And here is yet another chapter for you peeps.

Chapter 11:

Smiling calmly Cinder opened the garage door, as she sniffed the air causing her to frown internally at the smell. It meant that Ruby had broken the one rule Cinder had when it came to Ruby consuming some narcotic and with Emerald and Neo around. People who had a penchant of causing damages and putting people in danger, ultimately causing Cinder some worry.

"Oh, something smells good." Roman said with a chuckle as the front door swung open with him holding several boxes. "Did Red make some pot brownies? Didn't know she knew how to do that." Roman said with a chuckle as Cinder slammed the front door shut.

"If your daughter started another fire, I'm going to kill her. And then send you the bill for the damages she caused. Especially considering as last time I had to replace most of my entire poolside bar and pizza oven." Cinder stated towards the man who took a step back showing the defensive nature in what what it was Cinder had just stated. The way he knew that when she really wanted to really do something not much was going to be able to stop her, especially after what she had just got done doing to those two men.

"I don't think Ruby would let that happen again to begin with. She knows how mad you get at things like that." Roman said calmly as she smiled at the shocked gasp that filled the room as they could see Neo stumbling out of a room. "Yeah if Neo is any indication they are wasted though. So you might have dodged a bullet." Roman joked gently as Neo quickly ran the man and quickly began to rub his face causing a small chuckle.

Chuckling softly Roman began to gently nudge his daughter's hands away as he followed Cinder towards the kitchen where the rest had been sitting. Cinder just smiled faintly at the sight of Ruby giggling gently as she began to rest her head onto Reese's shoulder. The sight the of the blonde sitting upright was enough to cause Cinder some immense joy.

"Ruby, who is your new friend?" Cinder said as Ruby just started to giggle gently from the comment.

"It is Yang. She is my roommate." Ruby said with a small laugh as Reese just gently began to push her into a sitting position. "Be nice Mom. Now I'm starving. Did you bring home some good food?" Ruby said as she began to rest her head once again on Reese's shoulder who just calmly began to move Ruby's head.

"Reese." Cinder deadpanned as the teal haired woman just smiled at her.

"Don't worry Ashes. Yang and I need to leave. Nice to see you're out Roman. You two do look like you just had fun... stomping on rats?" Reese asked rhetorically as Roman just smiled as he placed the items down onto the table.

"You can say that. It would be wrong... but you can say that." Roman said with a small laugh as he could see the blonde woman tensing up before he looked towards his daughter who had begun to laugh softly. "And it seems my little ice cream cone is really far gone." Roman said with a chuckle as Ruby began to tap the table.

"You're going to church Sunday Roman. I don't want you to be a bad influence on Mom." Ruby said in near exhausted manner as Reese gently began to lower her head down onto the table.

"You may want to keep an eye on Ruru... she had a lot of brownies... which she handled entirely we just made sure she didn't burn her hands. And the brownies on the blue plate are normal. If there is any left on the green one those are the fun ones." Reese said standing up as Ruby began to chuckle softly. "Merc come on, you promised to drop me and Yang back off near her house." Reese said with a chuckle as she stood up just seeing Yang pale slightly.

Smiling softly Cinder took a step back as she spoke up hoping to send the message clear to the blonde woman about the situation. "Don't worry... Yang was it? I'm sure you'll get used to Mercury driving you places. Especially towards Patch if memory serves me right about where Ruby said you lived." Cinder knew from the paling face of Yang that Reese had told Yang about much more. "Don't worry though Yang... I'm sure you are going to be safe. Mercury is a very safe driver. No one has ever been harmed while he is behind the wheel." Cinder said as she could see Ruby chuckling softly.

"That's it Mom... Church Sunday!" Ruby said extending her arm from her laying position as she began to giggle softly pulling it back down. As she felt her back being gently patted.

"Would be a lot more pressing if you weren't gone." Cinder said with a small laugh as Ruby took a deep breath pushing herself off the table as she looked towards her mother as Reese began to fix herself as she gently gestured towards Yang to get up. "Yang, don't be a stranger... Reese, don't let the door hit you on the way out. I don't want to see ass prints on my door."

Laughing softly at the comment, Reese began to stretch gently. "Love you too Ashes. Tell your mother I still have night terrors of her. And probably won't see you for a few days. Have personal things to take care of." Reese said with a smile as she could feel Yang walking behind her. "By the way, I hope those rats or whatever it was got what it deserved and you weren't too gentle."

Hearing that Ruby quickly looked around before slouching a little. "I thought Grandma Salem really was here... she'd be really mad I made pot brownies... especially because I tend to get a bit giggly and stupid when I eat them. Don't scare me like that Reese."

"Sorry Ruby. Didn't mean to." Reese said as she turned towards Mercury and Yang. "Let's get going. I want me to learn how to make red bean buns. Seems like a fun thing to do... at least if it is half as fun to make as they are to eat." Reese said with a chuckle as Yang began to pale slightly.

"Bye Yang... I'll see you when I'm back in school next week. You keep your silly head though... and that adorable if delicious sounding teddy bear." Ruby said as Cinder shook her head gently and began to lower her head once more on to the table.

"Yeah... may want to check on her throughout the night. I think the meeting with Glynda really messed her up. She ate a lot more than she normally does... and I don't think it is from the weekly meetings with Glynda either. If you want my professional opinion as Ruby's ex-girlfriend... I think it is down to the eyes." Hearing the comment, Cinder looked towards Ruby who shivered gently at the statement as Cinder gently placed a hand on Ruby's back.

Seeing Ruby relax at the contact, Cinder just looked back up in time to see Reese walking out with the duo. Gesturing with her head, Cinder could see Emerald quickly going after them with the intentions on joining.

"Want us gone too?" Roman asked softly as Cinder looked towards Ruby and could see the look of worry on her face.

"Please." Cinder demanded in a faux asking manner.

Seeing Roman scoop up the food as he quickly walked out of the room, Cinder looked towards Ruby who hadn't seemed to shift much from where she was sitting. It was a slightly pleasant feeling for her. She just knew that at least Ruby was going to be open and honest about how she was feeling.

Carefully moving the chair so she was looking at Ruby, she couldn't help but be reminded of the first time Ruby had night terrors when all she knew was of those eyes. Something that had constantly made Cinder furious because she could never help Ruby with it.

No matter how many times Cinder reassured her, no matter how many times Cinder had promised, no matter how many times it had been proven that the eyes were the exact same colour as her own, Ruby always was terrified and felt betrayed by those eyes. That simple thing had just made it hurt Cinder all the more.

"Ruby... you know I'd never let anything happen to you. And you know if the owner of those eyes ever tried anything again, I'd stop at nothing to make you feel better about them." Cinder said calmly knowing that if she ever did find anyone that matched Ruby's description of those eyes she'd probably blind the person with them. She wasn't really sure how, but she knew that they would have had it coming from even thinking about harming someone like Ruby. Even if it was only a figment of Ruby's imagination.

"Those eyes are stupid. And if I wasn't stoned... a little terrified Grandma Salem is around. I'd probably never get to sleep tonight. Everyone brought those memories back up... and I just know I'd have that nightmare again..." Ruby mumbled softly as she smiled softly at the familiar and comforting feeling of Cinder contact with her. "Can you tell me how you found me again?"

Smiling at Ruby's simple question. "I must have told you that story a thousand times over. Do you really want to hear it again Ruby?" Cinder asked as Ruby nodded her head. "Do you not want to eat first? I can always tell you it afterwards." Cinder wagered as Ruby just began to frown as she could see Cinder deflating a little.

"I'm not very hungry." Ruby mumbled softly as she could see Cinder just frowning softly. "Please Mom? It always makes me feel better... that and when you hug me." Ruby continued to mumble gently. "Can I actually have a hug as well?" Ruby asked pushing herself off the table and holding her arms outstretched.

"I'm hurt you think you need to ask." Cinder said as she leaned into the hug, squeezing Ruby as tightly as she could without causing Ruby any sort of discomfort. Holding Ruby close, Cinder began to gingerly rub Ruby's back just enjoying the feeling of Ruby pulling her closer. A smile being ever present as she just knew that it was going to be a tough night ahead for Ruby if history is anything to go off of.

Knowing that there was only so much Cinder could do, she did know that there was something that she could do to hopefully make it easier on her.

"It was the coldest night in two decades in Vale. I was by the river doing something for your grandmother. When I heard something being knocked around. Fearing it could be something bad, I went and investigated it." Cinder said knowing that it was a greatly redacted story that she had told Ruby time and time again. If just because she knew that Ruby would be all kinds of mad if Cinder had to say she was drowning an undercover cop under Salem's order. Especially with Ruby's normal disposition towards hearing Cinder ordering a few kneecapping for people who frequently would try and short change her much lower down in the supply chain.

"That is when I found this small swaddled baby about a year old. Shivering, soaked from head to toe with nothing but a dog tag like thing around her neck with the name of 'Ruby'. Once I saw this shivering silver eyed baby... I quickly picked her up, and rushed to the hospital. I had no idea how long she had been out and cold, but I did know it was already dipping close to minus ten without wind chill. But something told me this silent child who had a feeble grip on my jacket told me I had to rush." Cinder said deeply enjoying the feeling of Ruby pulling her tighter to herself.

"When I told the doctors of what happened, they took her temperature and said it was dangerously low. That there was only another half an hour... maybe an hour that she could have survived in the conditions I described to them." Cinder said as she pulled back and began to brush Ruby's bangs out of her face as she took a deep breath. "That night I talked with your grandmother about it. Nearly a year later I finally finished the paperwork and fully adopted the person who means everything to me." Cinder said as she gently kissed Ruby's forehead. "And you still do mean everything to me Ruby."

Gently lowering her head onto Cinder's shoulder, Ruby took a deep breath before she sighed gently. "I know Mom..." Ruby said softly as she squeezed tightly once again reminding her Mother about the fact that they were still holding onto each other. "I love you Mom. But I suppose we should bring back in Roman and Neo... that way we can have dinner." Ruby said softly as Cinder just smiled before she stood up and planted a small kiss on top of Ruby's head.

"I love you too Little Gem."


Her body was cold, but as Ruby blinked her eyes a few times as she could feel herself being lowered down. Softly. The eyes that peered at her. The near soulless silver that didn't seem to have an ounce of fear or regret. As though they had spent a long time making up their mind about what they were going to do now.

"I'm sorry my Little Rose... I can't... I can't do it... I can't be a mother to you." The woman said softly as she placed a final kiss onto the top of Ruby's head. As though she was removing the last of her uncertainty about what was to come next. "I tried hard... oh so very hard. For you... for your sister... for your father. But I can't do it anymore. Once I'm done here... I'll be sure to join you quickly." The person spoke as she began to look around the room. "I'm sorry I can't give you a quicker death... but even when I know I'm a failure... I still can't bring myself to seeing you pass." The woman said as she found what she was looking for.

Walking towards one the open cans that had been collecting water for Gods know how long. Gently pouring the contents onto the baby form, Ruby could make out the apprehension leaving her as she took a deep breath. "May the Gods forgive me..."

Bolting upright letting out a scream, Ruby quickly placed a hand over her chest feeling her heart beating rapidly as she could see her door being flung open almost violently to reveal two of the armed men walking into the room guns at the ready as they flash lights started to sway.

"Guys. It was a nightmare." Ruby bit at the men quickly scanning the room as Ruby rolled her eyes as she took a deep breath and flicked her blanket off of her. Taking a few panicked breaths as she could see her mother quickly storming into the room with a slight glare on her features before she looked towards Ruby. "Mom. It was a nightmare. No one broke in." Ruby said softly as Cinder just let out a sigh of relief.

Whistling softly, Cinder looked towards them and gestured them to leave the room. Hearing the door close, Cinder just took a deep breath as she walked towards her daughter's nightstand where she quickly flicked the light on as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.

Gently pulling Ruby into a one arm embrace, Cinder just softly began to rub Ruby's back as she took a deep breath. "Was it the one nightmare?"

"Yes."

"It's going to be okay Little Gem. It is all just going to be okay."


Smiling softly as she stared at the ceiling, Reese just couldn't help but smile as she braced her head up with her hands. One leg being stretched over the other as her knees bent, she just smiled at the sound of Yang banging away at the keys.

"How can you be calm? You're friends with the daughter of the current leader of Grimm. There is no telling what Ruby has done." Yang said as she looked towards Reese who rolled her eyes gently as she continued to look at the ceiling. "And you are still high aren't you."

"I didn't touch the pot brownies. And Ruby has done nothing. At least nothing illegal. She is the type of person that will go back to a store when they give her a cent extra in change. And Ashes really won't do shit to you if you don't harm Ruby. I told you that." Reese said as she began to push herself up into a sitting position as she just smiled at the shocked expression of Yang. "Yeah, I'm not an addict. Go figure. And I'm telling you, Salem is so much more terrifying. If Ashes puts a gun to your head after showing what it will do, Salem will shove a lit stick of dynamite into an orifice and just watch. Which she actually did once to someone in front of me. It was an addict that broke into her house looking for something to sell for ironically a hit."

"How the hell did you even meet Ruby? With people like that?"

"School. We went to a private Catholic boarding school together. Mind you Emerald and Neo were there as well. Merc could have been but too much penis. And my parents thought that that wouldn't turn anyone into a lesbian. I mean you should have seen Ruby in this smoking hot uniform. Would have turned any woman into a lesbian. Without a doubt." Reese said as there came a knock at Yang's door.

Groaning softly, Yang began to stand up as she looked towards Reese. "Yeah, I'd rather not think about how fun that talk would be with Ruby's Mom." Yang muttered as she opened her door to see her Dad standing at it rubbing his eyes gently. "What did she take this time Dad?"

"Nothing. She just left to go on some new binger. I was just letting you know." Tai said as Yang sighed softly.

"Fine. Thanks for that I suppose."

"Not to interject but, are those buns ready? I'm getting hungry." Reese said with a smile as she could sense the tension starting to build up between Tai and Yang over the comments. A small smile being ever present as she could see the tension escaping from between them.

"They should be ready in about five minutes."

"Cool cool."

Author's Note:

Fair bit of exposition... but this is from where the story is going to get interesting... catch you all next chapter.