Inside Salem's meeting room, Cinder and Salem sit alone at the table. Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai wait by the door. Cinder is breathing heavily with effort while Salem has her right hand casually held out.
"Do you feel it? Don't fight it, girl. It can sense your trepidation. You must make it dread you."

A soft clicking sound makes Cinder turn toward the door. Suneel walks into the room as a jellyfish-based Grimm with long red tentacles, and a black and white body follows behind. Emerald and Mercury react fearfully to the Grimm and pull back as it enters. It glides its way over to Salem at the head of the table. Once the Seer Grimm reaches her side, she leans closer to it. After a moment, she puts her hands together. Suneel stands behind Cinder, "Cinder, I am going to ask you this one more time, and I expect a clear answer. Did you kill Ozpin?"

Cinder holds her arm out, about to call Emerald over to speak for her. Salem slams both hands onto the table, eyes glowing as she speaks. "No!" Cinder lowers her arm, as Salem demand, "I want to hear you say it."

Cinder's voice rasps a few times first before speaking, hoarsely, "Yes."

Salem looks at her for a long moment before speaking at the Seer Grimm, "Reinforce our numbers at Beacon. The Relic is there. As long as Saint doesn't return to Vale, that relic is ours." The Seer Grimm glides away. At the door, Emerald and Mercury draw away from it just as they did before. Salem turns her head thoughtfully, looking in the direction away from Cinder and bringing her fingers to her chin, "What are you planning, Saint?"
~~~

Into a barn, our farm boy walks around with a pitchfork in hand, which has loose bits of hay strung about the floor. He passes a sink with a mirror behind it, and something makes him pause and take a closer look. He sees his own reflection and lifts a lock of his hair as if expecting something different. He leans forward and examines the mirror more closely, "Hello?"

Just as Oscar is about to back away, a voice booms out, sending him crashing backward, "Hello! I'm Professor Ozpin!" Oscar looks up at the sink and mirror from the floor of the barn, breathing heavily. Oscar gasp as an image of a woman with (e/c) eyes and (h/c) hair appeared before him. The vision disappeared as from outside the barn, a woman's voice calls out, "Oscar? You be careful with those tools!" Oscar quickly got back to his feet and muttered, "Who was she?"
~~~

Yang awakens with a gasp from her nightmare. The robotic arm given to her by General Ironwood rests on her bedside table, out of the box. Yang looks at it for a moment before turning her face away. She hears laughter coming from downstairs. Yang heads downstairs to discover Professors Bartholomew Oobleck and Peter Port sitting at her kitchen table and laughing with her father, Taiyang Xiao Long. "And, and, and then, in comes Qrow, wearing a skirt! I was just a TA, I-I didn't know what to do, so I just... I just left the room to laugh!"

Yang comes to the kitchen door while the three laugh. "We told him it was a kilt! He'd never worn a uniform before, so he didn't know!"
"That is terrible! What is wrong with you!?"
"Hey! The girls all said he had nice legs! I did that jerk a favor! Besides, that's not even the best part! See, then we-"

Port puts his right leg on the tabletop, cutting off Taiyang. "Like what you see?"

The three laugh, and Port loses his balance. He tries to save himself from falling, but ends up on the floor, "Whoa-oh!"

There's even more laughter. Taiyang claps from entertainment, and Port joins in the hilarity from the floor. Yang giggles, too, covering her mouth, but the three teachers become alerted to her presence. Oobleck stands while Port gets up off the floor, "Oh, uh, Miss Xiao Long! Uh, please, join us."

Yang enters while Oobleck laughs, a little bit embarrassed, "Oh, yes, yes, pull up a chair. Please, pull up a chair."
"I'm good."

She hoists herself backward up onto the kitchen counter, besides where her father stands. Port and Oobleck sit back down, "So, what are you doing here?"

"Despite popular belief, teachers do have a life outside the classroom. I'm sure you know that (Y/n) doesn't always behave like a teacher; then again, she does her own thing."

"Professor Goodwitch is working 'round the clock to restore Beacon to its former glory! But, Mistral wasn't built in a day. And we all need rest from time to time."

"Now look, let's not worry about that right now. So, there we were, standing in the auditorium, looking at Qrow, wearing a skirt. Then Oz tells everyone, "It's time to work on our landing strategy!" It's funnier since (Y/n) was the one to teach us. Qrow didn't know how to act around her."
"The Branwen twins have always been... interesting, to say the least."
"That sure didn't seem to stop young Tai."

"Hey, come on, man, she's right here."
"Oh, please! She's a mature young woman! If she can handle combat, she can handle a few jabs at her old man!"
"That's not the issue, Pete! And besides, she's still a teenager!"

" "She" is also in the room, and can be directly spoken to. And I think I've been through enough to be considered an adult at this point." Yang hops off the counter.

"Adult or not, you've still got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world."
"Oh my gosh! Does every father figure have the same three condescending phrases?"
"Yeah! But we only use them when we mean it!"

Port and Oobleck look at each other as father and daughter argue, a touch uncomfortable. Oobleck takes a sip from his mug while Port pulls at his collar.
"Is that so?" Yang replies.

"It is so! If you honestly think that you're ready to go out there on your own, ha, well, I guess you lost some brain cells along with that arm."

Yang gasps and pulls back from her father's face while a stunning. Port leans forward, and Oobleck's mouth drops open and his glasses slip down out of Oobleck's hand to safely land on the table. All three stare at Taiyang for a few seconds. "You... jerk!" Yang playfully punches Taiyang, and the father and daughter laugh together.
"Are we finally talking about the Goliath in the room?" Oobleck whispers to Port.

Taiyang and Yang look at each other and then laugh. Relieved laughter comes from both Port and Oobleck. "Oh, Miss Xiao L— Yang, if you don't mind me asking, why haven't you tried on the arm yet?"
"Oh, yes, yes! A piece of Atlas technology given out like that is rare indeed! Not to mention the effort it took to deliver it here. It seems a great many people want to see you returned to normal."

"I'm... scared." Yang looked down slightly

Taiyang takes a sideways step closer to Yang, watching and listening, "Everyone keeps talking about me getting back to normal. And I appreciate it, but... this is normal now."

Oobleck and Port exchange sad, knowing glances, "It's just taking me a while to get used to it." Yang finishes as her father speaks up, "Well, normal is what you make of it."

"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to pretend like nothing happened? I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone. And it's never coming back."

"You're right. It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you want to be. You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon." Taiyang puts his hand on his daughter's shoulder, "You can do whatever you put your mind to. So whenever you're ready to stop moping and get back out there, I'll be there for you."

"Fear is like any other emotion. It comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it. Why even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time." Port speaks up.

Yang, unconvinced, "Really? You?"

Oobleck whispers to Yang, "He's afraid of mice."

Port pounds the table, "They bring only disease and famine!"
"Along with that, you would have Ms. (Y/n) get them for you."
"She is the main one who listens to me."

Yang laughs while Port rants about the creepiness of mice. Taiyang watches her.

"And don't even get me started on their tails! So hairless, and simply unnatural!"
"Port, I assure you, you are safe. There are no mice here right now."

Yang was taking the last steps at the top of the stairs. She turns partially and lifts her hand to those below, "Goodnight!"

The arm on the bedside table is the first thing she sees when she walks into her room. She looks at it for a moment but then moves to the window when she hears the front door to the house open, followed by the voices of the three men. She decides to stand out of side beside the window and listen. "Thanks for having us over, Tai."
"Any time. You're always welcome."
"It may be a while before we return. There is still much work to be done at the school. It must have been hard on (Y/n) since she was there with Ozpin since the opening."
"I hesitate to ask, but is there any word from young Miss Rose?"

"Not yet."
"Have you thought about going after her? Trying to bring her home?"

"I've got to... look after some things. But when Ruby went missing so did (Y/n), so I'm sure that she's being protected." Taiyang glances toward her bedroom window, Yang moves out of sight again and squeezes her right upper arm, looking dejected.
~~~~

Beowolf stomps into view and growls at the four kids. Just as it is about to leap, it is stabbed through by Qrow. Three disintegrating bodies of other Beowolves are just behind you. A black raven caws from a tree branch on eye level with Qrow, catching his attention. He looks at it, and it flies off, following RNJR. You walked next to Qrow as he scoffs, "Luck."

It's raining in the village of Higanbana. Through the window of an inn, the four kids are discussing with the proprietor. Qrow sits at a table, watching. You went to the restroom, so Qrow was quietly waiting for you.

A waitress sets a glass with liquor and ice in front of him. "Oh, I didn't order-"

"From the woman upstairs. Red eyes. Said you wouldn't mind bottom shelf." The waitress points on the second floor.

Qrow turns and looks up; he was concerned about what would you say about his drinking, Qrow turns back, "Thanks."

Waitress winks at him, "But I went ahead and gave you top. Lucky you." The waitress smirk dies down as you sat down next to Qrow. Qrow places his hand on your thigh signaling that he was with you, the waitress glares at you as she walks away, "Raven is upstairs, try to settle something with her, she is your sister. I'll stay here." Qrow leans forward and pecks your cheek, "Yeah." Qrow takes his glass and heads upstairs. Raven Branwen waits for him at one of the tables, her mask atop it.
"Hello, brother."

Qrow stares at her from the top of the stairs for a moment before moving to her, "Raven."

He pulls the chair that's beside her and drags it to a position across from her instead. With his hand on the back of the chair, he looks at her expectantly. Raven rolls her eyes and moves her mask to the side. Qrow sits down, "So, what do you want?"

"A girl can't just catch up with her family?" Raven smiles, trying to be more welcoming.
"She can, but you're not. Now how 'bout we get on with it? Unless you plan on keeping these comin'." He sets the glass down in front of her, "Does she have it?"

Qrow doesn't answer right away, instead running his fingertip along the edge of his glass, "Did you know Yang lost her arm?"
"That's not-" Qrow got irritated by his sister's words, "Rhetorical question, I know you know. It's just obnoxious that you'd bring up family and then carry on like your own daughter doesn't exist."

"I saved her."
"Once. Because that was your rule, right? Real "Mom of the Year" material, sis. (Y/n) was there for Yang, raising her when that was something you were supposed to do."

Raven leans forward and grabs Qrow by the forearm, stilling his sarcastic, nonchalant motions. The view slowly spins above their heads as she speaks intently to him, "I told you Beacon would fall, and it did. I told you Ozpin would fail, and he has. Now you tell me. Does. Salem. Have it?"

"I thought you weren't interested in all of that."

"I just want to know what we are up against if they are anything like (Y/n) this will be harder than we can imagine."

"And which "we" are you referring to?"

Raven glares and finally lets go of her brother and sits back down with a noise of disgust, "You should come back, Raven. The only way we'd beat her is by working together. All of us."

"You're the one who left. The tribe raised us, and you turned your back on them."

"They were killers and thieves."

"They were your family. Leaving it all behind for her."

"You have a very skewed perception of that word. And I know her meaning behind family is meaningful without any gaps."

Raven stands up, upset, "I lead our people now. And as a leader, I will do everything in my power to ensure our survival."

"I saw. The people of Shion saw, too."

"The weak die, the strong live. Those are the rules."

"Well, you've certainly got someone strong on your side. I've seen the damage."

Raven turns away, "We couldn't have known the Grimm would set in as quickly as they did."

"I'm not talking about the Grimm."

Still not facing Qrow, Raven looks up, eyes widening slightly at his words.

"And I'm not talking about you, either."
"If you don't know where the Relic is, then we have nothing left to talk about."

As she reaches for her mask, Qrow grabs onto the top of it.

"I don't know where the Spring Maiden is, either, but if you do, I need you to tell me. Colliding both Spring and (Y/n) is a chance we can take."
"And why would I do that? You are going to tell your little girlfriend." Raven pulls her mask out of Qrow's grasp.
"Because without her, we're all going to die. And keep speaking that way about (Y/n), keep in mind that she saved our lives numerous times. As of now, she is your family too."

A moment of tense silence passes between them as a nearby lantern dies out.

Raven scoffs, "So after all those years she's finally at your side? How long was it seven years?" Raven glares at the ground, "And which "we" are you referring to?" Qrow grimaces as Raven walks away. Raven unsheathed her sword, and Qrow looks up, unhappy. Raven walks into her red portal and disappears. The sound of breaking glass and a gasp alerts Qrow, who turns to see the waitress, trembling at the sight of Raven disappearing. She takes a cautious step backward as she looks sideways at Qrow.

Qrow gestures to his glass, "Make this one a double."

You were still sitting at the original table Qrow was sitting waiting for his return. Two books were laying in front of you, one had a navy blue hardcover, that was slightly covered with the words, 'The Tale of Two Brothers' The other had a similar design but the words read, 'The Saint.'
A single black feather landed in front of you, taking a closer look you smiled at it, knowing who was the owner of the feather. Raven had made herself a promise to you that every time she crossed paths with you, she would drop a single feather as her word to you, "A feather is every moment I had with you, after all the years you would save my brother and me, this is my way of thanking you." You picked up the feather and placed it in the book of Two Brothers. Raven didn't have anything against you; however, she knows that your loyalty to Ozpin is more significant than anything, getting you away from Ozpin was her issue.

"Let's go." Qrow stands behind you; you take notice of his flask in hand, "Alright." You pulled out a silver key for the inn that team RNJR were also staying for the next two days. Both you and Qrow make it to your shared room, "Are you okay?" Qrow had his face planted into the pillows, "Comfort me, please." You smiled at his childish behavior, and you sat at the edge of the bed, you wrapped your arms around his head, bringing him closer to you. Qrow rested his head on your chest, taking in your scent, "Can we stay like this?" You felt his grip around you tighten, as if he let's go, you would be taken away. "Yeah, we can." You were his Safe Haven, in a way, Qrow hated himself for not moving forward with you before everything happened. He should have listened to his nieces about becoming your lover and fill that void that you had since Suneel. As for you, you loved Qrow. You would do anything to protect him and his family, since, for them, Death is a permanent one. As long as you stay in front of them, nothing will pass you. Or so you hoped.

"May I?" Qrow placed his hand on your waist as he looks up to you. Qrow had a small tint of pink on his cheek, "Laying here with you is making it difficult for me to... You know..."
"Okay."

End of Chapter

A/n: Letting you guys know the next chapter might be a lemon, not too sure if it's going to be a short chapter. But I'll update the plot chapter right after, that way if no one wants to read the lemon they can skip it
Michaelis~