Work Text:
Summer winced, and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head just a touch more. Vacuo was not a place for the faint of heart.
She adjusted Ruby’s position in her arms slightly making sure she was covered, and sleeping soundly.
Just as she was about to attempt to find a way to tuck in a light blanket to help avoid a sunburn a set of hands reached over, and with far more gentleness than one might expect lightly tucked in the blanket before pausing for just a moment to lightly pat the baby on the back.
“Thank you,” Summer said gratefully to her friend. Qrow had been…a lifesaver at least lately, but realistically he’d been there for her ever since they’d been on the same team in school.
She was only just realizing now how much he helped all of them.
He rolled his eyes at her clearly telling her not to sweat it as he raised a hand over his eyes in an attempt to see something.
“Pretty sure you’ve saved my ass more than enough times to make up for anything I could possibly owe you,” he said gruffly, not entirely used to being sincerely thanked.
“No, it’s not just that,” Summer said seriously as she grabbed his arm, pulling them into a small alley that was thankfully devoid of people, not that many would be out during midday anyway if they didn’t have to be.
Qrow’s face froze, and he looked away. “Look what they did was…”
“I don’t blame them,” Summer said seriously, although her face showed underlying sadness in it. “She was always his first love. I thought that…well when she came back…”
“You didn’t deserve to be loved when it was convenient,” Qrow said simply. “She’s my sister, and he’s my friend, but that doesn’t mean I was going to abandon you.”
“No. None of you would. In time I’ll get used to it, but now I need space,” Summer said.
“How’d you convince him to let little Ruby go?” Qrow asked.
Summer laughed, light and airy bringing the mood up easily. “Raven will bring Yang, and him over for visits sometimes. We all agreed the girls needed to still be sisters. So sometimes you might see Yang over here.”
“That’s good. I was worried,” Qrow admitted honestly as he crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall after getting comfortable.
“No faith in your sister?” Summer teased, and he could tell she was making an honest effort to put it behind her.
“Hell no. I grew up with her. She’s my sister, and I would do anything for her, but even I know she’s not exactly a nice person,” Qrow said bluntly.
Summer was silent for a moment, her need to play peacemaker at war with recent events before she chuckled. “Well at least I have the good twin with me then, right?”
Qrow rolled his eyes. “You’re stuck with me, until you wise up.”
He saw her tense, and made to speak until she’d already turned away. “As recent events have shown I’m clearly not going to. You’re stuck with me Qrow Branwen. Do you understand?”
Qrow raised his hands in mock defeat, which prompted the small crinkle of amusement to enter her eyes once again before Ruby shuffled a little bit, stealing both their attention.
Her small eyes opened, and Qrow felt a bit of contentment well up inside him at that. She had her mother’s eyes.
He ruthlessly squashed a very unneeded voice in the back of his mind, the one that sounded like the worst parts of himself, that he’d tried so hard to bury. The ones that demanded-
With great effort he ignored them, an action made much easier with two of his favorite people in front of him as Summer beamed, and tapped Ruby on the nose, something the one year old apparently found delightful.
Ruby turned his way, and for a moment Qrow felt as if she could see right through him, like a small child was capable of looking at his soul laid bare.
Then he made a fart sound with his mouth, Ruby cackled with glee, made clapping motions, and the moment passed.
Summer gave them a mock glare. “I can’t believe you’re corrupting this fine young lady.”
“She’s your daughter, she never had a chance,” Qrow quipped as he took the small punch to the arm in retaliation. More than worth it to improve her mood.
“Think we should get her one of those veils, or goggles?” Qrow asked as he grunted at the small trace amounts of sand in the air still.
Summer lightly bit her lips as she looked around. “That might be a good idea. They’ll be a bit sensitive.”
“I’ll meet you at the academy,” Qrow half asked, half offered as Summer nodded, and handed him some lien with a grateful smile.
She watched him go for a moment before continuing her trek. Theodore was an odd one as far as headmasters went, but she’d never heard a word of him being unfair.
If she, and perhaps Qrow were going to settle here then she needed to at least let him know. It wasn’t required, but it would be the courteous thing to do, and would only help make things look better for Ruby if she wanted to be a huntress when she grew up.
She had a feeling she did at least. Then again she was only one at the moment so it wasn’t as if she might change her mind, and became the best baker Remnant had ever seen.
Ruby happily accepted the pacifier, red of course, as her eyes tried to take in everything going on, at least for a few moments before she clearly grew tired once again, and settled back down.
Summer smiled happily at her. Things might not have gone how she’d thought, she’d learned an awful lot about her friends, and herself, but how could she regret any of it when she had a little miracle in her arms?
Things would be difficult, they would change, but she had friends. She could make it through this. She would make it through this.
The academy was…she wasn’t sure how to put it. She wasn’t sure if she’d grow used to it, but that wasn’t a true concern.
She politely made an appointment, or rather informed them she’d arrived for hers, and that another member of her party would be joining them shortly.
She was shown into what she assumed was the headmasters office with a promise he’d be along soon, and a tray of snacks, and the like was available to indulge in.
Quirking her lips in amusement she set one of the plastic cups on the edge of the desk as an early Qrow detector.
It would likely fall over, and help keep his semblance at bay for a bit longer. One of the many ways she’d worked out to help keep him around.
He had enough of a guilty conscience about things as it was. She already knew he blamed himself for the actions of the rest of their team, or at least to some extent assumed his semblance was to blame. Best to keep accidents around for the semblance to work on until she found a way to really test his semblance.
Ruby wasn’t exactly fussing, but she was shifting around trying to get more comfortable so Summer beamed at her, and gently helped turn her to face the office itself.
“See that? Those are fur from a skinned Beowolf, and that chair is made from a Goliath tusk,” Summer explained to Ruby who followed with rapt attention, or at least appeared to enjoy hearing her voice.
“You have to separate the part from the Grimm before it dies, or else it vanishes with it. The fur I can see, but the tusk not so much,” Summer admitted.
“Had to wrestle the damn thing, and then use a fortune in gravity dusk to keep it down, and rip them out. Most comfortable chair, and bed I’ve ever owned though,” a new voice said brightly, almost bubbling with laughter as a dark skinned man entered the room.
“Summer Rose, a pleasure to meet you at last,” the admittedly handsome man said, as he rolled up his sleeves, and gestured toward the tray. “Theodore at your service. I understand we have another on the way?”
“Qrow,” Summer supplied simply as he sat in his chair, and smirked at the small child who was blinking owlishly at him.
“And you’ve brought this fine young lady as well. She graces us with her presence,” he said, clearly enjoying hamming it up with a dramatic nod of his head as Ruby babbled something that could almost be charitably called words from behind her pacifier. She hadn’t spoken yet, but Summer knew it would be soon.
“Very wise counsel,” Theodore agreed with a grave nod of his head as Ruby continued to babble. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I was thinking of moving here on a more permanent basis. Qrow perhaps as well depending on how he feels about it,” Summer said simply.
He blinked once, clearly not having expected such a response.
“Not your entire team?” he asked, carefully, cautiously, testing, probing for information.
It wasn’t anything Summer wanted to get into, but she did need to tell him something for the likely large hassle it would be.
“Just the two of us. We…need some time apart from the rest,” Summer said plainly, making sure her hand was visible as she slightly shifted Ruby, and that he could see there was no ring on it.
He merely nodded, and didn’t pry further which she greatly appreciated.
“Vacuo welcomes all who wish to settle, and are strong enough to defend themselves, and others,” Theodore said amiably. “Do you know what you wish to do?”
“I still wish to be a huntsman, as does Qrow, but I’m not sure if we’d feel comfortable on a full team just yet. Together still certainly, or solo missions as needed so we can spend time with Ruby, and her sister from time to time.”
“Ah yes,” he said, stroking his goatee. “I have to admit the idea of a semblance bypassing any measure of security we could erect is…less than ideal you understand.”
Summer nodded, understanding his concerns. “We didn’t want the children to grow up estranged no matter what.”
Theodore sighed at that as he settled back into his chair. “Understandable, but unfortunate regardless.”
“We could always go outside the city when she uses it?” Summer asked as a bit of inspiration struck her. “And then come in the gates the normal way.”
Theodore blinked, and inclined his head. “That’s possible, but let’s table that for the time being.”
Summer nodded amiably as the cup on the desk fell right into her waiting hand a moment before Qrow stalked into the room, hands in his pockets before he withdrew a tiny set of goggles.
They were red so clearly Ruby would adore them, and had a strap to adjust so she’d be able to use the same pair as she grew if she was willing to do some repairs to them, and replace the strap.
The tiny Beowolves on them were absolutely precious.
“Tried to get the ones with Ziraphs, but they were almost double the price,” Qrow groused as he sat down.
Theodore appeared to find the situation incredibly amusing as he watched the small set of goggles be handed over.
“Are either of you any good at teaching?” he asked, cutting into the conversation once more.
“I hate kids,” Qrow said simply, flatly, his tone indicating no give until Summer reached over to pinch him. “Fine. This one is ok, but the squirt is better,” he allowed as Theodore let out a guffaw at Summer’s offended look.
“He’s actually quite good with children,” Summer assured the headmaster slyly.
Theodore rolled his eyes good naturedly. “I was thinking the two of you could take the solo or duo missions as needed and teach a class, or two at the academy. Even out here your team is known to some degree.”
Summer hummed as she slowly bounced her knee, making Ruby giggle.
Qrow already looked resigned when she looked over, which let her know he’d follow her lead, as he usually did. She really needed to do something nice for him at some point.
“I think we can make that happen,” Summer declared with a bright grin.
“Wonderful. Teachers also get accommodations as well so that’s an added benefit,” Theodore assured them as he leaned on his hand, looking far more relaxed, and laid back than Ozpin ever had.
Summer gave a beaming smile as Qrow swiped a sandwich from the table, and settled for not being grumpy…well not that grumpy.
“You know you could always at least call them,” Qrow said simply as he sat at the table, Ruby currently napping within eyesight of the two of them. She’d fallen asleep not long into the nitty gritty they’d gotten into with Theodore.
Not overly surprising considering the heat, and her young age. Summer had still made sure she was hydrated, or Qrow had as he’d bottle fed her as they talked in the office.
Summer winced. She had been hoping to put that off for a while. Not forever! Just two or three…years.
She whirled to face Qrow her eyes lighting up at the same time. “Saaaay…”
“No.”
Summer collapsed onto the table, in what she could admit was a teensy bit overdramatic way. “I can’t believe this. I’m your team leader.”
“Mhm. Look, Summer,” Qrow said, running a hand through his hair, and giving her his best attempt at a roguish grin.
Privately she conceded she’d seen worse, but telling him that would only inflate his ego. Both Branwen twins needed their ego deflated regularly, Raven far more than her brother to be fair.
“Just tell them the truth,” he offered. “You settled in, got a job, things are fine, but you’re too tired to talk much now. Then take a week, or whatever to actually get settled, and give yourself time.”
Summer felt her eyes widen in glee at that. Yes, put off potentially, ok definitely, awkward situation? Yes, yes please!
She almost cackled as she typed out, and sent the message. Thankfully, at least in Vacuo City they had a good connection for their scrolls so she didn’t have to worry about the message not being sent.
“Better this way too,” he said gently. “Raven would show up if she thought you were actually in trouble,” Qrow joked, but in the way that let her know he wasn’t entirely joking.
“Ugh, she would,” Summer complained, and while she was still slightly, a little teensy bit upset with Raven, there was more than a hint of fondness in her tone as she spoke of the older woman.
She felt Qrow lightly take her hand, and squeeze. “Hey, we, well you’ll get through this. You’re tough.”
Summer felt him start to withdraw his hand, and squeezed harder. “We will,” she said with a stare so he knew she was including him in things. He wasn’t vanishing on her.
He sighed, but nodded saying he got the message, so she squeezed once more, and then let him withdraw his hand.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely, silver meeting red over the table.
“Nowhere I’d rather be,” he said honestly as she beamed at him. At least until Ruby started to stir, and they went to see if she needed changed.
“Combat Master Qrow Branwen!” Summer declared between giggles as he tossed a pillow from the couch her way.
“Shut up,” he groaned. “I hate teaching.”
“Yeah, well…me too,” Summer admitted as she sunk into the couch next to him. For a moment they both watched Ruby stack the plastic cups. She of course focused mostly on the red, although a few other colors snuck in as well, her tiny set of goggles after a very small period of acclimation were now on her head where they remained almost all the time.
Kid went ballistic crying without them for some reason.
For a few moments he watched the kid continue to reach for a piece, and make a frustrated face.
He looked over to nudge Summer to make sure she was paying attention and saw her softly snoring.
He’d take care of dinner tonight then. After a few more minutes of resting anyway.
Ruby happily sucked on her pacifier as she crawled to another cup as tired red eyes watched on.
2 weeks later
“So what do you think kid?” Qrow asked as he stared at the displayed video and pointed. “I’m thinking it’s the blue dog.”
Ruby babbled, and he was almost certain she’d be talking any day now. He turned his head, and felt his eyes widen as Ruby took a single shaking step toward a block on the floor.
“Kid…” he breathed unsure what to say before he shivered, and looked around. Summer wasn’t here yet, and she would be depressed to learn she’d missed this. “Let’s…keep this between us for now yeah?” he asked as he held out a fist.
Ruby babbled, and put both of her tiny hands on top of his fist. Smart kid.
3 days later
Qrow was grading papers in class so he didn’t have to do anything at home when the door to his classroom was nearly kicked off its hinges.
“Crap Summer,” Qrow nearly yelled, seeing his friend standing there with Ruby in her arms.
“She did it, Qrow!” Summer said with a beaming smile as she sat Ruby down, and then took a few steps away, taking out her scroll.
“Did what?”
“Watch!” Summer commanded as Ruby slowly got up on shaky legs, and took halting steps toward her mother.
Summer nearly cried in happiness as she picked up her daughter once she’d made it to her, and cradled her to her chest. “She took her first steps!”
“Well, I’ll be,” Qrow said, trying to sound shocked as Ruby peaked at him from over Summer’s shoulder.
He sent her a wink. Good work.
“Summer,” Tai greeted as he stepped through the portal, Yang walking through as well, looking around in excitement, until she spotted Summer, and Ruby, and began pulling her father their way.
“Tai,” Summer said neutrally.
“Thanks for the video,” he offered sincerely as Summer sighed, and melted a little. Ugh, stupid feelings.
“It’s fine, no…well none of us should have missed her first steps,” Summer offered as a compromise.
Raven came in then, looking as awkward as Summer had ever seen her, which oddly helped settle some of her feelings toward her.
“Summer, hey,” she greeted awkwardly as the portal closed behind her.
“Ozpin?” Summer guessed as Raven gave a noncommittal shrug in return, and Summer saw a flash of silver on her finger which she almost managed to not wince at.
“Ruby!” Yang greeted, a slight whistling coming from a small gap in her teeth where a particularly stubborn baby tooth had yet to grow in.
The younger sister giggled, and waved a block toward her older sibling, clearly excited to see her as Yang bound over to hug the girl who did her best to return the action.
“Where’s my idiot brother?” Raven asked only to balk at the glare Summer was giving her.
“He’s cooking tonight,” Summer said simply, her glare containing a thousand accusations, some founded, some uncharitable, but all clearly saying that Qrow hadn’t done anything to earn such vitriol even if Raven did it by habit at this point.
“We picked a good night then,” Tai cut in, easily bringing the tension down with his easy going attitude.
Summer merely hummed, and did her best to keep on an unaffected face. She was aware she probably wasn’t even fooling Yang with it, but she did it anyway.
“He’s gotten pretty good at some of the local dishes too,” Summer said proudly as Tai nodded.
“He was always surprisingly good at cooking. Good thing too, or we’d have probably starved to death on a few missions.”
“Or eaten tree bark,” Summer joked.
“Anyway was better than your cooking,” Raven teased, only to wince slightly as if not sure if she overstepped.
Thankfully Summer only laughed. “I got better.”
“You’d have to have,” Raven said with a small grin on her face which pulled a wry grin from Summer.
“Neither of you were any better.”
“I’ll have you know I make the best grilled cheese,” Tai argued with an easy going smile on his face as he watched the two younger girls interact. Currently Yang was helping Ruby color in a Grimm in a book.
“True,” Summer allowed as she watched the two kids for a moment. “But that was about all you could make."
“Why mess up my perfect menu?” Tai asked in jest as Summer slugged him in the arm.
He laughed it off as he usually did, and Summer hated that she still felt charmed by it. Not quite as much as before, but she wished she could hate them both. It would be easier that way.
They were still her friends though, some of her best, and feelings like that didn’t just change because circumstances did. If anything she was the one who…she shook her head. Not today. She’d enjoy the day with her friends. She just needed to make sure not to look at their fingers, and she’d be fine.
“Dinner’s ready,” Qrow’s voice yelled from the kitchen.
She helped Yang, and Ruby to their feet, and between the two of them helped Ruby walk to the kitchen.
This was more than enough.
“You know that…” Raven sighed, and trailed off as they sat on the roof of the small home she shared with Qrow. “I didn’t mean to well…”
“Didn’t you?” Summer asked, and then sighed at how harsh her tone sounded. “I’m sorry. I’m just as at fault, maybe more so.”
“Some legendary huntsman we turned out to be,” Raven lamented as she sat back on her hands to look at the stars that were appearing.
“We’re still human at the end of the day,” Summer offered. “Same flaws and all. We’re just kickass huntsmen too.”
Raven hummed at that as she fiddled with the ring on her finger. “When I left. I was terrified,” she admitted.
Summer turned to face her, and adjusted her back to sit against the chimney stack. “I thought I had my life planned out. Tai, and the rest of you weren’t supposed to matter. So when I held Yang in my arms…”
“You panicked,” Summer finished.
“Right,” Raven agreed with a shake of her head. “Not right away. I knew she needed me for at least a while, and I could wait to at least recover from everything, but in the back of my mind I kept making plans for it. One day Tai went into town with her, and I just…I knew if I stayed that would be it, so I left. Didn’t even think on it.”
“You almost broke him,” Summer said solemnly. “All of us.”
“I know,” Raven admitted, her voice carrying a sense of sorrow Summer truthfully hadn't known she could feel, bringing a leg under her chin. “I figured I’d grab my brother, and we’d go back to the tribe, but he turned me down.”
Summer hadn’t known she’d even asked, and felt a brief flaring of pride for her friend that he’d done the right thing.
“The entire time I was there, and trying to lead, I kept thinking about all of us. Was Yang alright, eating her veggies, was she going to be strong. Was Qrow still breaking chairs, were you…”
“And you came back,” Summer said simply.
“I did. I knew where I belonged. I didn’t expect…” Raven said eyes trailing off guiltily.
“You knew how I felt in school,” Summer said simply as Raven sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
“It’s fine,” Summer offered, surprised to feel that she mostly meant it. “I knew you were his first love, the one he really wanted. I was just so caught up in helping raise Yang, that I was…swept along. Qrow told me I deserved to not be someone's second choice.”
“He was always a romantic,” Raven said, and rather than the usual tone she used to berate her brother she sounded almost approving.
“If you leave again,” Summer said, her voice hard, and threatening in a way that put Raven on edge, but she shook her head, and the feeling vanished.
Raven almost looked like she wanted to say something, and Summer who had an inkling what, or who she wanted to talk about, very much ignored her. She wasn’t ready to start thinking about that. Not yet.
“Any good missions lately?” Summer asked.
“You would not believe how much Tai screamed when we found an Ursa last week.”
Summer giggled, and settled in to listen. Her heart was injured, torn, but slowly it was healing. Most importantly she hadn’t lost her friends.
Tai helped Qrow wash up afterwards as he struggled to think how he wanted to say what he felt he needed to, and weight it against how badly he felt.
“Qrow,” he began before a towel hit him in the face.
“No.”
“Come on, I had a great speech, and everything,” Tai whined as he pulled the offending cloth off his face.
“I can pretend if you want,” Qrow offered.
“And you’ll say it was good?” he asked in amusement.
“Changed my way of life,” Qrow said with a sage nod as he ran the washcloth over the plate in his hands. “Might go back to school, and make it my thesis.”
Tai lost it, and let out a guffaw at the idea of his best friend in front of a class presenting a thesis on ‘Tai’s apology and guide to getting over it’.
“I am sorry though.”
Qrow sighed, and rinsed the plate before handing it over. “It’s fine.”
“It doesn’t feel like it,” Tai admitted.
“I can’t imagine why,” Qrow drawled as he grabbed the crockpot, and set it into the sink.
“I deserve that,” Tai admitted. “So what now, are you going to?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” Qrow confirmed. “She needs a friend, not someone who…well what I told her applies to me too. And with my semblance...”
“You aren’t a curse, and you haven’t lost anyone,” Tai insisted, hand on his shoulder.
“Every day I worry. About if Ruby is safe around me, if Summer will slip, and fall down the stairs just because I’m around.”
“And you stayed,” Tai said, sounding proud. “Because you’re a great man, the best one I know.”
“That’s because you need better friends,” Qrow joked as Tai pretended to be wounded for a moment. “How’s firecracker?”
“Good. We’re gonna see what she likes as far as weapons go soon,” Tai said proudly. “Ruby?”
“She’s one, she doesn’t need a weapon,” Qrow answered misinterpreting his friend on purpose.
“You’d give her something lame,” Tai countered, his tone full of smugness.
“You’d just give her brass knuckles, and call it a day. At least a scythe, or axe would be cool,” Qrow countered soap dripping from his finger as he pulled it out of the water to point at his friend.
“The basics are the best,” Tai defended. “How is she though?”
“They’re both fine. Ruby likes naps better when I’m…”
“A bird?”
Qrow nodded and felt his cheeks pink slightly as Tai let out a belly laugh.
“Always knew you’d be a great parent.”
“I’m not,” Qrow said evenly as he scratched at a small bit of something on the side of the crockpot that wasn’t coming off just yet.
“You might as well be. That kid is gonna adore you.”
“She’ll adore her mother,” Qrow said simply.
Tai chose not to argue the point. He’d seen the considering looks Summer had taken at Qrow during their visit.
It might be anything now, but he knew at some point, likely soonish it would be.
He prayed for his friends, that it could work out for them this time. It didn’t make him feel like less of a heel, but it was all he could do.
2 days later
Summer hummed as she tried to follow the recipe on her scroll. It wasn’t fair to make Qrow do all of the cooking, and while she wasn’t going to jump into the deep end there had to be something besides baking sweets she could do.
Fresh flatbread, rice, and grilled meats with vegetables was simple. She knew she could do it.
She set the bread into the oven, and waited. The meat was grilling, and all she had to do now was wait a few minutes.
“Ok, sweetie,” Summer said as Ruby pulled her pacifier out of her mouth, and looked at her with a tilted head. “Qrow will be home soon, and we’re going to surprise him with dinner alright?”
Ruby nodded, or at least tried to, although if she had any idea what she meant Summer didn’t know.
She smiled, and made to turn around when she heard it.
“Birb.”
She froze at that, and turned around so quickly the tablecloth was gently lifted a few centimeters by the wind she generated.
Her eyes were wide as she looked at her brilliant girl. “Ruby…” she said almost in awe. “Can you say that again?”
Ruby blinked at her, and then just when Summer thought she’d imagined it, it came again. “Birb.”
Summer felt her smile split her face. Sure it wasn’t mom, mama, or the like, but it was adorable anyway.
She needed to get a scroll to record, and…oh no! Qrow needed to hear this first! After all he did for them!
“What do you say we keep this between us for now?” Summer asked before she smelled burnt food, and she shrieked as she saw the meat had turned black.
“Maybe I can scrape it off?” she asked herself, at least before the oven began to go off.
At least Ruby found her flailing amusing.
Qrow didn’t complain, but he did note that Summer was in an exceptional mood for some reason. He was glad for that at least.
1week later
Qrow had just laid down with Ruby on the blanket in the living room, in his bird form as she drifted off. Sure she sometimes gnawed on a wing, but overall she really seemed fascinated by it.
Summer had taken a picture, and video with her scroll, and left to grade a few papers of her own students at the table. She had to figure out the results to see which of them needed extra credit, and which could go on the trip at the end of next week.
At least until her scroll rang, and she blinked seeing Qrow’s frantic messaging.
“Summer!”
“What is it?” she asked as she marked a student's exam with a zero. It was almost impressive. They didn’t even sign their name right.
“Come into the living room! You gotta hear this!”
She blinked, but gamely made the short journey only to find a beaming Qrow with little Ruby who was looking at a feather in wonder.
“What’s-”
Qrow held up a hand, and turned into his corvid form as Ruby giggled.
“Birb!”
Qrow turned back, his face alight with pride as he scooped her up, and swung her around, carefully in a circle above his head, the little girl laughing all the while.
“Did you hear that?”
“Wow,” Summer said in awe. “I did. Definitely not a momma’s girl then, huh?” Summer asked, teased really. She hadn’t meant to, but thankfully he was too distracted to really notice.
“She’s gonna be incredible,” Qrow said, seeming to almost be starstruck.
“Because she can say birb?” Summer joked, this time he caught the tease.
“Well, I mean, it can only help.”
“I was kidding,” Summer assured him as she squeezed his arm. “A clever little thing aren’t you?” she asked as she tickled their stomach, and Ruby laughed so hard that she ended up farting, which almost appeared to frighten her until Qrow mimicked it with his mouth, and then it was funny for Ruby again.
He looked at Ruby like she was one of the most precious things he’d ever seen, and Summer felt her eyes soften. He was such a good man. Why had she…no matter. That was the past.
“I’ll take us out to eat. To celebrate,” Summer offered as she took Ruby to make sure she was changed, and bundled up properly.
“You just don’t want to do the dishes tonight,” Qrow said in jest, clearly too pleased to actually be upset as he grabbed his own jacket for the night.
Summer only laughed as she made her way to Ruby’s room to find what she needed.
She gave Ruby a wink as she set her down on the changing table. Qrow’s reaction had been worth waiting for.
Maybe she should…
5 years later.
Ruby cheered on the sideline as she watched her mom, and dad spar.
Qrow brought up Harbinger low, toward an undefended side as Summer’s axe was in her other hand, at least until she pulled the trigger, and removed her hand from it at the same time, the gunshot propelling it into her waiting hand as she brought up the weapon to block sword.
Despite the close calls, and fierce blows, both adults looked to be having the time of their lives wearing wide smiles even as bits of their outfits were nicked.
“Who do you think is gonna win?” Yang asked as her eyes did their best to follow the fight.
“Hmm. I dunno,” Ruby admitted with a shrug as she grinned at Yang. “Who wins when Auntie Raven fights?”
Yang laughed. “Dad says a smart man lets mom win to make her happy.”
Ruby giggled even though she didn’t know exactly what that meant, only that Yang found it funny so it probably was.
“You still punch stuff?” Ruby asked as Yang stood up and did her best attempt at a boxing pose, and punched the air.
To Ruby it looked very cool.
“You bet! Dad says he’ll help train me too sometime. Oh, you should ask if you can sleepover soon. We’re gonna go to school to look at stuff early!”
“Zwei probably misses me,” Ruby said out loud as Yang nodded in agreement.
“I can’t believe that mangy more mutt is more interesting than we are,” Qrow complained in good humor as Ruby beamed, and made ‘up’ motions, which he responded to by kneeling down so she could scramble up his back to situate herself.
Yang looked at Summer who rolled her eyes good naturedly, and offered the same thing to Yang who accepted almost instantly as she scrambled up her 'other mother's back to get comfy.
“So what do you want to do before you go back?” she asked once Yang was settled.
“What do you do in the desert anyway?” Yang asked.
“We’re in a city so mostly anything you want,” Qrow answered as he made sure Ruby was secure on her shoulders.
“Even sand castles!” Ruby said excitedly.
“Do you think I could take some sand home?” Yang asked.
“I’ll make sure you have enough to share with my sister,” Qrow promised as Yang leaned over to cheer, and high five Ruby as Summer sent Qrow a very amused look at that.
“Oh, Yang asked if-”
“We were there, kiddo,” Qrow reminded Ruby who gasped.
“Be back by Sunday night. You start first grade, and if you’re gonna be a huntswoman you need to be on time,” Summer reminded her.
Ruby only nodded excitedly. She couldn’t wait! She had so many new friends to make!