A/N: Finale, Enjoy.
The dead of night had Ruby outside of her house talking with the last person she'd never figure she'd see in person. Raven gave a good look at Ruby just as Ozpin did so long ago, like him stopping on her face.
"You do have Summer's eyes, silver and full of energy."
"Aunt Raven why are you here?"
"Ruby, I'm not your…"
"Qrow is more Yang's Uncle than mine I know but I still call him uncle, so I'll gladly call you Aunt. Besides my mom knew you as well."
Raven flashed a rare smile on her face as they looked on at the night sky. "That she did."
For what seemed like nearly forever the duo stood outside in the moonlight each not sure what to say. Until seeing a small tear in her eye gave Ruby the gull to finally mention the thing that had been bugging her since the battle.
"Raven, did you want the lamp?"
"Yes.."
"Then why did you let Yang have it…"
"If Salem knew I had it, she'd go after not only me but everyone I knew. There was no way I'd risk losing Yang, Tai, Qrow or my tribe. You may not be my daughter, but your sister means more to me than I'm willing to admit. Of course, this statement now includes you as well."
"Is that because you're the Summer Maiden?"
In shock Raven spun around to Ruby showing the small glimpse of the power she had inherited. The bright red flames on the corners of the eyes illuminating the windows of the house.
"How did you know?"
"On the day Beacon fell, was the last time I spoke with Phrya Nikos and she had mentioned a thing to me about Maidens, which I brushed off as a nerves joke. Only after Qrow told us about Salem and the Maidens did I realize what Ozpin was trying to get her to be. You had that same appearance as what he told us about them. It seems though that the power Ozpin was trying to gift Phrya ended up with…"
"Cinder Fall…You should know I never truly aligned with her, all that was just to get the lamp so that my tribe would be safe."
"I'm aware, you may have to take a bit to convince Qrow and Yang about that."
Raven looked uneasy as she stared up to the window of what she guessed as Yang's bedroom. She sighed with regret in her throat and turned back to Ruby.
"Now I wish I'd come back sooner, especially after she lost her arm. So much I want to make right, Yang, your dad and Summer especially."
"I can remedy the Summer situation right now."
Without warning Ruby grabbed onto Raven as they sped off through the woods. It seemed like nearly 7 miles until they came upon a cliff. Raven was out of breath as can be while Ruby looked ahead.
"Hey, I didn't ask to be…" Though now she could see it. The cliff edge that revealed the full of the moon shining down on a headstone. Ruby's eyes on it gave off the indication that sent waves of emotion across Raven.
"Is that…"
"My mom was never seen again after she got sent out on a mission years ago. Dad put this on the cliff as tribute to make sure she always kept watch over our home, even though she was no longer on Remnant. If you're still interested, I'll give you a bit."
Ruby backed off while it took Raven a few minutes before she went over to the cliff. She could now see the headstone engraved with Summers sigil and a simple epitaph.
SUMMER ROSE
THUS KINDLY I SCATTER
The tears she shed were more than her moment before leaving Yang as she poured her heart out for what seemed like an eternity. Ruby who at that point had fallen asleep got woken back up when Raven came back over.
"How was my Mom…"
Raven chuckled to herself and rubbed Ruby's hair in a show of good faith. "You remind me of her so much, she'd be so proud of you and your sister."
Another semblance boost brought them back to the house as Ruby opened the door back up. Raven stared on in both longing and benign fashion.
"Can we go back soon, because you may be key in that?"
"I'll give you a couple more days with Tai, find my portal in the woods after that, that should take you four back to Qrow."
Without realizing Raven shifted to bird form and flew off. All Ruby could do was look at the sky and think about everything that had gone on within the last seven months since she had last been near her mother's grave site. How beautiful the sky around Patch was, the feel of being at home, and the team she was on being together again. Weiss was right about one thing in that dark night…
"All the Stars Are Closer…"
The Door close was quick and as she got back to her room Zwei now had his feet clawed into Weiss hair.
"What a lazy butt…" She tucked herself back in as sleep overtook her within minutes.
2 Days Later
In a flurry of activity, the girls helped Tai clean things up around the house. As they were due to head into town to get passage back to Mistral, Tai savored every moment he could with his girls, while Zwei had has share of fun following Blake around and even logging onto Weiss.
"Go Away Dog…" Blake peered from the shed as she hid while picking up garbage. Weiss peered over and shook her head repeatedly.
"Jeez Blake," The words were both critical and surprising as she grabbed Zwei away from the shed while the corgi excitedly wiggled and licked her. "He's harmless, your nature shouldn't make you completely afraid of dogs. What about beowolves, the dogs of Grimm you can approach them with no issues."
Blake peered at Zwei before shaking her head. "If Zwei was a Grimm even you'd fear him." The handoff of the trash to Tai was quick as she headed back inside to check on the windows. As Weiss let go of Zwei sending him off to wherever Ruby was now, they looked on at the mess ahead of them still.
"Blake really does not like Zwei…" Tai hit the nail square on the head as he joined Weiss to clean the shelves off. As she noticed the shelves full of equipment for both gardening and repair the questions now filled hear head.
"So, what do you use this for…"
"Storage and Yang's bike Mainly."
"I wish my dad was into hobbies like you…" Weiss sighed while Tai handed her some stuff.
"Signal doesn't occupy my whole time Weiss, I'm sure they've told you of my moments here. Summer loved certain aspects of our little piece of this world. Only make sense to keep them alive for her."
Weiss nodded while they continued cleaning. Once the house was spotless by Tai standards and a weapons check was done to make sure they were in peak shape the four stood outside on the path set to head into town. Tension was abounding as no one was sure what needed to be said at that moment.
"So…"
Ruby nervously twerked her thumbs back and forth, reminding herself of how she had left before all nervous and not sure of what to say next.
"Ruby…"
As their leader shook in fear, Yang took the initiative to step forward to hug their dad. The moment was warm and loving, and then Yang turned back to still see Ruby nervous as can be.
"Come on sis, you can give a proper goodbye unlike last time."
That was the push as now she joined them and embraced them both with love and meaning. The sniffle of the elder Xiao Long broke the tension of the perfect morning.
"Please be safe, you know how much you both mean to me."
Tai shed a few tears which Blake and Weiss noticed far behind them making sure this moment was not ruined.
"We love you Dad…" Both girls said while trying to hold back a few tears of their own. While Checkmate watched in the distance wondering how long this would continue, Tai suddenly got a glimpse of them peaking over on their goodbyes and broke from the embrace waving at them to get their attention.
"Weiss, Blake bring it in your family to me as well."
The duo ran over to join the group embrace as Tai locked into getting the face of Team RWBY locked into his head. Wondering just how long it'd be until he'd see them all again. After nearly 25 Minutes the four finally broke off leaving Tai to wave them off as they began the walk into the woods.
"Bye ZWEI!" All but Blake yelled back as the Xiao Long household shrunk in the distance. Tai himself continued watching the road until finally the girls were gone. He came back into the house alone again. Zwei was curled up in the dog bed by the couch while on the table he now saw a new photo already framed along with a note.
DEAR DAD,
SAW OUR OLD TEAM PHOTO AND FIGURED IT COULD USE AN UPDATE
NOW YOU'LL HAVE US HERE IN PATCH WHEN WE AREN'T
WILL CALL SOON
WITH MUCH LOVE
YANG AND RUBY
Tai sniffled while he stared at the previous photo, Ruby and Yang with their partners and in red with the words "New FRIENDS" Now the new picture of them outside with the sunflowers blooming behind them had one simple phrase.
"FAMILY"
Tai happily petted the sleeping Corgi while whistling to himself the song Shine.
1 Hour Later
"How much longer is the way back into town?" Weiss Moaned as what seemed like endless timbers of evergreen continued to pass by.
"Yeah, something seems off Ruby?" Yang peaked over to see her sister frantically looking between the trees.
"No nothings, off just we haven't been here in nearly a half a year, just trying to remember the way."
"No, I was still here barley a month ago, not all of this has changed that much…"
Ruby was all set to get into an argument with Yang about what each of them had been through in the past 6 months, when Blake now noticed it.
"Guys, turn here quick!"
The three now joined the cat girl as they could now see it. The familiar red portal now in the bright daylight between two old ancient redwoods. All three of them now looked at Ruby miffed, expecting an explanation.
"WHAT!" Ruby shrugged in nonchalant tones. While Yang looked for any telltale sign if the bird was near. Not seeing anything she turned back to her sister with a glare mixed with angry and relief in tone.
"Let's go Guys… We'll Leave Ruby to tell Dad what she clearly doesn't want to tell us."
The three quickly ran through the swirling vortex while Ruby opened her scroll to send a message out.
DAD, TELL YOUR CONTACT WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT
5 Seconds of silence followed until a response popped up on her screen.
IS THE PORTAL THERE?
Ruby responded by quickly snapping a picture of it. Another 15 seconds of silence came until she got a response that confirmed where the rest of her team now was.
LOVE YOU GUYS. BE SAFE.
WE LOVE YOU TOO, WE'LL TELL QROW YOU SAID HI.
As she tucked her scroll away Ruby walked to the portal looking up to the sky for one telltale sign of her own. A small black feather fell into view and she nodded in gratitude for the kept promise.
"Thank you, Aunt Raven."
The cape of Ruby's fluttered in the wind as she walked through the open vortex, now more confident and readier to resume the fight against Salem.
THE END