#bumblebyweek2025

Yang sighed heavily, absentmindedly stroking the Bumblebaby bump. It became more of a conscious movement to soothe the wriggler within when she felt movement.

“Something wrong?” Blake asked, setting their drinks down on the coffee table before sitting next to Yang.

“Just thinking.”

“Oh? Lien for your thoughts.”

Yang raised an eyebrow. “They’re worth that much?”

“They are to me. If you want to talk, I want to hear it.” Blake gave her an encouraging smile.

“My birthday had me thinking… I’m twenty nine now, and my future is so different to what I thought it would be this time last year. Because of this,” Yang patted her bump. “I know we planned to have kids eventually, I just… I didn’t realise that would mean being benched as a huntress.”

“Nor did I, but that last mission of mine was a nasty wake up call.”

Yang shivered. She took Blake’s hand and tried not to squeeze as hard as she felt she needed to. “Yeah. We can’t risk that sort of thing going wrong again. Not until our kid doesn’t need us. So, yeah, I was thinking about how much things have changed.”

“That was what made you sigh like that?”

Yang sighed again. “What was I, seventeen or eighteen when Doctor Oobleck asked why I wanted to be a huntress? I thought I wanted adventure, and saving people was a nice bonus.”

“Oh Yang…” Blake kissed her. “By the time we were reunited in Haven it was clear to me you weren’t in it just for the adventure any more. You were there because you wanted to support your friends, and protect people. Your actions prove that whether you’re benched or not, you’re a true huntress. Adventure became the bonus, saving people became your goal.”

“I know.” Yang kissed her back, a quick but affectionate peck. “I just… What’s my goal now? Besides do my best to raise our Bumblebaby. Sure, I knew I wanted kids, but I want to be more than ‘just’ a mother. But being an active huntress isn’t something either of us can be. Not yet. So what do I do after maternity leave is over? Until I can be a huntress again, I mean.”

“If you want to save people, then there’s always search and rescue. It’s safer than being a huntress. Or you could join me in the White Fang. That offer’s always open.” Blake cleared her throat. “No pressure, but it might fit better with having a kid around. The Fang’s been a safe place to have kids around ever since my parents and Ilia took charge.”

“Doesn’t it sometimes get violent?” Yang winced, but she had to ask.

“Rarely these days.” Blake shrugged. “If it does, then kids are protected. It’s still a lot safer than taking kids on huntress missions would be. Besides, having kids around makes bigots think twice; it makes them look bad, although that’s not why the Fang welcomes kids. That would be because it makes childcare far more affordable for faunus.”

Yang nodded slowly. “That makes sense. And I guess I could help with security…”

“That you could. But neither of us needs to worry about working until the baby is older, maybe even weaned if my parents have their way.” Blake kissed her again. “Whatever we do, it’ll be better if we’re together. I don’t mean to put any pressure on you—”

Yang chuckled. “No pressure, I know. Don’t worry: I want to be with you too, we’ve been working together as partners within a team of huntresses for over a decade. Whatever the future brings, I want to face it with you.”

Blake smiled lovingly at her parents antics. “So when I get home to Menagerie I will be on light duty for the rest of my pregnancy.” Her parents looks turned concerned. “I’m okay and the babies are both okay, but to be as safe as possible, I’m going to have to laze around with some good books and let Yang wait on me hand and foot for awhile.”

Her father guffawed before saying, “must be a hereditary thing then. Your mother did the same with me and she was only pregnant with you.”

Kali playfully slapped his chest. “Don’t listen to him. He INSISTED that he had to take care of me as soon as we learned you were coming. Wouldn’t hear any different from our parents OR my midwives.” Kali’s face turned serious again. “Are you sure even you won’t get bored reading that much?”

“I wouldn’t worry about that!” Yang piped up from the other side of the room, “our favorite nephew here has an idea.” When Blake turned to look she saw her wife with said nephew up on her shoulders walking over. Wyatt was holding a purple and yellow gift bag not much smaller than he was.

“Here,” he said simply as he handed the bag to her. “A gaming console that Uncle Corvus gave me. It will hopefully help fill in any extra time so you don’t get bored.”

“Wyatt! Why would you want to give away one of your birthday presents?” Kali asked over the scroll.

“Honestly, Maw-Maw Kali, I CAN’T use it. My sorcery semblance doesn’t react well to electronic devices. So until I get to New Beacon, and Professor Pine helps me get it under control, it would be safest on an island far, far away from me. Now Mama Ruby and I are due in the kitchens for baking duty. Maw-Maw Kali, Paw-Paw Ghira, good evening.” With that the tall white haired boy strolled out of the room, presumably towards the kitchen.

After a minute of stunned silence Ghira spoke up, “Kitten, didn’t you say this was his FIFTH birthday?”

************

Yang opened the door into the mud room, stepped in, and then immediately turned to go back out before emptying her stomach in the yard. She walked back in grumbling, “sympathetic morning sickness should only be in the mornings.”

Blake had left a portion of fish curry on the stove but Yang’s stomach rebelled at the sight of it. Instead she opened a pack of ginger snaps and munched on a few while walking to the library. Blake was napping on the couch, a pillow tucked under her belly, and a book on the floor. Yang smiled and quietly picked up the book. It was the latest from the ‘Ninjas of Love’ author.

“Knights of Passion,” Yang read the title to herself. The dustcover was fairly plain but the picture on the actual cover showed a shirtless, broad shouldered, slim waisted, blond man still in cuisses and greaves. Kneeling at his feet was a petite blanchette and busty red-head. Their peasant blouses showing a lot of…come to think about it he looked a lot like Jaune! And the white haired model could pass as a Schnee! “Cutie-cat, we are having a talk about this when you wake up.”

Nowhere near ready for bed, and not wanting to wake up the mother to be, Yang walked into the living room and turned on the television. Looking at Wyatt’s gift she decided to see how good the new games looked. She was slightly surprised to see a game already loaded. “Ancient Tablets, huh, why not?”

‘MEMORY INSUFFICIENT’

The message that flashed on the screen made zero sense. Was the console a dud? Yang quickly used the help screen to go into the settings menu and no, there were DOZENS of saved games. The Yang noticed something truly odd. Each game was saved at 1.9% completion. Out of curiosity Yang restarted one of the saved files. It was the very end of the ‘Character Creation’ part of the game. A blonde haired, purple eyed female cat faunus stared out at her. Trying another she sees a black haired, blue eyed male cat faunus. Yet another shows another combination. Yang didn’t know how many of the files she opened but she had eaten an entire box of cookies while doing so. Two files stood out, both girls, both at a whopping 2% completion. They had names. Luna and Summer.