Epilogue (Womanising a maiden)

Vernal awoke in the early dawn snuggled up cosily with Weiss following their night of merry making. Vernal reminded Weiss that she still hasn't told her what life was like in Atlas. The thought of Atlas made Weiss reconsider if she truly wanted to leave the Branwen tribe. For once in her life, she felt content. She felt free! And, she wasn't lonely. Weiss talked about all the things she left behind (for better or worse) in Atlas.

However, Weiss would receive a loud reminder of the other life she tried to build outside of Atlas. There was a commotion within the Branwen camp. It sounded like a brawl was breaking out. Weiss ignored it until she heard gunshots. Weiss and Vernal looked at each before rushing to check what was happening.

Yang had arrived in the Branwen tribe.

Her argument with Raven for refusing to make her a portal to Qrow devolved into a scrapheap. Yang started fighting with members of the Branwen tribe when she refused to leave the camp. Raven became furious that no one in the tribe could best Yang in a fight so she jumped in. Weiss found Yang and Raven boxing each other, egged on by a ring of surrounding tribesmen. Weiss used her glyphs to break them up.

"What are you doing here?!" Weiss shouted at Yang.

Yang said nothing for a moment. She was bewildered at the sight of Weiss.

"Is this real? Weiss, is that really you? I'm not having a relapse right?" Yang says as she stands up.

Weiss heard about Beacon survivors having PTSD- the fact Yang had to question reality upon seeing her shook them to the core. Weiss was snatched away from the battle of Beacon too quickly by Jacques to learn the fate of her team thereafter. Weiss walked towards Yang and hugged her. The rallying cheers of the Branwen tribe died down, turning into confusion. Vernal ran to Raven's side and turned back to see Weiss hugging Yang.

"Who is she?!" Vernal hissed. Weiss quickly broke apart her hug and turned to Vernal.

"That would be my daughter, Yang. Her and Weiss have a history..." Raven chimed in.

"Vernal, I can explain! We were part of the same huntsmen team!" Weiss answers.

"Who is she?" Yang asks confusedly.

"I will explain everything inside! Everyone else, clear off!" Raven declares.

The Branwen tribesmen licks the wounds Yang gave them and disperses.

Yang, Weiss and Vernal are brought into Raven's chambers together. Raven briefly explains the agreement Weiss made to marry Vernal as to avoid being sold to the White Fang for ransom.

Before they can go into any further detail, Yang barks at them that the entire situation they are describing is insane! Yang insists that both she and Weiss are leaving, changing the conversation back to using Raven's semblance. Yang demands that Raven make her a portal to Qrow. Raven tries to explain why she will not entertain any business with the huntsmen but Yang won't let her get a word in.

Raven and Yang's conversation quickly turns sour. Yang ends up storming out of Raven's yurt. Weiss gets up to try talking some sense into Yang. Vernal grabs her arm before she can leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" Vernal asks passive aggressively.

"I just need a minute!" Weiss answers.

Weiss yanks her hand arm free from Vernal. She chases down Yang as they sprint towards the exit of the Branwen tribe. Yang ignores Weiss' pleas for her to stop until finding Bumblebee where she parked it.

"Get on. We're leaving," Yang snaps bluntly.

"I can't... My wife..." Weiss pants.

"Don't tell me you love her! You were **** into a marriage to save your skin. You had sex her once or twice, probably. Now I'm helping you file for divorce."

"It's not that simple!"

"Tell me what's not simple."

"She loves me!" Weiss cries. Yang pauses.

"...I will stay in the crap sack of a camp until tonight. You have until then to decide whether or not you're coming with me..." Yang responds.

"I don't want to be the bad guy here!" Weiss shouts.

"How long were you planning to keep leading her on? Weiss, this was never going to work... Sometimes, the only good thing to do is what's good yourself. All is fair in love and war."

A chill slivers its way through Weiss' heart. It crawls down her spine, resting uncomfortably in her stomach. Yang spoke the truth. Weiss had done nothing but manipulate an innocent young woman for the past two days. There was no virtue in staying with Vernal when her heart wanted to leave. All she could dream about during her isolation in Atlas following the Fall of Beacon was Team RWBY. Rejoining her team was an even better outcome for running away from home than her original plan of living with Winter wherever she was stationed in Mistral.

Yang returns to the Branwen tribe with Bumblebee and Weiss following her. Vernal frowns with her arms crossed when Weiss approaches her. Weiss on the other hand is more sorrowful. Weiss looks her wife in the eye, bows her head and whispers an apology. Vernal is quick to forgive Weiss. The naive soul is not aware of what Weiss is apologising for... Nevertheless, Weiss and Vernal spend the rest of the day chattering away.

Weiss savours the daylight while it lasts. Vernal remains on edge whenever Yang is nearby.

When night falls, Weiss and Vernal make love... for last time. Weiss waits patiently for Vernal to fall deep asleep. After she puts on her clothes, Weiss lingers while looking over Vernal. Weiss felt like she owed Vernal at least some explanation. Weiss leaves behind her underwear... The night watch, while slacking off as usual, are blissfully unaware as Yang drives away with Weiss.

Leaving Vernal was one of the hardest decisions Weiss had ever made. Vernal is heartbroken upon finding her bed empty the next morning with only Weiss' panties left behind. She could not find the strength to forgive Weiss. Vernal swore in her heart that she would end their marriage the traditional way- "till **** do us part".