It's funny how life sometimes comes back to haunt you. Sometimes it's in the little things, small reminders of things that have gone wrong or such. Or sometimes it's sitting at a funeral and basically reliving the one for a good friend.

Thank you for the reviews and views in general. I'd love to be able to react to some of you because your words are so kind, but alas, Guest Reviews ( Still do very much appreciate you!) . To the guy who was like "NOT A QROW x SUMMER PAIRING AGAIN!" - It isn't. Summer is dead. She is. However you have to keep moving forward.

It's weird how often that applies to life.

Chapter 14: Family

Ruby lay still on the ground. Night had come after she had lost her voice screaming and she couldn't find the energy inside of her to stand up. To move.

An electronic 'boop' caught her attention however as the pad on her arm softly glowed green. She looked at the pad. The image of Penny materialized on the pad.

"Ruby?" Penny asked softly. Ruby didn't answer her. She just looked away. Ruby knew she couldn't turn Penny off. She would just override the controls of the pad. So she would just ignore her.

"Everybody's worried, Ruby." Penny said.

"I don't care." Ruby said. She just wanted to be left alone for now.

"That's a lie, Ruby." Penny said matter-of-factly. Penny was right of course. But Ruby didn't want to face them and tell them 'Oh yeah my uncle was my dad all along and it turns out that he's part of the reason my mother died.'. Her mind wandered to Yang. So long Ruby had looked up to her. Seen her as the big example in her life, her big sister.

"I just. I can't face them Penny. Not now." Ruby said. She could trust Penny, she knew. She would never tell.

"Shall I just tell them you're okay?" Penny asked. Ruby looked back at the hologram of Penny. She smiled at Ruby. Ruby nodded at Penny, who nodded at her back and disappeared from the pad.

Slowly but surely, Ruby sat up. Her hair was disheveled from lying on the ground, pieces of it matted with dirt. She brushed the dirt off of herself and looked at the grave of her mother.

"I wish I could talk to you, Mom." Ruby said, her voice hoarse from the screaming. "I wish I could understand what you had to go through. To make the decision that you did. What you felt in your final moments."

"But I can't." Ruby sighed. "And I have to live with that."

Ruby stood and stretched before flipping her hood over her hair.

"I just hope you're proud of me.".

Taiyang was sitting on the couch as the TV softly hummed with life. The house felt empty again, after Yang had left. He knew his daughters were doing important things and Qrow had told him it would be dangerous, but Yang was more than capable of defending herself. And Ruby.. She looked so much like Summer. And Summer had been the strongest one of them. Of their team.

He sighed to himself. It was late. He probably should just go to bed. He'd need to teach again tomorrow and he'd been been busy with fussing over his younger daughter in the past few days anyway. He could use a good night's rest. Turning off the TV and the lights, he made his way over to the stairs before a soft knock on his door stopped him. Someone at the door? Taiyang glanced at the clock. Past midnight. He made his way down the stairs, wondering who it was. Cautiously, he opened the door.

"Ruby?" Taiyang said surprised. Without as much as another word, she crashed into Taiyang. She nuzzled tight into the embrace, feeling at home once again. Taiyang figured there was something wrong, but she seemed to need this. He wrapped his arms around her.

They held the embrace for a moment before Ruby let go and disconnected. "I'm sorry. It's very late.. I should just go."

"Nonsense. Clearly there is something wrong. Let's just sit down, have some tea or coffee." Taiyang said. Ruby seemed uncomfortable for a moment before she stepped inside and closed the door. Taiyang turned on the lights of the kitchen and pulled out two mugs.

"So what do you want to drink?" Taiyang asked, looking at his daughter.

"Something strong. If you have it." Ruby said. The corner of Taiyang's lips moved.

"That bad?" Taiyang said, before turning around and opening a thin cabinet. Out of it he pulled a bottle of liquor and poured the both of them a moderate amount in the mug. Ruby nodded at him as she took the mug and downed it immediately. Her face scrunched up as the bitterness set in.

"So. What's problem. Jaune? Do I have to beat his ass?" Taiyang asked and taking a light sip from his alcohol.

"No. Jaune is .. fine." Ruby said, she fiddled with her hands again, the previous uncomfortableness returning.

"Yang then?" Taiyang asked.

Ruby shook her head.

Taiyang laughed a little bit. "We can play the guessing game all night, or we can talk about what's actually bothering you. Since you look like absolute hell and such."

"Qrow told me." Ruby said.

Taiyang's laughter faded. "Okay." he said, downing the rest of his alcohol.

".. So when were you going to tell me?" Ruby asked.

"Never." Taiyang answered immediately.

"Why?"

"Because even while I was an absolute mess, Qrow was ten times worse. There is a reason I don't like him, Ruby." Taiyang answered.

"But I had a right to know." Ruby said.

"Yes you did. But when even Summer didn't want you to know that Qrow was actually your father. There is a reas-" Taiyang said.

"Yes. I know. He told me what he has done to Summer. But it doesn't explain why all these years you have kept this from me. Kept this.. Lie alive." Ruby said, her eyes narrowed at Taiyang.

"No. It doesn't. You're right. But what does it change, Ruby?" Taiyang said.

"What does it change?! It changes the fact that you're not my actual dad! It changes that Yang isn't my actual sister! It changes that the uncle I adored all my life was actually my father!" Ruby said, louder this time.

"Does it change how you feel towards me? Or towards Yang?" Taiyang replied.

"Well of course because.. " Ruby said before her words trailed off.

"Ruby. When I married Summer, I knew that when you were born, you were not mine. That I wasn't your real father. But I loved Summer, Ruby. And I love you. You're as much my daughter as Yang is. And I'm sure that if you tell Yang that Qrow is your actual father, nothing changes between you. " Taiyang said.

Ruby turned slightly red. "I just.. Thought.."

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss Summer. But at least we can safely say we're very proud of our daughter." Taiyang said with a smile.

Ruby sat with her head downward. She felt ashamed. In her anger and her fury she had forgotten what the truth was. And the truth was that Taiyang was as still her father. Yang was still her sister. The label didn't matter. The memories mattered. All the years and all the things that had happened as a family, that was what mattered.

"Ruby. Don't ever forget. Whatever happens. You will always be my daughter."

Ruby looked up at Taiyang - no, her father - and smiled.

"Okay, dad."

Taiyang smiled at her, then stretched and yawned. "It's late, Ruby. You could sleep here if you want. I'd understand if you wanted some time to think about it all. But I'm fairly certain that your friends are worried. I think especially Jaune.".

".. Wait how'd you kno-" Ruby said, slightly flustered.

"Oh please. Awkward shy girl meets dashing blonde stud. It's basically Summer and me."

Ruby just planted her face in her hands.

"He's a good kid, though. I met him a couple of times when you were still out. He never left your side."

Ruby looked up curiously.

"Anyway. It's time for me to hit the hay. Let your friends know whatever you decide, alright? I'll see you again, little rascal." Taiyang said and chuckled at his joke as he kissed the top of Ruby's head and made his way up the stairs.

Ruby sat alone in the kitchen for a moment until she pulled out her scroll and messaged Jaune.

I'm sorry. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Everything was just confusing. Had to get away. I'm in Patch. Love you.

Ruby put her scroll down. Shortly after, it buzzed.

Okay. Just let me know alright? I love you too. Wish you were here in bed with me.

Ruby flustered slightly at the words, her mind having wandered elsewhere with his statement. Sighing to herself, she clicked off the kitchen lights and went up the stairs to her room.

So I can hold you! Sorry! I didn't mean that!

Ruby chuckled to herself and imagined Jaune's flustered face. She fell into the bed and fell into a fitful sleep.

Ruby didn't wake up well rested. But she woke up feeling a lot more clear. Looking out her window, she saw it was still very early in the morning. I probably only slept a few hours. I'll go back now then. Ruby decided. Donning all her armor again, she made her way down the stairs where Taiyang was busy making coffee in the kitchen, humming a song to himself.

"Ah, Hello there sweet child of mine, how are you this morning?" he said cheerily.

Ruby chuckled. "Hey dad. I'm better. Thanks. I needed our talk last night."

"No need to thank me." he said, putting down a second cup of coffee with a chocolate chip cookie over the top of it.

"Dad. You shouldn't have." Ruby said, chuckling a little bit as she dipped the cookie in the cup and took a bite off of it.

"Oh these were still here. Yang always used to get them. Didn't eat them as much. I think it helped with missing you." Taiyang said, taking a large chug from his coffee.

Ruby chuckled again as she continued to drink her coffee and eat her cookie.

"So. What's next?" Taiyang said.

"I'm going back to Vale soon. Then I'll talk with Jaune, Yang, Blake and Weiss about yesterday." Ruby said.

"And Qrow?"

Ruby sighed. "I don't know. I don't even know if I could face him now."

"Sure you can. It'd be with a lot of screaming and the likes. But you'd face him." Taiyang said, chuckling into his mug as he took another sip. "Do you know why?"

"Why?" Ruby asked, smiling at him.

"Because you're as stubborn as your mother." Taiyang said.

The both of them laughed for a moment before Ruby downed the rest of her coffee.

"I should probably be getting back dad." Ruby sighed and smiled at Taiyang.

Just as Taiyang had taken a sip he held up his hands to her while he quickly made his way out of the kitchen to his room. Ruby raised an eyebrow at him as he came back into the kitchen with a large black box. It had dust on the top of it, clearly showing it hadn't been used in a long while.

"I think you're ready for this." Taiyang said with a smile as he popped open the locks on the box and opened it.

Her mother's cloak. Ruby held her breath as she saw it. It had been over twenty years since she had last seen it. Shakingly, she grabbed hold of it, the fine fabric soft her hands.

"I want you to have it."

Ruby looked up at Taiyang.

"Yes. I mean you. It was Summer's, but you're her splitting image."

"Dad.. I can't-" Ruby stammered.

"Ruby. There is nothing in this life you can't do. You've been the youngest Beacon student ever, you mastered the wielding of a gun scythe and you're basically a legend." He said, smiling proudly. "Take it. She would want you to."

Slowly and carefully, Ruby took the cloak from the box and held it in her hands. It felt surreal.

"Now, didn't you have somewhere to be?" Taiyang said, before smiling at her.

"Thanks dad." Ruby said, hugging Taiyang tightly.

"Don't mention it." he returned.

Ruby stared again at the cloak in her hands as she stood in front of her mother's grave again.

"Hey mom." Ruby started.

"So. I'm back. I talked to dad. I know the truth now."

Silence again, was her only answer. But Ruby wasn't looking for an answer.

"It's weird, mom. I only knew you for three years. Yet everyone tells me I'm your splitting image." Ruby said, sighing a little.

"Dad gave me your cloak."

"He said I was 'ready' ".

The wind rushed by Ruby, making her cloak and hair wave.

"I guess I am." Ruby said and gently placed the white cloak on the grave.

Her hands went to the cross-like clasps on her cloak and unhooked the deep scarlet cloak. Ruby neatly folded it and took the white and red cloak from her mother's grave, replacing it with the deep scarlet one.

She flung the cloak around herself and attached the clasps to it. She took one long last look at the grave, the folded cloak sitting neatly atop it.

"If I'm the Summer Maiden, I'll gladly take up your mantle." Ruby said, smiling.

"I will make you proud.".

Jaune rubbed his face and grabbed hold of his scroll. No new messages. Sighing he turned around in the bed, missing the void of his.. Girlfriend? I guess?

He looked at the time. Just shy of half past six. He had hoped Ruby would be back right now. Jaune swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stared at his armor leaning against the wall. After Blake and Yang decided that they'd stick around, they had moved into Ruby's room at the hotel. They had said that they didn't mind sharing. Jaune hoped that when she returned he'd at least find her in his room. Ruby hadn't been using it anyway since she had been in the hospital.

Ruby. What would've caused her to react like this, Jaune wondered as he got ready for the day. Putting on his armor - which he had repaired after it was fairly heavily damaged - Jaune went downstairs to grab some breakfast. As he walked outside he saw someone walk up to the hotel in the most beautiful cloak. He smiled inwardly to himself at how much it reminded him of Ruby with her cloak.

Jaune became confused however when he noticed the intended destination wasn't the hotel, but him. He tried to quickly draw his sword before the person in white threw their arms around Jaune and placed their lips on his for a brief moment.

"Hey Jaune." Ruby breathed against his lips as she gently held his face.

"Ruby?" He asked, still confused. He saw a familiar deep scarlet red lining the inside of the cloak, but still.

"I had to be away for a moment, Jaune. I'm sorry. But I'm better now." she breathed again before placing her lips on his again. Passion filled their kiss as Jaune held her in his arms.

"I.. what.." Jaune stammered out after their lips disconnected again.

Ruby giggled.

It took a moment for Jaune to process that.

Ruby. Actually giggled again.

"What happened? With Qrow, I mean." Jaune asked.

Ruby sighed, but looked dreamily at him.

"It's a bit of a weird story. Let's get something to eat first."