Willow stared at her coffee. The white steam raising towards the ceiling. She never liked coffee that much, and that displeasure had only grown greater over time. It had always given her jitters. Now as she watched that steam rise from the mug in her hands and its taste sat bitterly on her tongue she appreciated the hot beverage.

In someway, that dislike could be chalked up her disdain of coffee to being near the opposite of alcohol.

But now she could not have the latter, refusing to give back into the temptation. And Willow was certainly more than tired enough to be thankful for some caffeine. The stress; of all of this and stopping drinking at the same time, was getting to her.

She was not at home anymore.

There was no way she would feel safe that close to Jacques. In hindsight, Willow hadn't for a long time and never would again. Even if the chances of him trying anything were slim.

Or at least she hoped they were. . .

Still she had had to leave. Because of that chance and so that she could better fight that man. This would be the longest she was away from home for some time. And she hadn't had much time to prepare.

So Willow turned to one of the few people she could trust. One of the few people in the world that would never be intimidated by Jacques Schnee. Maybe the only person she could call friend now.

Despite her lack of public appearances, and getting out of the mansion in general, it had not been that long since she had last been in this place. There were events that she was expected, invited to attend, and when it came down to it, she didn't really have a choice in the matter.

Those Atlassean Military balls were generally not too bad though; there was always more than enough champagne to keep her happy and always someone else just as inebriated to make her not feel so alone. Though she was usually kept on a rather short leash.

And at every one, she had always stopped by James's office to say "hello". Even if that word was slurred.

Right now this was the best place she could be. Even if having to check her sword as the entrance, as civilians weren't allowed to have weapons on military bases, made her even more uneasy.

A piece of the identity she was desperately trying to hold on to no longer in her grasp.

So she sat in a standard issue office. It was rather nice, large as it was for a general, if still dull. At this point, as she sat at a mostly white chair in a mostly white office, in a mostly white military base, in mostly white Atlas she realized, even as a Schnee, she had grown quite tired of the color.

General Ironwood walked in the door, closing it behind him again. Willow preferred people not knowing she was there.

His hair was greyer than she had remembered it, and more so in a shorter period than she ever recalled. It must have been from the stress. Willow was thankful for naturally white hair, because if she hadn't always had it, she would have had it now anyway.

"James, I can't thank you enough." Willow offered her gratitude for not the first time today to her friend, part of her not believing she deserved any of it. "I don't know what I would have done."

"Of course," He walked around to his seat at the same desk that Willow sat at, "You're a friend, we've known each other for far too long for me not to help." There was a softness to his voice, one that Willow imagine very few had ever heard.

"Still. You're taking a risk helping me. Jacques-" She was cut off by the General.

"Jacques has never scared me. And he never will." He sighed, and looked directly to his guest, "I did warn you about him." There was no triumph in those vindicated words, only sympathy.

"I know, you were right." Thoughts, what-ifs, came flooding in as they usually did. It was unpleasant, and it never helped. Thinking back all those years, one thing did come to mind. One thing that didn't hurt. So she continued:

"But you weren't exactly the first person who I trusted with advice concerning relationships," Willow was trying to lighten up this horrible situation she found herself in, by poking fun at her old friend. "Because I believe that you are still single and that that revolver you love so much is still named Glynda."

Nothing could get General James Ironwood to blush. Probably not even a god. Nothing, except maybe the woman they now discussed. He would also not appeared flustered. So, he simply remained silent.

"I do believe that she is the same "Professor Goodwitch" that my daughter spoke of at Beacon. Ever observant, Weiss mentioned that Glynda was as married to her job as I know you are. But apparently only to the job."

Again, the man was silent for a moment. He eventually sighed;

"We both have made decisions we will have to live with. Though, hopefully we can make it so that you don't quite have to endure what you have had to for so long." Ironwood took out his scroll and checked it before placing it back in his jacket. "Your luggage will be arriving shortly. I'll have it brought to the apartment I have on base. As I said before, you won't be intruding; I never stay there anyway. And as we agreed it is where you'll be safest."

Willow didn't want to be any more of a burden than she already was, but she knew he was right. Not even Jacques would try something on a military base. And in her luggage. . .

Luggage?

"I didn't bring anything but what I grabbed on my way out," Usually or a Schnee, the few outfits and amenities she had carried would have been disgraceful, but this was far from usual. She was just glad that she had Klein, who didn't question when she had told him to drive her to an airship. He could still feign ignorance. "How do I have anything arriving?"

If this is from Jacques it could be-

"You butler, Klein, arranged for some of your personal items to be transported here" He smiled a bit, for the first time this meeting, "Winter gave me his number when she first joined; emergency contacts are a requirement, non-negotiable, and I think you will agree he was the best option at that point in time. The number is secure, I know because your daughter, despite how she wanted to appear, wasn't as independent as she would have liked when she first commissioned. Klein retrieved and brought her some personal and luxury items several times. I can't imagine Jacques would have approved."

Willow would have to agree. After Winter joined the military all he ever did for her was enough for a public facade. And this reminded her, confirmed to her, that:

I have at least two friends left.

"Indeed. What a relief; I need to keep up my public image." She sighed, not even finding her own joke that humorous, "In all seriousness, that does make me feel a bit better."

Ironwood looked at the now empty cup of coffee in held by Willow. "That's good. You don't need anymore stress."

Willow looked to see mug was shaking with her hands, the caffeine was only partially to blame. "I would have to agree."

For a moment neither of them said anything, simply contemplating their current predicament.

"Remind me again exactly what resources you have available." Ironwood inquired.

Willow closed her eyes, making sure to recollect correctly things from a long time ago. "I have a few personal stocks, an old checking account from when I was a girl, and maybe a property somewhere I haven't been to in years. Everything else I held jointly with Jacques; so it's his now. It's not much, relatively"

For anyone else, it would have been a substantial fortune. But when you were fighting one of the most powerful men in Remnant, it probably wouldn't be enough. Willow knew the lawyers alone may cost more.

"Would anyone inside the company be of help?"

"Maybe one or two of the old board members, from my father's time, might be on my side but they're virtually powerless on their own." Willow answered dejectedly.

"Any other possible allies, old acquaintances from other prominent families perhaps?" Ironwood questioned.

"No, I don't think so," The answer hurt; it reminded her of how alone she was now and had been for so long. "There are a few people I used to know; there was a girl on my team at Atlas Academy and a former suitor who always meant well. But I've only talked to them a few times in the last decade."

I couldn't ask them to do something like this. Not after so long.

"So is-" Willow started, as a Schnee she hated asking something of someone else, and personally she hated asking anything of a friend she had nearly abandoned. "-is there anything you can do? James, I can't thank you enough for what you've already done, I just want to know what we're working with."

"There isn't a pay grade in the Atlassean Military that would be able to contribute much, not even mine." She had known that already. "The military will only concern itself if active duty personnel are involved.-"

And they have a vested interest in keeping happy relations with their dust supplier.

"-I can try to influence other members of the council, call in a few favours if it comes down to it, but not much more. I'm sorry I can't help more."

There again was the sympathy she didn't think she deserved.

"You've already done more than I ever could really asked of you. What I have will have to be enough. Perhaps I can turn public opinion against him enough for it to do some good, though I think I will need my daughters for that." No one would care as much for her than two of Atlas's This would be a long and difficult road ahead, what she had last said weighed heavily on Willow. "Do you know how Winter's doing and when she'll be back? I didn't talk to her much last I saw her."

Willow was anxious about that; partially afraid to face her daughter and thus all she had become and become these last many years. And partly desperately wanting to try to make it up to her no longer little girl and finally be her mother again.

"Her deployment will last about another month. After that time she will return here. Last time I saw her she was stressed, more than usual. After what you told me I think it was due to Weiss's departure, who there's still no word on."

That means Weiss is probably fine, she can take care of herself now. She's grown up so much. I guess I'll at least have time to prepare for both those meetings.

Willow looked her old friend in the eyes "You've been the parent Winter didn't have, when she really needed one." Words that still stung, despite how true they were and how she had come to accept them, "It's clear every time she talks to me how much looks up to you. No matter how this all turns out, I'll never be able to repay you for that."

"She is a fine young woman, one of the best officers in the entire military and I am quite pleased to have her under my command. You don't need to repay me for anything." Even under these circumstances, Willow knew Ironwood was not the type to exaggerate. His words gave her some comfort.

Willow let out an exasperated, exhausted sigh, "I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I think I'll make use of your apartment." She said, getting up from her seat.

"Before you leave, you're probably going to want this." Ironwood pulled something out from behind his side of the desk. It was a sword, her sword. "Honored guests are trusted to carry whatever they like on base. General's orders." Willow it when he had walked in.

He handed Eisdunst to her, which she promptly fastened to her belt.

"I need to figure out more ways to thank you James." Willow remarked.

"You can thank me after you get you life back from Jacques. Now, go get some rest. We both know you'll need it."

As she walked out of the office, sword on her hip, headed towards where Ironwood had said the apartment was.

It was going to be a tough fight, nearly everything was stacked against Willow.

But I'm going to win anyway.

Hope y'all liked this installment :)

And didn't mind Ironwitch being shoehorned in a bit.

I'm planning on at least 2 more chapters, probably 3.

Where Willow get a bit more back up ;)