Chapter 1: A Wedding

Champagne in her hand, Raven glided across the floor. Her long, voluminous hair was tied up in a fancy bun, and she wore a shimmering silver dress. Coupled with the heels, it was attire Raven normally would have scoffed at. However, it was a wedding reception, notably her wedding reception, so she had obliged Summer, who had been all too eager to play dress up.

Raven spotted Taiyang across the dance hall. He was chatting with James Ironwood, the two of them stuffing their faces with cake. She smirked.

"Raven, there's cookies!" Summer came up beside her, in her hands a plate stacked high with chocolate chip cookies. Raven took one and nibbled on it. Summer looked stunning as well, wearing a red gown and decorating her shoulder-length hair with gemstone clips. The two of them took seats at a nearby table and watched friends dancing and drinking.

"It's very lively," Raven admitted, with a small sigh. "How long do you think this is bound to go on for?"

Summer rolled her eyes with a smile. She was used to Raven's impatience with celebrations by now, but she was going to ensure Raven enjoyed her wedding to the fullest. "Tai booked the venue until three in the morning!" she said.

"Great, that's two more hours."

"Come on Raven, even Qrow is out there embarrassing himself." The two women watched the younger Branwen twin stumbling around the dance floor, visibly intoxicated. Raven saw Glynda Goodwitch look on with disapproval and smiled a little.

"When does he not embarrass himself?"

"Mm. Point taken," Summer conceded. "Hey, Tai! Have a cookie!" Summer said as Tai approached. She offered him the plate and he took one eagerly.

"Come on, Raven, let's dance!"

Raven looked up at him, her face dull. "We already did that," she said.

"Yes, but it's our wedding. We do it again and again until they kick us out."

"But it's my wedding. I should get to decide I don't want to."

"Nope. My wedding too. And I insist."

"Go on," encouraged Summer, and begrudgingly, Raven got to her feet. Taiyang stuffed the rest of his cookie in his mouth and took Raven by the hand to lead her to the dance floor.

An hour later, Raven stood on the balcony looking over the venue's beautiful gardens. They glowed silver in the moonlight. She shivered against an autumn chill, but decided against going back inside.

Raven had long since stopped dancing. She made Summer take her spot, and as far as she knew, Summer and Tai were still at it. She could hear the sounds of the band from inside. She had continued to drink, but instead of lightening her heart, the intoxication made it heavier.

She felt a jacket fall over her shoulders. She knew the presence behind her without sight or sound. "How nice of you," she said.

"S'not mine," her twin replied. "I took it from the back of a random chair."

"Like a true bandit," she said. Qrow passed her another glass of wine.

"Cheers!" he said, her voice slurring and falsely cheery. He slumped into a chair beside where she was standing, sighing with his distinctive gruff tone.

"Cheers," she replied, unconvinced.

"Come on, Raven, I know being a wet blanket is kind of your thing, but it's your wedding day." Qrow laughed a little at his own joke.

"I'm not a wet blanket, you lush." She turned to lean back on the balcony rail, now facing her brother. "And I am pleased…"

"It's just…" he mocked her, anticipating her next words.

"Shut up. It's just that this world is no place for a family, for a happy home life."

Qrow looked up at her, eyes serious. "Wait. Are you pregnant? I'm taking the wine back."

"No! I'm not… now, but I'm sure Taiyang wants a child. Family is important to him. And it's not that the idea isn't nice… it's just that I can't bear to…." She trailed off. "It would just be too troublesome."

"Yes, lots of diapers."

Raven's voice came out in a harsh whisper. "Lots of Grimm. And I'm sure she hasn't forgotten me."

"Banya?"

"Salem." She shook her head. "Fucking Oz."

"Gotta stop pissing people off, sis," Qrow teased.

Raven's reply was cut off as the door opened. It was Summer. Her cheeks were flushed, and she had removed her heels. She stood in her bare feet breathing in the cool night air. "You can't ditch me like that, I've got blisters!" she said, angrily punching Raven in the arm. "And Tai's senile nan just congratulated me on my marriage with a sloppy wet kiss!" She punched again, then doled one out to Qrow, for laughing at her.

"He's your partner," was Raven's reply.

"Heyyyy, team's all here!" Tai stumbled out to join his teammates, obviously just as drunk as the twins. His affect was unchanged, and he was just as gregarious as ever.

"Is it over?" Raven asked. "I'm exhausted."

"Come on, Raven, tonight is our special night!" Taiyang began to hum and sat back into the chair beside Qrow.

"Gross," said Qrow. "Also, you should know by now she's always like this. Good job marrying her and listening to her complain forever."

Raven sat down on Taiyang's lap, leaning her face into his shoulder. "Sleepy."

"I know, I know. Just bear it a little longer."

Summer took the last empty chair, and they all leaned back to watch the stars. Although it was only a couple months, their time at Beacon seemed years past. They were adults now. Proper Huntsmen and Huntresses. Somehow Raven had thought they'd feel different somehow. More confident or older. Now, with things to protect, she felt more vulnerable than ever.

She felt Tai kiss the top of her head and let herself drift off and relax into a comfortable sleep for just one night.

Notes: Welcome to my newest story! I'll try to update semi-regularly. The timeline is going to jump around a little, but I'll try to make it easy to follow.