-Your Pov-

Dating a Schnee was difficult. This was something pretty much everyone knew. To date one, it would require a lot of effort and dedication put in. If it was easy, then both of the Schnee sisters would be in a marriage to some fancy rich guy. But, everyone knew that wasn't the case. Dating a Schnee required patience, patience for all the galas they had to attend, patience for all charity events they would have. It required a thick skin as they tended to be very blunt, and sometimes lacked the social grace to avoid saying things that might hurt someone's feelings. And if you were going to meet their father, then you needed an even thicker skin. Both of the Schnees were strong independent women who didn't need a man, and everyone knew it. There was no shortage of flirts at bars who figured this out, and then left when they figured out their usual cheeky one-liners weren't going to work. To most guys, it was intimidating and few bothered to try. It wasn't that the Schnee sisters were elitists, or stuck up. They simply knew what they wanted in a man, and weren't afraid to turn someone down.

Dating Winter Schnee was almost universally accepted to be next to impossible. You needed double the patience to date her, as she was always way on one mission or another, always gone on a deployment for Atlas, or so it seemed to those who had dated her. And, she went to double the galas and charity balls as both a Schnee, and one of the leaders in the Atlas military. Dating her required one to be able to bounce back quickly, or at the very least be better at hiding their feelings, as Winter had no problem listing every undesirable trait in someone, including her partner. And like Weiss, Winter was self-motivated and knew exactly what she wanted and what she didn't. In fact, Winter didn't bother with dates. She could tell almost immediately if she was wasting her time with someone, a fact that irked most young men around her age. And again, it wasn't out of an inflated sense of self worth. The simple fact was this: Young men needed or wanted Winter Schnee more than Winter Schnee needed or wanted young men. Jacques had tried many times to get her to marry someone, perhaps a business partner or a higher up in the Atlas military. But, Winter was unafraid to stand up to anybody, even people perceived as untouchable, such as her father.

And how did you know all this? How did you know how difficult it was to date one of the Schnee sisters? Why did you know it took almost double the effort to date Winter? Why did you know the secrets about dating her any eligible bachelor would kill to know? Because you, (y/n) Nikos were her boyfriend of the last two years. Out of everyone else in the world who would be lucky to have her ( which in your mind was the entire world) she had decided you interested her more than anyone of them, and why she agreed to go on a single date with you. And you had known even back then. When she said you were getting only one chance, she had meant it. That was something else that threw most people off about the Schnee sisters. Men were so used to women saying, things like " this is the last time"or, " you only get one chance" and not meaning it. And so, when Weiss or Winter came along, no one believed them when they said those things. That was one of the main reasons no one else had really been successful in landing in a relationship with one of them. They treated them like they were just normal girls, who stupid tricks and pick-up lines would work on. ( Pick Up lines never work, and much less on one of the Schnees.) But, you had known from the very start with Winter that if she had been unimpressed with you on the date, then that would have been it. You wouldn't get a second date, hell you wouldn't get a call back if you had been unimpressive to her. Because Winter didn't listen to any excuses people would make, and she knew how important her time was. She was unapologetic about that, a fact that threw most people off.

One of the other things that most people couldn't handle about Winter, is that she wore the pants in the relationship. That isn't to say she walked all over you, or was abusive. But, if Winter didn't want to do something, then there was no power on this earth that could make her. It didn't matter how excited you were to potentially do something. If Winter didn't want to partake in it, she would simply say " no" and that was the end of all arguments to be had about it. And if you felt like arguing the point, you were very quickly back to being a single man. And if Winter wanted to do something you didn't, there wasn't an argument. Either you went with her, or she went by herself, and you were back to being single. Of course, you knew that once she knew you, she was more open to compromise. However, most guys were so obsessed with the idea of being dominant in a relationship that they couldn't handle the idea of a woman who knew how to shoot them down.

Winter Schnee also did not kiss on the first date, much less have sex. It had been a year and a half into your relationship before the two of you began to be intimate. And, it had been a few weeks before she kissed you. To so many guys, this was an anomaly. They expected something from a woman, just because she had looked at them in a certain way, and so couldn't handle it with Winter. They assumed that they could build the intimacy she wanted to have with someone in a single night, when in reality it could take months, if not years. And when the two of you did have sex, she was also in charge. And, she never hurt you and was willing to compromise. But, if she didn't want to do something, then like it always was with her, no amount of coercion would help your case.

She also wasn't just your girlfriend. Winter had many roles and responsibilities. The daughter of Jacques Schnee. Specialist in the Atlas military. Weiss's older sister. And also your boyfriend. One thing you had always known is that being your boyfriend wasn't the most important thing to her. The two of you could break up right now, and she would be fully functional. To her, her most important obligation was to herself, and then to her family, and then to the military, and then to you. If you disrespected any of those things, especially her younger sister, than the two of you would be over, with no room for debate or discussion. It wasn't that you came last in her life, or you were unimportant to her. It was simply she came first, and being your girlfriend was the least important of her many important responsibilities.

If one had read what you had said about Winter so far, then they would be left to wonder why you were even dating her if it was that much work. And the answer to that was simple: She was Winter Schnee. Sure, she may hurt your feelings from time to time, but she always made a note to herself, and never did it again. And sure, she was always busy, but never let it be said Winter never made time for you. Sure, she may have had many obligations other than her one to you as your girlfriend, but she always made time for you. As you had to be patient, so was she. As you had to have a thick skin, so did she. Winter Schnee wasn't like other girls. And, that was a great thing.

Because, you could have had pretty much any other girl you wanted. You were (y/n) Nikos, world champion, from a line of people who had been world champion. Far and wide, your reputation echoed as one of a man who had never lost a fight, could not lose a fight. Your little sister was making a name for herself as well, with her being called the " Invincible Girl" while your title was simple. " The man who could not fall." But to Winter? None of that mattered.

Sure, she was proud of your achievements. Often, she would cut missions early and leave work early to see your matches, and be there for things such as press conferences. But, it didn't matter to her mow many people you could beat in a fight, or what the rest of the world thought of you. They spoke of you like you were some demigod, but she knew the truth. You were a man, a human being. And she always judged you on your merits of such. Being the man who couldn't fall didn't earn you any special treatment from her, and in turn, her status as a Schnee wasn't supposed to garner her special treatment with you. It had been so refreshing for you to meet her, and that she had been able to talk with you.

It was more irritating than anything else in the world when you had to meet your fans. Oh sure, you loved them. But, they fell into two basic camps. The fangirls who would literally throw their panties on stage at you after a fight you won, and tried to sleep with you. And your fanboys who thought that was the coolest thing in the entire world, and tried to get you to tell them the secret to your " success." You had moderate fans, but for some reason, those were never the ones you got to meet. Because of your status, you never got to have an intimate relationship. That is, until Winter Schnee had marched into your life.

When you had needed sponsors, your manager had suggested being sponsored by the Schnee family, and so you met them for dinner. You didn't think much of Jacques, and Whitley, and could see instantly why Weiss and Winter did their best to distance themselves from him. However, Jacques had agreed to sponsor you ( less for your sake, and more for having you affiliated with the Schnee family.) and even suggested an arranged marriage between you and Winter. She had shut the idea down on the spot, but then had surprised everyone when she said that she would agree to one date with you. Even back then, you knew that the unspoken part of it was ' take it or leave it.' And you took it, and the two of you had a great time.

You talked about all the difficulties of the reputations that followed you around. For you, you talked about all the expectations placed on you, all the people who assumed they knew everything about you, and how you were looking for something so different than what your fangirls thought you wanted. And Winter had told you about how many people wanted to date her because she was a Schnee, like that was extra points in some demented game they had. She went on to tell you how they tried to both treat her like an equal and inferior at the same time. The date had gone well, and you dropped her off at the mansion. All she had said was, " Same time next Friday," before going back inside to her house.

And so, the two of you ended up in a relationship. Despite all the difficulties it came with, you loved it, loved her. And you knew she felt the same. Winter rarely told you she loved you, not being comfortable with such outward displays of affection. But, she had her own way of showing you how much she cared, that perhaps meant more than just saying some words ever could. The two of you understood each other. You knew she was never going to do anything for Valentines Day, and she knew you were always going to. She knew you were more outwardly affectionate, and accepted it, and you accepted her displays of affection, even if they would have seem muted to some people.

There was only one part of the relationship you wished wasn't there. How much time you spent away from each other. Between your title as the champion of Vale you had to uphold and her responsibilities, you were lucky if the two of you managed to spend a week together before being called apart. The both of you were supportive of each other's careers, and would never ask the other to give it up. You two were mature enough to have both your loved one, and the career you loved. If you needed to, you would give up the stupid title to be with her, but you knew she would never want you do. The both of you made it work. It didn't mean you missed her less when she was on missions.

She never got to tell you what it is she did on missions, they were all classified and you weren't part of the Atlas military. All you were able to do was hope she was okay. And each and every time she was, but each and every time you were going to worry. You just couldn't help it. The worst part was never knowing how long she was going to be away for. It could be just a day or two she spent away from you, or as it had been before, months. On most of these missions, you weren't able to talk with her, knowing she needed to focus. And so, all you could do was wait for her to come home.

And this time, it looked like she was going to be gone for your anniversary, which was tomorrow. It wasn't the biggest deal in the world, as it was only a date on a calendar, and you knew when she did arrive, the two of you would do something special and meaningful together. But still. Sighing, you strummed on your guitar before starting to sing to yourself about how much you missed her.

This time, this place misused, mistakes

Too long, too late, who was I to make you wait?

Just one chance, just one breath

Just in case there's just one left

'Cause you know you know, you know

That I love you I have loved you all along and I miss you

Been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go

Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask last chance for one last dance

'Cause with you, I'd withstand

All of hell to hold your hand

I'd give it all I'd give for us

Give anything, but I won't give up

'Cause you know you know, you know

That I love you I have loved you all along and I miss you

Been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go

Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

So far away, so far away

Been far away for far too long

So far away, so far away

Been far away for far too long

But you know, you know, you know

I wanted, I wanted you to stay

'Cause I needed, I need to hear you say

That I love you, I have loved you all along

And I forgive you, for being away for far too long

So keep breathing, 'cause I'm not leaving

Hold on to me and never let me go

Keep breathing, 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore

Believe it, hold on to me and

Never let me go, keep breathing

Hold on to me and never let me go (Keep breathing)

Hold on to me and never let me go

-Winter Pov-

I stand outside of the house I have with (y/n) Nikos, a smile on my face. Since our anniversary was tomorrow, I had decided to try and surprise him by coming home from a deployment early. I know he would try and act like all it is was a date on the calendar if I missed it, but I would have felt terrible not being home for it. But, I stop from opening the door when I hear him start to sing. In the time I've been with him, this is the first time I've ever heard him sing. He sings about the struggles of us being apart so much, and a lump forms in my throat.

When he finishes the song, I know what I need to do, and so I call General Ironwood. I brief him that the mission went well, and then take a deep breath, before I ask for a month off. He doesn't even think about it, he simply tells me to take a break, and spend some times with my loved ones. Thanking him, I finish the call and place my scroll into my pocket. Taking a deep breath again, I knock on the door.

A few minutes pass, before (y/n) opens up the door. His beautiful green/( eye color) eyes widen, and he pulls me into the house, and closes the door, before pulling me into a big hug. I return the hug, and rock him back and forth as I feel him begin to cry in a mix of joy and happiness. " I love you Winter," he says.

" I love you too (y/n)," I tell him. I don't say it as often as perhaps I should, choosing to use it only for moments like these when all other words are inadequate. " And, I'll never let you go."

( let me know what you thought. I'm actually super proud of this one.)