Smile

Chapter 29

"Happy birthday Weiss!"

A chorus of cheers echoes out as the blindfold is removed from over Weiss's eyes, the now ten-year-old smiling with glee as she looks around the well decorated dining room. Winter, Whitley, Willow, Klein, even many of the servants had showed up to help her celebrate this momentous occasion. Of course... There is one person who happens to be absent at present, and this is glaringly obvious given the softening of Weiss's expression.

"Mom? Where's father? He was supposed to show up." Willow glances towards the door to the dining room as Weiss voices her question, a quiet sigh escaping before she begins to move.

"I don't know darling, but I'll go find out, you go ahead and enjoy yourself okay? It's your big day after all." Weiss's approving nod is all that is needed before Willow slips out and into the foyer of the manor, the festivities beginning to pick up as food is served. Of course, there are more than a few selections suitable for Weiss given her braces, all of which is to her liking, her bright expression never dampening as she enjoys her birthday as she has many times before.

Eventually, as cake is being served, a commotion becomes apparent from outside the dining area, the partially closed door making it apparent that the arguing voices belong to Jacques and Willow.

"I have more important things to do than attend a silly birthday party, woman, and for that matter, now that Weiss is ten she should be living up to the Schnee name, not be so... So childish." Jacques spits out with clear anger to his voice, his tone souring Willow's expression more and more.

"How dare you! Weiss is your daughter, you should be in your children's lives more, not... Not focusing so much on work, on the company!" Willow's retort draws out a furious scowl from Jacques, who takes a single step closer to her and finally reveals what she had, for the longest time, knew to be true, but hoped wouldn't be.

"And why should I?! The only reason I even married you, the only reason I was so kind to your father, was so that I could take control of the Schnee Dust Company. You surely must be daft, woman, if you even thought I cared one bit about anything other than the SDC." Hearing his admission, that he never loved her, and likely cares not for Weiss, Winter, or Whitley, only the Schnee Dust Company, Willow pales noticeably and takes a single step backwards. Jacques glances over towards the dining room momentarily, then looks back to Willow before once more speaking.

"That's right, woman, you thought I ever loved you? You were a means to an end, and because of you I'm right where I deserve to be."

"Nhh..." A soft yawn leaves Weiss's lips as she begins to wake, her right hand balling up before rubbing at her wet eyes. After taking a few moments to dry her eyes and push herself up so she's sitting, she gently removes her headgear, then stretches her arms out to either side before legs swing off the side of the bed.

"Bad dreams again Weiss?" Weiss glances up at Blake as the feline faunus speaks, a hesitant nod being given while a sigh escapes.

"It was a memory, my tenth birthday..." Blake gives an understanding nod before seating herself beside Weiss on the bed, an arm wrapping around her firmly as she does. Weiss does what she'd do any other time she was being consoled and leans against Blake, eyes clenching firmly shut for a few moments.

"I remember, you told us about it. Ruby and Yang are having breakfast already, I saw you crying in your sleep so I decided to stay behind and make sure you were okay."

"I'm... I'm fine, Blake... It's not the first time I've dreamt of this, and..." A sigh pierces her words before she can continue her thought, Weiss slowly looking over at Blake with a forlorn expression, "It won't be the last..." Blake says nothing in response, instead she simply squeezes Weiss's side and keeps her held close.