Chapter Three: Liars

Qrow stayed more than Taiyang expected him to. As the months went by and his children grew, Qrow would pop in on occasion to check in on his nieces and nephews. That was not surprising. What was surprising was he stayed more than a few hours. Sometimes he stayed as long as a week.

It had gotten to the point where the average townsfolk would inquire whether Qrow was watching the children if Taiyang went shopping without them. In fact, if people questioned if Ace was Taiyang and Summer's child, he could easily imply Ace was Qrow's.

More than half a year had passed and summer was in full swing. Soon Yang would be turning six years old. Tomorrow, in fact. It would be her first birthday without Summer. Every year without fail, no matter her mission or how impossible it seemed, Summer would always be home for her children's birthdays.

Not this year. And not ever again.

Taiyang and Qrow set up the party together. They blew up yellow balloons, wrapped presents, and made a cake without burning the house down. The party was just going to be the family this year.

Taiyang offered to invite Yang's friends but she refused. Taiyang hoped everything was okay between them. The other kids had not said anything insensitive about Summer, had they? Today was not the day to sit Yang down and ask.

Once everything was set up, Taiyang clapped his hands together. "Okay, Birthday Girl. What do you want first? Cake or presents?"

Yang's face scrunched up in thought. Her violet eyes snapped open and she pointed at the kitchen. "Cake first."

"Cake cake cake cake!" Ruby cheered.

Taiyang carried Ace over to his high chair and set him inside. He was old enough to have a little bit of cake to Ruby's delight. Ruby offered to feed him, but Taiyang flashed forward to the image of a grinning baby covered in yellow frosting.

"I'll feed Ace, Ruby." he said quickly.

Ruby pouted but brightened when Qrow brought the cake over. He set the bright yellow dessert in front of Yang and backed away. Taiyang rolled his eyes at Qrow's overzealous caution and lit the six candles. They sang happy birthday while Yang bounced impatiently as she waited for them to finish. Once the final "you" was sung, Ruby clapped her hands.

"Make a wish." she urged.

Yang shut her eyes tightly and blew out the candles. The adults and Ruby cheered while Ace babbled. He finally noticed the birthday hat on his head and made it his mission to get it off. The string snapped and the hat fluttered to the floor. Ace was pleased with that outcome if his laugh was any indication.

"Can we do presents next?" Ruby asked. Frosting was already smeared up her cheeks and on her hands.

"I think that's up to the birthday girl." Qrow teased. He got out a napkin and attempted to clean up his niece, but only succeeded in getting frosting on her nose.

Ruby went cross-eyed and grinned. "Daddy, I'm a clown!"

"No you're not. Clowns have red noses." Yang corrected.

Ruby huffed.

"Clowns can have whatever color nose they want." Taiyang interjected.

Yang grumbled while Ruby beamed. Qrow finally got the frosting off of her face. She took another bite and his work was undone in a heartbeat. Qrow looked from Ruby to the napkin and sighed.

"Why did I bother?"

"You should have waited until she was finished." Taiyang said as he fed Ace a bit of cake. The baby enjoyed it and opened his mouth in the hope for more. Taiyang obliged and Ace squealed.

Yang finished her cake with minimal mess and hopped out of her seat. "I wanna do presents now." She rushed out of the room into the living room where a small stack of presents was waiting.

"Wait for everyone to be finished, please." Taiyang chided.

Yang wandered back in with a dramatic sigh. "But they're waiting for me. I saw one from Ruby and one from Daddy and one from Uncle Qrow and one from Mrs. Margaret..." Yang stood on her tiptoes to try to reach Ace. "Where's my present from you, Ace?"

Ace patted her on the nose and babbled.

Taiyang chuckled. "I think that's your present from him, sweetie."

Yang frowned. "I meant a real present."

"That was a real present." Qrow said as he set a piece of cake in front of his spot at the table. "He bopped you on the nose and didn't fling food at you."

Ace's fists flailed and he flung a bit of cake. It his Qrow in the face and stuck to his eyebrows. Ruby and Yang laughed. Qrow sighed and wiped yellow frosting off of his forehead. It left a smear of yellow on his skin.

"I give up." Qrow sighed.

Everyone finished their cake in relative peace. As the children went to the living room, the adults remained behind to clean up a bit of the mess. Taiyang threw out the paper plates and wiped a bit of yellow frosting off the table. He hoped the food coloring would not stain. He thought he heard a noise by the front door and paused.

Qrow caught Taiyang looking at the door. "You aren't expecting anyone else, are you?"

Taiyang shook his head. "Maybe. The mayor came to talk to me about the abandoned building in the woods yesterday. The town wants it to be knocked down but a pack of Beowolves have settled nearby."

Qrow dragged a hand through his hair. "I can see why. It's just going to rot there and hide Grimm inside it."

Taiyang hummed and looked at the door again.

Qrow looked there as well and his face darkened. "Please tell me you're not expecting Raven."

Taiyang winced. "I'm not."

Qrow scowled. "Tai, Yang is six. It's been six years since Raven left. Raven made her choice. She doesn't want to be a mother. She doesn't want her daughter in her life."

Taiyang looked at Qrow and slumped in his seat. "I know. I just thought, with Summer gone that maybe..."

Qrow gave a derisive scoff. "Well stop hoping. Raven won't come back, not even for this. My sister always was a-"

"Summer isn't my mom?"

Qrow and Taiyang froze. The color drained from their faces. Yang stood in the doorway to the kitchen. Huge violet eyes went between Taiyang and Qrow and filled with tears.

"My real mom is "Raven"? My real mom didn't want me?"

"N..."

"No. That's not true. She loves you." Taiyang wanted to say. He could not make himself say the lie. It stayed in his throat and choked him and by the time he swallowed the lump, Yang had already fled up the stairs.

Her presents were left unopened on the living room floor.

Yang entered her and Ruby's bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her. Dad did not like it when they closed their doors but she did not care. He could punish her, if he had the right to. Was he her real dad or was that a lie too?

She stormed over to her bed but paused to look at a picture on her bedside table. Herself, Dad, Ruby and M... (not Mom) Summer smiled at her. She picked the picture up and threw it at the wall with a scream before bursting into tears. Yang flopped face down on the bed and cried into the sheets.

She did not understand. Why did Dad and M... Summer lie about Summer being her mom? Why did her real mom not want her? Was she not good enough for her real mom to stay? Did Raven leave because of her?

There was a knock on her bedroom door. She wiped at her face and opened the door to see Ace. He stopped trying to eat his hand and squealed, waving his arms and kicking his feet. He had an orange present bow stuck on top of his head. Ruby peered around her little brother and held him out to Yang.

"I brought you a present, Yang. He wants you to hold him."

"Does not." Yang muttered.

She took Ace anyway. He noticed the bow on his head and tried to grab it but kept missing. Ace whined in frustration so Yang took the bow off and handed it to him. He squealed and chewed on his prize. He had silver eyes and black hair, just like M... Summer. Clearly he was Summer's child, unlike her. She should have realized the lack of relation sooner. She looked nothing like Summer.

Yang scowled at Ace. It was not fair. He had a mom who loved him.

Or did he? Summer had gone on a mission and never came back. Did she not want Ace so she left like Yang's real mom did? Were Dad and Uncle Qrow lying about that too? Yang scowled more and her eyes flicked to red. Ace giggled and patted her cheek. Then he grabbed her hair and chewed on it.

"EW!" Yang yelped and held Ace away from her. "Ruby, take him."

Ruby grabbed the baby from her but Ace took a couple strands of hair as he went. Yang's anger boiled but she gritted her teeth and reminded herself Dad said Ace was a baby and did not know not to touch the hair.

"You get a pass this time." Yang told Ace.

Ace laughed at her tone and waved his hand, which still had a few strands of blonde in it.

"Yang? Do you want to go open presents now?" Ruby asked. "I got you something really fun."

Ruby looked really hopeful but Yang was not in the mood to see the liars. "No thanks. How about we play in here instead?"

"Okay!" Ruby agreed.

She sat down and let go of Ace. He crawled back to Yang and held his arms up. Yang grumbled but picked him up. She watched Ruby grab some toys from her toy chest and hurry back but was not in the mood to play at the moment. She held Ace and watched Ruby play instead as she thought over what she had learned.

One: Summer was not her mom.

Two: "Raven" was.

Three: Dad and Uncle Qrow were liars.

Four: Something about a building?

Dad and Uncle Qrow had talked about that building, then her real mom. Did that mean the two were connected? Was her real mom at that house? Yang knew if she asked, she would not get answers since Dad and Uncle Qrow were liars.

Yang would have to find her real mom herself.

It was late in the evening when someone pounded on the front door. Yang was still awake when it happened but Ruby was half-asleep. She did not hear what the grown ups said, but a minute later Dad rushed in with Ace in his basket and his Huntsmen clothes on. He set the basket down.

"Yang, there's a Grimm attack near the town. I need you to watch Ruby and Ace. Keep the door locked and do not go outside, do you understand me?"

Dad sounded worried so Yang nodded and watched him run out. She ran to the window and saw him leave with Uncle Qrow. In the distance, smoke rose over the trees and she saw flickers of light. Was something on fire?

Yang looked in the direction of the fire and then in the direction of the old building the liars were talking about. They were in opposite directions, and the building was only a short walk away. She could make it there and back before the liars got back. But Dad would be mad if she left Ruby and Ace alone.

Yang walked to her sister's bed and shook her shoulder. Ruby whined but opened her eyes a peek.

"Get up." Yang ordered. "We have to go someplace."

Ruby sat up and rubbed at her eyes. "But Yang." she mumbled. "I'm sleepy."

"You can sleep in the wagon."

Ruby still looked uncertain. She glanced at Ace. "We can't leave Ace."

"We're not." Yang said impatiently. "Ace is coming with us."

Ruby yawned. "Okay."

Since it was so late, it was a bit chilly. Yang put on her and Ace's coats and Ruby put on her little red cloak. It was just like her mom's. Yang scowled as she grabbed the wagon from the shed out back.

I'll find my mom soon.

Yang started down the path that led to the old house. It was getting dark and she wished she had a flashlight but if she went back she might not make it to the house before Dad came back home. Yang kept walking and noticed Ruby and Ace were being quiet. She checked on them and saw Ruby was asleep. Ace was wide awake and he giggled at her.

Yang hushed him and looked around. The forest was getting really dark. A wind rattled the tree branches and the wagon wheels squeaked on each turn. Yang shivered. Her throat felt tight. Yang was not scared (she was never ever scared) but she was a little nervous. Just a little. What if her real mom was at the house? What would Yang say? What would her real mom say? Would she say why she left Yang?

Maybe... maybe she was on a secret mission! She was on a secret mission she could not tell anyone about, not even Uncle Qrow and Dad. She was on a secret mission but she really wanted to be there for Yang's birthday so she stayed at this house and watched the party from far away. Maybe that was why she left.

Or maybe...

She didn't want me.

Yang halted in place and sniffled. Behind her, Ace's stomach growled. Hadn't he just eaten? How could he be hungry already? Yang turned to him and saw something shift in the woods.

She gasped and stepped towards it. "Mom?"

A hulking figure rose from behind the bushes, and Yang saw red eyes before she could see sharp teeth. Terror paralyzed her and she froze in place as a Beowolf prowled out of the forest and onto the path. The Grimm eyed her as if it were waiting for her to react or scream, but Yang could not utter a sound. Red eyes locked onto the wagon. Its jaws opened, and saliva dripped from its teeth.

Yang stepped between the Grimm and the wagon and raised shaking fists. She had Aura but she was not very strong yet. She had never fought a real Grimm before. Dad said that they were attracted to fear and Yang tried not to be scared but she could not make herself brave because Ruby was sleeping obliviously and Ace was right behind her.

Ace was not crying, but he seemed to notice something was wrong. He whimpered and reached for Yang but Yang could not comfort him, or herself. Yang could not make herself move. The Beowolf loomed over them as more hulking figures prowled onto the path and Yang turned in a panic and grabbed the wagon's handle. She felt something move behind her and breath tickle the back of her neck and her sweaty hands slipped from the wagon. They fell limply to her sides as her heartbeat pounded and her head roared.

I don't want to die like Mom.

Tears of fear ran down her cheeks. Ace watched his sister freeze. He watched the Beowolf rise up behind her. His silver eyes filled with tears and he screamed. Yang's knees buckled and she collapsed next to the wagon as something slammed into her. It knocked the air out of her lungs and left her gasping for air. However, she did not take the brunt of the attack. The Grimm did. Some of the smaller Grimm went flying, while the sturdier ones crumpled where they stood.

Yang only had a moment to wonder what had happened before the sound of clanking metal reached her ears. Dad and Uncle Qrow descended upon the Grimm and tore through them with ease. Heads went flying, limbs were severed, and many of the vile creatures were bisected or torn to shreds. With every successful kill, Yang felt a little worse as she watched them do what she could not.

The battle only lasted about half of a minute. Beowolves were little threat to professional Huntsmen. As the final body disintegrated into ashes, Dad turned to Yang. Yang looked up at him with tear-stained cheeks and lowered her head.

"I'm sorry."

Dad's weapon fell to the ground with a clatter and he wrapped Yang into a warm hug. "What were you thinking?"

"I wanted to find my real mom." Yang whispered in a small voice.

Dad flinched and his hug got tighter. "Raven isn't here, Yang. I don't know where she is."

Yang's eyes watered and she cried again. Dad picked her up while Uncle Qrow grabbed the wagon and Ace and Ruby. Ruby was still sleeping, but Ace was awake. He wriggled and lifted his arms towards Yang. Dad stopped and picked him up too and Ace grabbed Yang's hair again. No amount of shaking could make him let go but Yang did not really mind.

"You're in trouble, Yang." Dad said quietly as they walked home. "I can't believe you brought Ruby and Ace out like this. If we didn't arrive when we did..."

"I thought I was gonna die like Mom." Yang whispered and Dad's breath hitched. The tears kept coming. "I was scared and I forgot everything you taught me and I couldn't do anything." Her voice became a wail even as Dad shushed her. "I'm a bad big sister! I couldn't protect Ruby and I had to be saved by my baby brother."

Dad stumbled. He did not come close to dropping the two children he carried but he walked a little faster. "Yang, explain that to me."

He was using his stern voice. Yang did not like it since it meant she was probably in a lot of trouble. She played with a lock of hair that was not in Ace's grasp.

"Ace did something. The air got heavy and he knocked me over..."

Dad turned white. He grasped Yang's shoulders and forced her to look him in the eyes. "Did his eyes glow?" Dad demanded.

Yang shook her head mutely.

"Are you sure?" Dad stressed.

Yang nodded.

Dad studied her in the way he did when he was trying to see if she was lying. Yang really hoped she was not in too much trouble. After a while he nodded.

"Okay. Okay."

Yang was happy he believed her. She leaned her head against his shoulder and realized Dad was shaking.

"Tai, calm down." Qrow pleaded.

Taiyang stopped pacing long enough to shoot a glare at Qrow before he continued walking back and forth across the kitchen. "After tonight you expect me to calm down?"

"The kids are okay. We made it in time."

"Only because my youngest did "something" according to my eldest. My youngest, who is a baby by the way."

"I know." Qrow dragged a hand through his hair, messing it up more than usual. "And I also know you're freaking out because he is a baby and we both know what that "something" may be."

Taiyang whirled to glare at Qrow. "Ace's Aura is inactive. There's no way it was Silver Eyes."

"Maybe it's because his Aura was inactive that it manifested like that." Qrow mentioned.

"That's not... I... I don't know." Taiyang said helplessly. "It just doesn't seem like Summer's power. And his Aura is still inactive so he didn't awaken his Semblance..."

"Do you really believe that it isn't Silver Eyes or are you just hoping?" Qrow asked. "We know next to nothing about Silver Eyes, Tai. This could be a defensive thing they're capable of in the pre-Aura stage."

Taiyang gritted his teeth. "It doesn't matter. I'm going to activate Ruby and Ace's Auras today."

Qrow gaped at him, shocked. "Tai..."

"I almost lost my children, Qrow." Taiyang snapped. The anger drained from him and he collapsed in a chair. He put his head in his hands. "I can't believe I left them alone."

"The town needed our help and neither of us thought Yang would take them on a trip. How long is she grounded for?"

"Forever." Taiyang growled.

"...Understandable." Qrow took a swig from his flask. "Are you sure you want to activate Ruby and Ace's Auras now? If Ruby unlocks her Semblance you'll have two super powered kids to deal with, and Ace won't be able to do much with it yet."

"But it'll protect him if he's hit." Taiyang growled. "For now that's enough."

Qrow hummed and knelt so he was eye level with Taiyang. "Do you want me to go get them?"

"Please." Taiyang said.

He took the moment he was alone to center himself and try to stop his hands from shaking. He did not fully succeed but it was enough that none of his children noticed he was upset. Ruby was her cheerful self and Ace immediately reached for Taiyang once he saw him, but Yang was quiet. She had taken the news of her grounding without complaint. Taiyang took Ace from Qrow and patted his leg. Ruby saw the invitation and climbed onto his lap. She clung to the chair arm for balance.

"Ruby, do you remember what Aura is?" Taiyang asked her.

"It's the shield thingy Huntsmen use to fight Grimm, Daddy." Ruby said happily.

Her enthusiasm reminded Taiyang so much of Summer. His heart ached but he focused on the present. "Yes. Do you want Daddy to unlock yours?"

"Yeah yeah yeah!" Ruby cheered. She clapped her hands but paused and frowned. Her head tipped curiously. "I thought we were getting our Auras before we went to Daddy's school. Yang only got hers because she got her Semblance when she got mad when the haircut lady tried to cut her hair."

"Daddy changed his mind." Taiyang said instead of trying to tell a three year-old he feared for her safety. "Now, do you remember the rules about your Aura?"

Ruby frowned and looked at her hands in the hope that they held the answers.

"Yang?" Taiyang offered.

"Don't use it to beat up other kids even if they're meanies." Yang said. "Don't boast about having Aura. Don't run into traffic or do stupid things 'cause I'm not invisible."

That last one was worded differently than how Taiyang explained it and he had the feeling it came from Qrow. "You're not invincible, Yang" he corrected. He looked down at Ruby. "Do you understand the rules?"

Ruby nodded. Taiyang knew she did not understand the full depths of what he was doing but she was only three. He would have to explain more thoroughly as time passed. He handed Ace to Qrow and put his hand on Ruby's chest.

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee."

Red Aura flared over Ruby's skin. She squealed and bounced in place. "Yay! I'm glowy!"

Taiyang smiled weakly and took Ace from Qrow. Qrow did not offer to unlock Ace's Aura and let his father do it instead. An orange glow flashed over Ace's skin in a way that reminded Taiyang of roaring flames. Ace watched the light flicker and squealed, clapping his hands. Taiyang held him close and staved off the exhaustion that came with awakening two Auras after participating in battle.

"Dad?" Yang finally broke her silence. She stepped closer to Taiyang and scuffed her foot on the ground. "Can I start training tomorrow?"

Taiyang closed his eyes and bottled up his grief. "Yes."

Things went back to normal after that. Or as normal as raising three kids with activated Auras could be. Ace was not affected much except for the lack of a bruise when he crawled head-first into a chair leg, but Ruby was much more difficult. Her already boundless energy had multiplied by a thousand and she sped around like she had eaten sugar for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a midnight snack. Taiyang was beginning to suspect his younger daughter would get a speed Semblance.

Qrow had taken the girls outside to play. Or "play" in the case of Yang. Yang had more interest in punching than using a scythe so Taiyang would normally teach her hand-to-hand combat, but Qrow also had some tricks up his rolled up sleeves.

It let Taiyang spend some time in relative peace without two whirlwinds of energy to watch over. Not alone since he usually had Ace with him, but his son was turning out to be a rather adventurous child. Twice now Taiyang had turned away from Ace's high chair, only to turn back and find it empty as his youngest crawled towards the door as fast as he could. Taiyang dreaded the day Ace learned to walk. He already had to chase Ruby. He was not looking forward to the time he had to run after two speedy children.

Taiyang sighed and considered the banana he was cutting into tiny pieces. Ace already had mashed carrots in front of him but he ate a lot for such a small boy. Taiyang hoped too much foodstuff would not end up on the floor this time. Ace was not a picky eater in the slightest but he thought flinging food was the funniest thing in the world. Taiyang could not count the times he had to wash mashed peas out of his hair.

"You are going to be a little troublemaker when you grow older, aren't you Ace?" Taiyang told him as he cut the pieces of banana a bit smaller. "Is it too much to hope for that you will be the responsible one who keeps your sisters out of trouble for your poor Daddy?"

"Da..."

Taiyang froze in place and whirled to stare at his son.

"Da..." Ace's face scrunched up in concentration. "Da..."

Taiyang's heart soared into the clouds. He was going to say "Dada" or "Daddy". His son's first word. He was going to be his son's first word! Yang had said "Mama" first and Ruby had said "'row (Qrow)", but this time he, Taiyang Xiao Long, had won out. He was so proud!

"Da... Da... Damn." Ace chirped. He waved happily and flung mashed carrots from his spoon. "Damn damn damn damn."

As Ace continued to curse obliviously, Taiyang's eye twitched. "QROW BRANWEN! I'M GOING TO MURDER YOU!"

Outside the house, Qrow felt death coming for him. He set Ruby down and patted her hair, smiling at Yang.

"Sorry, kiddos. I have to go."

Yang's eyebrows rose in a suspicious manner. "What did you do?"

"Do you have another mission?" Ruby asked eagerly.

Qrow glanced nervously at the house. "Yeah. A mission. See you."

He turned into a bird and fled.

The Author's Notes: Since canon's explanations of Aura are contradictory, here is the version I am using: Aura works as a passive shield. However, under certain circumstances (like if its user is in shock) it can deactivate and leave the person vulnerable. Huntsmen can train to prevent that from happening but it takes a lot of work.

Also, yes, people with Aura can hit Logias much like people with Armament Haki can.

My headcanon is that Yang's birthday is sometime in summer. Probably July or August.

Did you know Yang is 19 in Volume 6? I had no idea until I tried to find her birthday.

To Draak D. Sol: Thank you very much. Older Ace's personality will be very close to his canon older self. Kid Ace will be happier and more childish since he will not have his "existence questioning and Roger issues". And let's just say that seeing how Yang reacts to Raven's abandonment will make him react differently to his own "abandonment" once he finds out about it.

To Guest (power scaling): Thank you very much. Oh, I see. I am relieved that is the case. From the way your review was worded I thought that was a big thing for your continued interest. No worries. I would have mentioned the power balance sometime since I knew it would come up eventually. I simply did it earlier than I planned. I will say that Ace will be stronger than people expect from him.

To loldelegate: Oops, the Summer thing was a mistake. I fixed it. Thank you for telling me. And thank you for the story ideas but I have my own ideas that I plan to use. If you have a lot of ideas you should write a fic. It takes time but it is fun. I already planned to have Ruby help Ace design his weapon though I am pretty sure Yang designed her own weapons. It is likely I will not follow the RWBY plot for long. That would be predictable. I would rather not have Private Messages open since I am not comfortable with it. I have heard stories about spam, scams, aggressive demands for updates, and threats so they will remain off. Sorry about that.

To Matt: Thank you very much! I will update when I can. I do not have a schedule in mind.

Please review and tell me what you think.