Willow Schnee
Atlas Academy; Seven Years Previously
November 3rd

"I don't know about this James, maybe she should know," I say with a sigh. "If you want to see your daughter, then she should know that she's your daughter." Taking a look around his office, I remind myself that as much I as I love James Ironwood that I loved Jacques Gelè more. No, it's not even me lying to myself - it's true! I'm far too impulsive for my own damn good - and look where it has gotten me! Not that it matters, after all Jacques admitted just weeks ago that only reason he married me was for my family name. I got mad, and it snapped him. I should have realized before then but I didn't. Compounded with that is the fact I've been lying to my own daughter about who she is!

"Grimm, she's only twelve years old for Oum's sake! Willow, do you honestly believe that she would understand?" James responds. "I don't want this to hurt either her or you, but I want to see her. Not just in photographs, I want to at least get a chance to spend time with her."

"You've seen her before. If I recall, you saw her a few days after she was born and briefly when she was five," I point out snippily.

"Willow, that's not the same thing."

"I am not going to let you see her, not like this. She's older now, doesn't she have a right to know?" I counter. "It's her heritage we're talking about!"

"And I am not suggesting that we never tell her, but we should wait until she's an adult. She won't understand it if we tell her now or if we tell her, let's say we tell her when she's sixteen or so, she'll probably be pissed. I want to get to know her, and I don't want there to be pressure for either of us."

"Damn it James! Aren't you a little too busy to spend time with her anyway, General. You now have, what is it, two seats on the Atlesian council, have been headmaster of Atlas Academy for about a year now, and you were promoted in your position in the military. Forgive me if I doubt that you will be able to spend any time with her that isn't contrived."

"She's my daughter!" He responds. "I don't think you have any idea how much I care about her!"

"I don't care that she's your daughter!" I fire back. "If I want to keep her from you, then I will! What reason do I have to believe that you are even capable of being a good father anyway?"

"I want to take her to the mall, or out for ice cream, maybe to a film! I'm not asking to raise her, I'm asking to spend time with her! Besides, if you are so concerned by the possibility of her finding out her heritage, then tell me, what makes you think that Jacques won't tell her?"

"Excuse me?" I say, anger starting to seep into my voice.

"Willow, I hate saying this, but emotional control isn't either of your fortes."

"Oh, believe me, I am fully aware of that - or have you forgotten that a lack of emotional control on the part of me and Jacques is exactly why we are having this conversation to begin with?" I shoot back.

"Willow," He says, placing a hand gently on my cheek. "I know. But whatever this is that you seem to be dealing with isn't worth it. She'll find out eventually, and you know it."

"What do you mean by that?" I challenge.

"I'll give you an example: In regards to her studies, for example, she is already significantly above average for her age. She is doing work intended for seventh and eighth years despite being only twelve. Weiss is a bit ahead for her age, doing fifth year work at ten, but how much longer do you think that Caitlin can be convinced that she's two years younger than she actually is."

"I don't know! Alright, I don't know! This is exactly why they attend a private school - it's not nearly as questioned!" I shout, tears beginning to fall down my face. Weakly, I collapse into the chair in front of his desk. I am acting like a child, but I… I haven't the slightest idea what to do. "I just want to protect her. And Whitley, he's only five, how do you think this could affect him? Winter's twenty though… but Caitlin… it's about her. She needs to know if you are going to be any part of her life." I wipe my eyes as I try to calm myself down. "James," I say as he bends down to be closer to my height. "Even she knows she's different… from the rest of them. And Winter has been asking questions more frequently of late about why Jacques and I insist that Caitlin and Weiss are twins when she knows that they're not. Remember, she was eight when Caitlin was born… and ten when Weiss was."

"Winter is one of the best in her year; no I'm not at all surprised that she's asking questions - anyone would. Apart from the fact, she's observant and quick - which is part of why she graduated in the spring."

"A year early," I add softly. "But James, she thinks that…"

"Winter thinks what?" He asks, softening his tone.

"The last time I was here, the last time we had this conversation, Winter overheard. She… she thinks that the reason Jacques is so hard on her is because she's your daughter and not his."

"But she is Jacques's child. If she needs proof, a blood test can prove it."

"I think it may have been part of why she was so quick to enlist in the military." I say, my voice breaking slightly.

"No, no Winter is not like that. I have trained her personally outside of classes to sharpen her skills, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that she is not nearly impulsive enough to make that decision without taking everything into consideration. Even if she thinks that Jacques isn't her father, she wouldn't make such a choice without considering what changes joining the Atlesian military would have on her life."

"But she did join the military? In the special operatives unit?" I ask, though I know the answer. As soon as Jacques found out he removed her status as heiress and handed it to Weiss after Caitlin declared that she would sooner die than run the SDC.

"Yes," James confirms.

"Does anyone else know the truth?"

"Qrow Branwen and Glynda Goodwitch know, but only because -"

"You told them! This was supposed to stay a secret between you and me!" I scream.

"Qrow had already figured it out, I'm not sure how but he asked me and I told him the truth. Glynda knows, but she saw me looking through the file a few weeks ago and wanted to know why I was so interested in that particular girl." Running a hand through his hair as he helps me up, he adds. "Do you really think that I'm going to lie to two of the few people I actually trust?"

"Of course not… it's just… I don't know what I'd do if that became public."

"I promise you Willow, they're not going to tell anyone." With a sigh as he sees the time on his scroll, he releases my hand. "If you ever need to talk, I'll be here for you. Still, I would love to get a chance to see her - if you will let me. But I do have a meeting with the council soon, so we will need to pick this up another time."

"Alright…" I respond shakily. "And... James... I... I love you."

Gently, he pulls me in close. "I know and I love you too, Willow."


"... Well, Ice Queen, I suppose we're working together now, huh?" An unfamiliar voice says from behind the corner. I stop, wanting to hear more. Atlas Academy isn't exactly known for allowing just anyone within the school, and I have distinctly unpleasant memories of being called 'Ice Queen' when I was in school.

"...If that's the case, then do me a favor," A voice I know well responds. Winter. But then who is this man she's talking to?

"...Depends on what that is. Sexual? Well..." I can hear the man pull out something that sounds like it has a drink within it and from the faint scent of it that reaches me, I'd be willing to bet that it's alcoholic.

"...Shut up, it's nothing like that!" She snaps. "...Tell me Branwen, do you have access to birth records and the like?"

"...Depends. Why?"

I hear Winter sigh deeply before continuing. "...Because I can tell you with near certainty that I am not Jacques Schnee's daughter."

I freeze, barely able to breathe hearing those words. But his response surprises me. He laughs, he simply laughs at Winter and I can hear her sword move slightly; she must be reaching for it.

"...I'm serious Branwen!" Winter snaps.

"...You seriously think Jacques Schnee is not your father? Well I hate to break it to you Ice Queen, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that he is. The man may be a jerk, but he's still your father. Besides, who do you think your father would be if it isn't Jacques?"

Winter hesitates slightly before responding so softly that I can barely hear it. "...General Ironwood."

"...You're out of your mind."

"...Really? Then why was my mother talking with General Ironwood about their daughter? Why does my father hate me so much?"

"...Listen to me, what I'm going to tell you you can never tell anyone. Ever. By rights I shouldn't even know about this. It's not easy to say, but it's the truth. Promise you won't tell?"

"...Promise."

"...Your little sister, uh Caitlin right?"

"...Yes?"

"...What's different about her?"

"...Well for one thing my parents insist that she and Weiss are twins when I know they aren't. Also, her physical resemblance to our father is almost nonexistent and her eyes are green, not blue."

"...What you heard about your mother and Jimmy -"

"...General." I can hear Winter bristle and I shake slightly, knowing where this is going.

"...Is true. They did have a child. But it wasn't you. It was Caitlin."

"...What?"

"...Winter," I hear him say gently. "If you don't believe me, you can go to ol' Ironwood and ask him yourself. But what I'm telling you is true."

"...I, I...Qrow, if you are pulling my leg -"

"...I'm not. Do you believe me?"

The pause is uncomfortably long. I know that Winter is debating within her own mind whether or not to trust Qrow. Almost silently, I hear her answer and know it is through tears. "...Yes."