their first half a year together.

There would be plenty more to come.

But they knew they'd have each other.

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A/N: I didn't want to have to address Ruby's situation with Neo here. She handled it on her own as best she could and her team didn't need to know about it. This final chapter was just to wrap up (happily) for all four of these girls. If only RT could have given us something nice like this.

Anyways, thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you enjoyed! Check out some of my other alternate-finale fics too!