Rwby is not mine.

Turned out Mr. Xiao Long had messaged Mother for permission to take me, and had received a resounding 'Yes' from both my parents. We had stopped by the Ulfheon residence to grab some necessities, using the spare key that Mr. Xiao Long somehow knew about. That was somewhat startling, apparently Mr. Xiao Long visited Father and Mother enough to know where they hide the key, yet I had never seen him before that time.

Soon we went on our way, Yang buzzing about anything and everything, her father pitching in his own opinion from time to time, while I mostly sat in silence and enjoyed the company. The girl understood my quiet nature, and mostly just talked at me, often continuing the conversation all on her own with no need for my input.

Upon reaching her home, Yang dragged me in to meet her mother, a beautiful woman by the name of Summer Rose, and her bubbly bundle of joy, a one year old Ruby Rose. Yang loved Ruby so very much, anyone could tell at a glance. She doted on the baby, cooing and babbling, playing with the toddler. And she was more than eager to show off her little sister.

Having the baby forced on me was more than I could handle at first, but I quickly learned to love her as much as Yang did. It was very hard not to. With wide silver eyes, rosy cheeks, armed with both a laugh and pout that tore through my heart like an arrow, baby Ruby was so adorable that it was hazardous. I often found myself entertaining the toddler when Yang got distracted, and it became increasingly obvious that little Ruby had me wrapped around her tiny finger, something all the adults found hilarious.

"Your girls have tamed an Ulfheon damn early, Summer." Father had once remarked to Mrs. Rose. She had shot him a withering look, but I had been far too busy toting Yang and Ruby around in a little red wagon (much to their delight and completely due to their demands) to pay much attention.

As time passed, Yang remained my anchor. She dragged me everywhere (or I dragged her in that thrice damned wagon) with her happy go lucky smile, and I followed quietly with a small smile of my own. Over the months, the stares in the day care grew less hostile, and the whispers died down, but I still spent nearly all my time with Yang. I felt bad for monopolizing her time, as she did have other friends, and took to finding excuses for her to go socialize, instead curling up in a corner with a book. It's a habit I never really kicked.

My combat and Whisper training continued, and I picked up the forms and philosophies quickly, much to Fathers delight. Although my Aura was still not properly unlocked, I'd begun showing signs of aura enhancement in my fifth year, and he took me to a Forge to build my first weapon. The Bear Tooth, this dagger is built while infusing Aura to the metal, and is the first and last blade of every Ulfheon. We would carry this blade until the day we died, where it would then be stabbed into the trunk of the Tree of Fallen, the Ulfheon clans own personal graveyard to the south of Vale. At my size the dagger was more like a sword, although I would grow to match it in time

Months turned to years, and the peaceful days continued. I spent my time training, at the Xiao Long house, or at the day care. But a storm was coming to blot out the sun. I was six at the time.

I held Ruby in my lap as she decimated the plate of unsuspecting cookies Mrs. Rose had left for us, eyes glued to the video feed. Yang sat at the table, tapping a pencil against her lip with a frown as she went over the problems assigned to us. While we hadn't begun the requisite learning yet, we were nearing the age where we would be enrolled in a proper school, and the day care had begun teaching us the basics nearly a year ago. I had finished my own assignments earlier in the evening, and had refused to let Yang copy off of me since she hadn't wanted to do them earlier. You reap what you sow.

"Laaaaz." she whined, her head hitting the table. I hummed an acknowledgment as I reached for a cookie, only to frown slightly as Ruby shifted to watch my hand. She wouldn't tell me I couldn't have one, she was far too sweet, but I could tell she didn't want to share. I altered mid course and brought my hand to my hair, scratching my scalp slightly as the girl refocused on the sweets. Darn, those cookies were good too. I'd have to see about sneaking one later. Yang huffed as she watched us.

"You spoil her so much." she muttered, but I know she'd do the same. She was a bit rougher when playing with the soon to be four year old than I was, but Yang spoiled Ruby where it mattered. Of all the things I've seen stolen from plates, I've yet to see her steal one of Ruby's strawberries. Besides, I had an inkling of exactly what was about to happen, and I didn't want to hear a single word from her about me spoiling people.

Sure enough, she stood from the table and came over to collapse on the couch and Ruby scrambled out of my lap with an indignant squawk as she was shooed away by her older sister. I kept my eyes forward as Ruby resettled on the other side of the couch, leaving a trail of crumbs on both my clothes and the upholstery. I winced as I felt a weight settle on my legs. She was going to get cookie crumbs in her hair and throw a fit, and I'd probably be roped into helping her clean it. While I didn't particularly dislike helping her with her hair, it was a long process and I was kind of tired.

Yang had stopped cutting her hair soon after we met for reasons beyond me. She took meticulous care of the golden locks that now fell past her shoulders in two pigtails, and the easiest way to rile her up was to damage it, as a couple kids found out quickly one muddy day. Girl can throw a punch. I was brought back to reality from my thoughts by a pale finger poking me in the jaw.

"Laaaaaz. Are you listening to me?" Yang whined. I gave a non-committal grunt as she poked me, refusing to make eye contact. If I look down, I would lose. It's basically guaranteed. The poking became stronger and it must have been mussing with my face since Ruby let out a snort and tossed a pillow at her sisters head.

"Oh, you little brat!" Yang half laughed, half shrieked. She scrambled up to lunge at the younger girl, who let out a squeal of delighted terror.

"Laz! Help!" Ruby cried out as she bounced off the couch. Yang said my name felt funny to say, and Ruby couldn't even pronounce my name, so I just eventually got stuck with the nickname. It's to the point that the teachers at day care would use it. A pigtail slapped me in the face as Yang spun around to find her sister. Still watching the vid, I reached out and grabbed the back of Yang's shirt before she could run off and potentially ruin the house. Mrs. Rose told us to play tag outside after the last time.

"Traitor!" Yang flailed with a shout and I heard Ruby give a cheer from the kitchen. I frowned when I heard rustling from the same direction. That sounded an awful lot like a little girl rummaging for more snacks.

"Ruby, your mother said no more sweets after the cookies." I called out.

"Aww, pleeaaaase?" the voice begged. I knew what face she was making and THAT wasn't something I could beat.

"Your mom will be angry." That got a grumble as she shuffled out of the kitchen and Yang let out a triumphant 'Hah!'. I may not be able to resist the puppy dog eyes, but I knew how to throw Mrs. Rose's name around. Honestly, Mr. Qrow should be the one taking care of this, but once he saw us settled on the couch he had slipped into the weapons room, presumably to perform some maintenance.

"Don't you still have homework?" I questioned softly, finally deigning to look at the blonde. She finally remembered that she wanted something from me and replaced her smirk with a pout. Her eyes went wide and teary and her bottom lip trembled. These sisters...Or maybe it was the whole family, I've had Mrs. Rose make that face when she asked me to go pick up groceries last week. Whole household is playing me like a fiddle. If Mr. Xiao Long makes that face at me I might just throw something at him. I let out a sigh.

"I won't let you copy my homework." The pout became stronger, and I was forced to avert my eyes. "Don't give me that look, they already caught on and started giving us different problems anyways." Don't do the tears, don't do the tears, don't do the tears...and there are the tears. Ugh. "Fine, I'll help you with the stupid problems." Yang let out a whoop, pout and tears all gone, jumping to her feet and running back to the table. I felt a wry smile form on my lips as I followed her.

We'd gotten through nearly all the problems when Mr. Xiao Long came back. He opened the door and walked in slouched. His breathing was...off. Yang's head popped up the moment she heard the door, and bee lined towards her father as she did every night.

"Daddy?" I could hear the fear in her voice. It was alarming. I peered at the doorway, and I could see Mr. Xiao Long on his knees, his arms clutching Yang. "Daddy, whats wrong?" Yang was scared, she wasn't used to seeing her father like this. A heart wrenching wail broke from the collapsed form, echoing through the house. I heard a quiet shuffle and saw Ruby standing in the hallway, confusion scrawled across her face.

Another sob wracked Mr. Xiao Long's body, and I could hear a small hiccup from both girls. They didn't know what was going on, nobody did. But their father was hurting and it hurt them in turn. Ruby ran to her father and he embraced her as well, the families cries shook me to my very core. I wanted to ask what was going on, but it wasn't my place. Whatever happened, it was sensitive, and I was afraid to interrupt their mourning.

I saw Mr. Qrow slip into the room and take in the state of his old friend. He turned and saw me staring, confused and scared. He motioned me over and in an unexpected movement, picked me up.

"Come on Laz," He said quietly, "I'll take you home." He carried me out the back door as the broken cries rocked the house. We were quiet the entire way to my home. When we reached my house, and he extended his arms to me once more, I allowed him to pick me up. I was perfectly capable of moving on my own. While the grief was disconcerting, it was not mine. But perhaps, just maybe, Mr. Qrow needed someone to hold as well.

The tears and screams haunted me that night, and I did not sleep. The Whispers worked in my head until dawn, pointing at shadows and dark corners, as they had no other target to blame. When I went downstairs, Mother and Father told me what had happened.

'Summer Rose is dead.' That was the only thing Mr. Qrow had told them. The funeral was arranged swiftly, and many attended the cliff side procession for their final farewells. Rose petals filled the air that day, the memories of Summer Rose scattered to the wind.

Yang and Ruby didn't show up at the day care for over a week, and when they did, they were quiet and withdrawn. They didn't acknowledge the friends and teachers that wished them well, instead following me to my corner where they huddled up quietly.

Yang took it hardest. Ruby was heartbroken, but she soon opened up to me about it, sobbing into my shoulder until she fell asleep. But Yang bottled her sorrow inside, refusing any outside help, resolutely refusing contact with outsiders. But she cried when she slept. Both girls did. During nap time, they would hold each other and shake, their whimpers deafening in the silence.

I saw less and less of Mr. Xiao Long, with Mr. Qrow picking Yang and Ruby up most days. My visits to their home ended and I was alone once more. But this time I stayed strong, because I was not the one who was hurting. I resolved myself to stay strong so that I could be the pillar for their worlds. The Whispers came back in force, and I expelled them by forcing my body through more rigorous training.

I was young, confused. I hadn't yet felt the sting of loss they had and didn't understand their pain, their fears. Instead I hardened my body. If they feared death, then I would get stronger. So strong that I could protect them from anything. As if that was what they needed at the time.

Ruby's birthday came, yet no one wanted to celebrate, the wound was too fresh. I took all the savings I had from doing chores around the house in order to buy her a cake and present. She cried when the cake came out, and I was left standing with melting candles feeling incredibly awkward. She apologized afterwards and gave me a grateful smile at the stern looking dog plushie I had gotten her. She named it Fei.

Months dragged by. Ruby's smile started to come back. She didn't fully understand the grief and took the hands offered to her to help her move on. She was still sad, she missed her mother, but she talked more and was more active. She wasn't quite bubbly bouncy little Ruby, but she would get there. She was desperate for physical contact, something to comfort her, and she spent a lot of time with one hand in mine while the other held Fei.

Yang's smile didn't come back as easily. Instead she threw up a mask, a fake smile to distract others from her pain. She did it to keep Ruby happy, but I could tell. It didn't have the life. But it fooled the rest of them. They came with smiles and jokes and she replied to the best of her ability through grit teeth.

Her activity was sudden, as if someone had lit a fire beneath her. One day she was just as sullen, and the next the life was back in her eyes. But instead of laughter there was something else, something I recognized. Fear, pain, desperation. The eyes of a person reaching for a pinprick of light in the darkness. Just like the boy when Yang showed up three years ago. And she responded in the most Yang like way. With a fiery determination.

Her eyes would harden, pushing the pain away. I saw her running around town, pestering every adult in Patch. But instead of playful banter, she was on a mission. I overheard her asking Father. Asking about her mother. Not Summer Rose, a different mother. A mother she'd never met.

I thought it was okay to let things stand. Yang's real mother would always be Summer Rose to me, this mysterious Other Mother was just a myth in my head. I thought that letting Yang run ragged would help. She had her fire back, and eventually the urge to find her real mother would fade, and we would have the old Yang back. I was wrong.

"Laz, can I talk to you?" Yang pulled me aside. I'll be honest, I was kind of surprised, Yang hadn't really talked to me in days, much less started a conversation.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, curious. Her eyes were unsure for a moment before they hardened.

"I'm looking for my mom. My real mom." She snapped when I opened my mouth to interject.

"Okay..." I was confused. I knew she was looking for her real mom, but I failed to see how I could help. She let out a frustrated sigh.

"Look, I'm looking for my real mom, and I need your help, okay?" She was rushed and more than a little annoyed at how slow I was picking this up. I could see bags under her eyes, she didn't sleep well the night before.

"What, exactly, do you need from me?" I asked slowly.

"I found this picture in our attic." She pulled out an image of a decrepit cottage, shoving it into my face, "It's this old house to the southwest. I just need to follow the forest path for a bit to reach it. I'm gonna go investigate it. Tonight. It might tell me something about her. I need you to watch Ruby." I blinked. The forests surrounding Patch were not safe, especially at night. This was starting to sound like a bad idea.

"I'm not sure you should do that Yang..." I could see her temper flaring. "Can't you just ask your father to take you? Or maybe Mr. Qrow?"

"No!" she scolded me in a hushed whisper, "Do you know how hard it was to even get this much? If they find out I'll NEVER figure out what happened to my mom."

"Yang, Summer IS your mother..." I blurted out. Whoops. That was exactly what I should not have said.

"No she ISN'T!" she was getting dangerously loud. "She's RUBY's mom. MY mom is out there, somewhere, and I'm going to get her back!" Angry tears spilled down her face before she turned around and rubbed them away. "Or at least find out why she left..." A pain in my chest, the same from the night Mrs. Rose died. I don't know how to deal with this pain.

"I..." I stuttered, "I can't." She rounded on me, furious. I just wanted her to stop. "I'm...busy." I finished lamely. Maybe now she won't go. Maybe she'll take Mr. Xiao Long or Mr. Qrow with her. Maybe she'll forget all about this whole stupid thing. But she knew me as well as I knew her.

"Fine." She spat out, her eyes narrowed. "I thought you would get how important this is to me. I thought you would help. I thought you were my friend." she turned on her heel. "I guess I was wrong." As she stalked away, the pain in my chest intensified and the Whispers roared in my head.

I lay in my bed, awake, her words ringing in my ears. She will die. She won't even go, she wouldn't leave Ruby. She'll take the girl. Then they'll both die. Yang wouldn't do something like that, would she? She's desperate. Desperate enough to endanger their lives? She is a moth, chasing the flame. Hope..she's chasing hope...The flame will consume her. It'll consume them both.

I got up slowly and dressed myself. I had to be sure. Even if she broke off our friendship, I still cared about them. I padded towards the window when it caught my eye. Bear Tooth stared back at me from its sheath on my dresser. After a moments hesitation, I grabbed it. Just to be sure.

I sprinted to the Xiao Long house. The time was 8:40 at night, Mr. Xiao Long would have left for his weekly meeting nearly two hours ago. I rapped my knuckles on the door. No answer.

"Yang?" I called out, heart pounding and knuckles clenched around Bear Tooth. "Yang, are you in there?" Silence. Dread filled my heart. I ran around the house to the back. The lights were on in Yang's room. I scrambled up the side of the attached tool shed and used it as a boost to clamber onto the roof. I peered into the window. Lights on, bed empty. I tried opening it only to find it locked. What do I do? She's gone. Lights are on, she might be home. No answer, she's gone. You don't know that for sure... Go in and find out.

My foot slammed through the window and the glass shattered around me as I broke into Yang's room. I heard the home alarm go off, chances are it's wired directly to Mr. Xiao Long's scroll and he'd be back within the hour, but I paid it no heed. I tore through the house searching. No Yang. No Ruby. No no no no no no no no. This was bad. This was beyond bad. Stupid girl really ran off with Ruby. I grabbed a pen and wrote down a note, leaving it on the table. 'HOUSE-SOUTHWEST-FOREST ROAD-LAPIS' Hopefully they understood. I sprinted south.

My lungs burned and my legs ached, I must have been running for at least an hour. Every now and again I could see familiar tracks from a little red wagon I'd pulled a million times. A howl tore through the air. Three more howls followed it. Beowolves. And they sound angry. I ran harder.

There, the cottage. And Yang. The blonde girl was backing up towards the cabin, keeping herself between a growling Beowolf and the little red wagon. Ruby was sitting in it, grabbing the hem Yang's clothes in terror. Bear Tooth's sheath hit the ground as I charged.

There, tendon, hind leg. I slashed the blade into the Beowolfs leg, trying to hamstring it. The knife dug in an inch and moved no further. The Grimm howled in pain and spun around, tearing the blade from its body and nearly wrenching my arms from their sockets. I held the dagger that was far too large for me like a sword as the Beowolf locked onto its new target, even as it favored its other leg. Too weak.

The Beowolf lunged, its claw swiping down at me. Back step, move in, stab to the side, aim for the organs. I started to move. Too slow. Whether it was fear dulling my body, or I was simply too slow to begin with, I was far too slow. The claws tore through skin and muscle alike, three long slashes were opened from my left shoulder across my body to my waist on the right. If I hadn't started stepping back it very well could have torn me in half. Pain. So much pain. I staggered to my knee and opened my mouth to scream. I never got the chance.

Grimm are ruthless. It's something you don't understand until you've fought one. They don't care if you're hurt or surrendering. If you have family or friends. Grimm are ruthless. A second claw slammed into me, lifting me up and throwing me back. Two claws punctured above my hip, digging painfully into soft organs. I was slammed into a tree, knocking the breathe from my lungs as bark dug into my skin through my clothes. I vaguely heard screaming.

I am strong for my age. But that didn't mean much. Strong for a six year old with no Aura, I'm a child with a toy playing Huntsman. I knew that. My Whispers taught me that you are never strong enough, that there's always a threat. I knew that I was outmatched against the Grimm the moment I saw it.

The Beowolf charged, fangs bared, saliva flying. I came into this fight knowing I would lose. The pitch black fur covered deceptively powerful muscles. I knew the moment my blade touched the Grimm that I was going to die. Bone white mask gleaming in the moonlight. I drew its ire to protect my sun. Glimmering fangs, snarling in hate. I would feed it my flesh to stay its hunger. Deadly claws, dripping crimson. I am so very tired.

WAKE UP! My eyes stayed open as the Grimm charged closer. The Whispers wouldn't let me sleep. SACRIFICE THE TAIL. I threw out my left hand, my tail, and the Beowolf latched on. Tooth tore through hardened muscle, shredding flesh and pulverizing bone. Pain. THE NECK! BETWEEN THE MUSCLES! ALL YOUR STRENGTH! I gripped the dagger in my right hand, a surge of energy flowing through me. Pain receded as I focused on the monster before me. A blue glow surrounded my body, slowing the blood loss.

I focused the strength into my arm and drove the blade forward, sliding it between the tough sinews and carving through the artery. The Beowolf snarled, black ichor gushing from its wound. Tear the wound! I ripped the dagger down, opening a hole in the side of the Grimm's neck. The beasts maw opened and closed weakly as its life flowed from its body. Finish it! The blue glow surrounded my arm as I slammed Bear Tooth through the soft bottom of the Beowolfs jaw and through the roof of its mouth, into the brain.

The body crumpled on top of me, crushing me even as black particles floated from the carcass. Within an hour there would be no evidence of it ever existing. Pack hunters. No time for rest. Just the scout. Yet I can't even move. More howling, more movement. Not towards me. I failed.

Through my hazy vision, I saw a black blur launch at the golden hair. Lilac eyes were locked on mine. Horror, pain, regret. I tried to tell her to run. To take Ruby and leave. Too late. Fangs and fur descended.

A flash in the moonlight and the howls stopped. The Beowolf in the air came down in two pieces. A shout of joy, a shout of worry. Voices. Movement. Threat. Not like I can do anything about it. A familiar face, full of worry and horror. Mr. Qrow. A beautiful face, full of regret and sorrow. Yang. An adorable face, confused and heartbroken. Ruby. So much shouting. Cold. Tired. Rest.

When I awoke, it was two weeks later in a Vale hospital room. Mr. Qrow and Mr. Xiao Long had performed emergency resuscitation when my heart stopped in the forest, as well as first aid to the best of their ability. My Aura had awoken during the fight and was probably the only reason I was even remotely alive. But it wasn't strong enough and only barely kept me breathing as I was rushed to the emergency room.

The doctor in Patch didn't have the required equipment to treat me, instead assisting to transport me to a major hospital in the Vale kingdom. I had been in and out of intensive surgery, and my heart had stopped and restarted twice. The list of injuries I had was staggering. Shattered ribs, punctured lung, ruptured arteries, fractures and cracks along my entire skeleton from being tossed around like a rag doll, broken hip, massive trauma to intestines. A kidney and part of my liver were removed, too damaged to salvage even with Aura healing. I would carry the scars for the rest of my life. I was lucky my arm was even attached, and it was a miracle that it would one day be functional. There was a very good chance that my dreams of being a Huntsman like Father had ended right there, a full recovery was not expected.

Mother scolded me for my recklessness in the fight with tears in her eyes. Father did not. Neither of them reprimanded me for going. When Mother was out scrounging for more comfortable pillows, Father asked me if it was worth it. I never answered, and he retracted it, saying it was a 'stupid question'. I could tell he was proud, and I'd heard he'd boasted about how his six year old son had whooped a Beowolf without the use of Aura. I didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise.

Mr. Xiao Long thanked me with is head bowed, tears streaming down his face. He apologized for not being the father he should have been to his daughters, saying that if he had this would have been avoided. He apologized for Yang's reckless behavior which had nearly gotten all of us killed. He apologized over and over while thanking me for saving their lives. I asked him to do better. He promised he would never neglect them that way again.

Mr. Qrow was quiet. He'd show up in my hospital room, usually with a small gift, ask how I was doing, then sit there for an hour or two. Sometimes he'd read, other times he'd mess around on his scroll (which wasn't allowed, the nurses said they messed with the equipment), and sometimes he'd just do nothing. But I would notice whenever he glanced over my vitals, making sure I was okay.

The first time Ruby visited, she was a blubbering mess. She'd cried and sobbed while clutching me to the point it caused pain to my sensitive wounds. She had been present the first time I technically died, and was terrified that I would disappear like her mother. The nurse and Mr. Xiao Long had to forcibly remove her from me.

She eventually cried herself to sleep, curled up on my bed. While it was a big bed, she had fallen asleep very close to me, and it was rather uncomfortable as she was pressing against my stitches. Her father carried her home. Every time after that, she was the same bundle of joy she was before her mothers death. It seemed my escaping deaths grasp had forced the thoughts from her head, and she was cheerful for the mere fact that I was alive. Then, there was Yang's visit.

I peeked over as the door opened. My bandages itched and I am certain I was getting bed sores from lying in this bed for so long. Although I am happy that most of the tubes are gone, those were just uncomfortable. A nest of golden hair entered my room. Yang's eyes were red and puffy, she'd probably been crying. There were rings too, signs of sleep deprivation, and her usually pale skin was now to the point of looking unhealthy. She trembled as she sat down.

Silence prevailed. She sat there uncomfortably, wringing her hands, while I stared ahead, merely glancing at her from time to time. Not that I didn't want to see her, just turning like that became kind of painful if I did it for too long. The beeps and hums of the electronics never seemed as loud as they did now.

Minutes passed, and I watched her bite her lower lip with growing concern. Any harder and she would draw blood. Finally I spoke up.

"You shouldn't do that..." I croaked. Her head shot up and her lip was released from its trap. Her eyes were wide in surprise.

"W-What?" she sounded incredulous.

"To your lip." I clarified, motioning at my own with my undamaged hand. "You shouldn't bite your lip like that, you could hurt yourself." She gaped at me, her mouth forming shapes without speaking words.

"I...You..." She seemed confused for reasons I couldn't comprehend. I just didn't want her to hurt her lip. "You're lying in a hospital...in more bandages than a mummy...and you're worried about me hurting my lip?!" her voice rose to a minor shriek. A mommy banshee somewhere was very proud.

"Yang, I'm already hurt." I huffed, "There's no changing that, even if you rip your lip open. So please stop trying to add to the injuries in this room." I gave her a deadpan stare as she floundered. Her hair wasn't in pigtails today, I noticed, instead simply hanging around her shoulders. She blinked, slack jawed, before she let out an incredibly unladylike snort and erupted into giggles.

"That might be the first time I've ever heard you crack a joke on your own." she giggled. "Of course it would be from a hospital bed." I smiled, it had been to long since I'd last heard her laugh.

"It's pretty hard for me to make a funny." I admitted, "I'm just cracking one here as a Laz Resort." I wiggled my eyebrows at her. She stared at me blank faced for a moment before succumbing to full blown laughter.

"Oh my god Laz, that was awful!" She laughed, her arms clutching her stomach as she kicked her legs. "Whatever they're feeding you here, I love it!" I would regret making that joke, I just know it. Yang with puns. But for now, we both laughed up a storm, the sound soothing to my ears.

The chuckles died down after a while, and a feeling of contentment swept over me. Yang wiped a tear from her eye and let out a happy sigh. A happy Yang. The storm was passing so the sun can shine again.

"Thank you, Laz." I looked over to Yang. She wore an awkward smile and was back to wringing her hands. But at least the tension was gone.

"For what?" I asked.

"For saving me." she answered immediately, "For saving Ruby. For killing the monster. For..." she took a deep breathe, eyes closed. I could hear the tremble in her voice. "For trying to talk me out of it. For...For being my friend." I stayed quiet. I was happy to hear her say it, so very happy. But I kept hearing her harsher words too.

"Am I?" I asked softly. She seemed confused for a moment before realization dawned on her. "Am I your friend?"

"You are!" She exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "You are my friend! I was wrong, I..." another shuddering breathe, "I was stupid. I rushed things and...and I ignored your help for so long and when you talked to me and...and..." Tears again. I hate those tears. "I was just so frustrated..."

"Yang."

"All of a sudden Mom was gone, and Dad may as well have been gone, and I was just so alone." she was rambling, everything that had stacked up was coming out. "Everyone was treating me like some...some sort of weirdo and I just wanted them to leave me alone and...and...and I just wanted Mom back..." she didn't even realize she was calling Mrs. Rose 'Mom' again.

"Yang."

"Dad would barely talk and me and Ruby barely even saw him anymore! Then Uncle Qrow told me about my REAL mom and I just...I hoped..." she trailed off, fresh tears falling from her eyes. "It was stupid." she whispered. Enough.

"Yang." I reached out with my good arm and grabbed her. "...It was stupid." She squeezed her eyes shut. "But you're not bad for wanting your mother back." I tugged at her arm, but she resisted. "You just lost track of yourself. You didn't think through what you were doing, how it affected everyone else. You made a mistake. You want to find your real mother but you rushed things too much, didn't plan things out. Now come on." This time she took a step closer.

"Everyone makes mistakes, we just have to learn from them. Ruby's fine, I'll be fine," guess that full recovery is guaranteed, too much at stake for it not to be, "and everything will...improve. We just have to help things along." Her eyes were open again as she settled on the side of my bed. "I know you love Ruby, and your father, and Mr. Qrow, and I guess you're pretty fond of me as well..." she let out a watery chuckle, "you just have to think of us as well, next time. Take things slower, Think things through. 'To think before you act is no longer a whim, for if an Ulfheon does not, they are no better than Grimm.' My father is always telling me this. Its a family saying, and I feel like it applies to this pretty well." Yang gave a slow nod. "We'll get through this together. Whether it's finding your mother or anything else."

"Thanks Laz." She placed a hand on my head, its effects immediate as my eyes drooped at the sensation. "You really are my friend, and I'm sorry I ever said something so mean." I was placated. Life was good. But even then I looked away with a pout. She laughed that laugh of hers, seeing right through me.

"Okay, okay." she consented, "You're my best friend and I promise to never say something that stupid ever again." Better, but I think I can get an even better one. She let out an amused sigh, and I just know she rolled her eyes.

"Lapis Ulfheon," I felt the mattress shift as she placed her weight on it, "you are my bestest friend ever." I felt a soft sensation on my cheek, and my eyes widened as I recognized the smack of lips. "And you always will be."

A/N: Grimm are scary, especially for a child with no Aura. That Beowolf wasn't even big. I have a ridiculous amount of fun righting interactions with Ruby. She's just so adorable. Yang is a bit harder mostly cause I have to develop the girl in a way that she won't seem too OOC when she grows up. For those curious, the Ulfheon clan have a swathe of history and traditions which I'll be covering through the course of the story, family tradition is real big for the OC. No, YangxOC is not a thing now, it was just a chaste kiss between six year old children, get your mind out of the gutter. There should be at least one or two more chapters of development before we hit the start of the show, still thinking it through.