A Rose for My Valentine

Warmest Winter

Later That Night, Winter Schnee's Penthouse

The room was almost completely white - the satin bedsheets, the bed robes and walls a pristine quartz, but Weiss still felt extremely blue. Her tears darkened Winter's robe as they cascaded over the smooth surface.

"Weiss, tell me what happened. Take a deep breath." Winter soothed, rubbing her sleek hand over Weiss' back. Usually she would be harsher with her younger sister, but she could tell something was troubling her.

"It's Ruby." Weiss said between sobs, "I think she's ch-cheating on me." Weiss gasped out, grasping at Winter's robes. "I heard her making pl-plans on the phone w-with someone else. On Valentine's Day to boot!"

Winter's eyes shot open. From what she knew of Ruby she was carefree and cared only of Weiss' happiness. This came as a bleak surprise to her. "Do you know who it could be with? Couldn't it just be with her sister again?"

"I don't think so, Winter." Weiss wiped the tears from her eyes. "A few days ago she said she was going to the bank, but the bank wasn't open. She wasn't home until much later, and she was so tired we didn't even have dinner together!"

"Weiss, think this through. What do you know of her plans? Come on, deep breaths now."

Weiss inhaled a deep breath, then let it out with a shake. "Well, she made sure it was when I would be tired from college, and she said that I didn't know about it. She's had this planned for weeks!"

Winter looked at her younger sister with a scarily blank expression. "Weiss, that could mean anything."

"W-What?"

"Did you not hear the end of the phone call? Is that really all you know?"

"Yeah, that's all I hear before I left."

Winter dragged her hand slowly down her own face, silently happy she had washed off her makeup beforehand. "Weiss, do you remember what I always told you when we were kids? Stories are no good without an ending."

"What do you mean?" Weiss sniffled, "How does that-"

"Remember that old book I used to read to you at bedtime, about the Huntsman and the Grimm?"

Weiss nodded, "The fairy tale?"

"The very same. Remember how at one point, the Grimm had the Huntsman cornered, and he reached for his flask for one, final drink of whiskey?"

"Yeah?"

"I would always stop there and pretend to close the book and end the story. You never knew what happened next, because I hadn't read the ending. This is the exact same scenario. You know of the Grimm, but for all you know, like the story, the Grimm could simply be a rabbit casting a shadow!"

Weiss thought for a moment, tears pausing at her eyelashes. "You know, I think you may be right. I'll try to find the answer through calm logic like you do." Weiss silently thanked her sister and gave her a hearty hug. "The only question I still have..."

"Yes?" Winter pulled back from the hug, looking Weiss straight in the eyes.

Weiss began to giggle. "Do you think I can turn into a bird like the Huntsman?"

They both began to laugh, tears now welling in Winter's eyes as well. "Weiss, you know that was a fairytale, but he did get the girl in the end. Now go on home, it's getting late."