"Well, guys, we're here." Pyrrha looked a bit disheveled when they landed, but was still smiling nonetheless. She had thrown up already in the bathroom of the airship, and still felt a little queasy, but the thoughts of being back home and introducing her friends to her family trumped those feelings of illness. Memories of her old friends rushed back, and plans easily flowed through her head about what she could do. Before it was indicated as safe to do so, she practically ripped off her seatbelt and bounced up.

Being amongst the last ones in the airship, there wasn't too much of a rush for them to leave, but the team leader couldn't stand being away from her family a moment longer. Nora, in all her grace and glory, nearly faceplanted when following the jubilant Pyrrha out of the cabin. This left Ren to pick up Nora's baggage as he cautiously followed the two.

As Pyrrha bolted out of the cabin, sack in tow, she was greeted by a chorus of cheers that rang through the sky, only drowned out by the dull roar of the airship flying away. This made Pyrrha look back as she felt the gust of wind thrust her hair and flowing green dress forwards, but she quickly moved her focus back to the roaring crowd in front of her. Friends, family, even four of her brothers were already there, waiting to see their little flame, the town's pride, come back home to visit.

"Guys," Pyrrha called out to try and get the attention of her teammates. "Welcome to my sleepy little town, Honeysuckle. It's not much, but you'll learn to love it. If you want to… you can call it home."

Behind the crowd, the town's entrance could be seen. An old wooden sign was stuck into the ground welcoming visitors to Honeysuckle in bright, white letters. Large, red buildings with white window slats stood two stories high, each with signs hanging overhead to indicate what they were, whether it was the blacksmith or the saloon. In the distance, houses dotted the small, rolling hills, with paths leading into the valley. The houses were simple buildings, one story rectangular abodes, often with smoking chimneys.

"Pyrrha!" Six figures came to the front as the trio walked into the town. Her father, in his gigantic and bearded glory, was at the forefront. His eyes showed a bit of age, and his hair, although slowly beginning to go grey, shined bright red as the sun caught on it. "We've missed you so much, little flame."

"Yeah, we really have. All of us have waited so long to see you again," Nestor added on as he moved up to the forefront. He looked as he always had: like a male version of Pyrrha. In his face, one was able to see his younger sister in his diamond-shaped visage, with green eyes drawing one's focus as well as a small button nose. "I trust you longed to see home again too." Taking a long glance at both of her teammates, he added, "And just who are these fine people?"

"They're two of my friends from Beacon who I asked to join us on holiday." She took a moment to compose herself and then motioned to each of them. "Guys, meet Ren and Nora."

"Hello, Mr. Nikos!" Nora ran up and violently shook Nestor's hand, obviously excited to meet all of them. "I'm Nora Valkyrie!"

Nestor laughed audibly. "Um… it's just Nestor. I'm Pyrrha's older brother. I'm glad to meet you two. Pyrrha was gushing about her teammates, and it's nice to see them in the flesh." He looked to count them. "But, Pyr, you had three teammates… and only two are here."

Pyrrha chuckled lightly. "Yeah, Jaune had his family to go back to for break. Nora and Ren were staying at Beacon for some reason, so… I just decided that they'd come here with us instead. You never minded friends coming over, so long as you had enough time to cook everything."

"And we don't mind it now," Miss Nikos responded, dusting off her long dress, one that greatly resembled Pyrrha's. "A friend of Pyrrha's is a friend of ours. Ya'll will fit in just fine."

Ren walked up and shook Mr. Nikos's hand. "It's a pleasure. I cannot thank you enough for having us over the break. I think we will enjoy ourselves here." He seemed a tad nervous and morose, but was otherwise as composed as he always was. "We can help out as well, as thanks for your kindness."

Pyrrha's father just laughed loudly as he patted Ren on the back, sending him forwards. "Aw, shucks! You're a guest. Ya don't hafta work much at all! But I appreciate the offer. You lot are going to get some good old Mistralian hospitality."

Pyrrha was the one to perk up next. "Well, guys, let's get settled at home. I wanna be able to show them around town properly." Her voice relaxed a bit, letting a bit of her own accent through. "Is Ajax coming, mama?"

Pyrrha's mother sighed, looking down as the group starting walking towards home. "He won't be in for a few more days. Work is keeping him busy. He got sent to the North of Atlas to oversee the projects going on down there."

"I hope he gets home alright." Pyrrha sighed lightly, still disappointed that her brother wasn't here. It used to be unlike him to miss any family event, but work had constricted his free time more and more as of late… so Pyrrha understood. "It's been awhile since I've seen him."

"What does your brother do, Pyrrha?" Nora's face that poked between Pyrrha and her mother, a. "I've heard you talk so much about him, but never really say what he does."

"Oh, Ajax is a Foreman in the Schnee Dust Company. He oversees mine projects… and he helped pay my tuition for Beacon Academy. He's my oldest brother, and he's always been protective of me." Pyrrha's smile faded into wistful nostalgia, recalling all of the good times she had in Honeysuckle. "All of my brothers and I, Nestor, Ajax, Menelaus, Homer, and Odysseus…" Each brother waved as Pyrrha called them out. Menelaus, the shortest and youngest, had tousled red hair and his mother's piercing hazel eyes, but his father's strong, barrel-chested build. Homer was much less built than his other brothers, carrying a book in his hands. Odysseus was the tallest of all who were there, with a beard as full and red as his father's. Nestor, equal in height with Pyrrha, glanced at the trio with soft, benign eyes. His red hair was kept short but neat, combed to the side with a small part. Both Ren and Nora could see the resemblance. "We used to play together when we were younger. We're still great friends, but our paths have diverged a great deal since we were all kids."

Odysseus spoke up, his voice lighter than his father's but sharing the loud presence of the jolly old man. "Don't worry, little flame. As long as we can all come together at times like these, we won't lose touch." Taking his little sister into his arm, he roughed up her hair. "Besides, I missed doing this."

"Odysseus!" Pyrrha squeaked, pulling her head out of the headlock. Straightening her hair back up as it flowed in the light breeze, she glanced back at Nora. "But, yeah. Ajax is my eldest brother, who works as a Foreman. You're just getting a little taste of how we are as a group of siblings."

"Just like how I act with you guys back at Beacon!" Nora laughed hard before jumping onto Odysseus's back. The rest of the siblings, Pyrrha included, as well as her parents could only burst into laughter.

"You're getting it pretty well, Nora!" Homer's voice, a lot lighter than everyone else's, exclaimed, nearly dropping his precious items as he moved his hands towards his stomach, howling with joy.

Even Ren smiled lightly, chuckling under his hand, which was cupped over his mouth to suppress it. "Nora's always been one to acclimate well to these sorts of environments."

"Well, Ren," Pyrrha quipped back at him. "You're part of this family, too. So, come and join in the merrymaking!" She could only notice a pained expression on his face, which caused her some concern. "Is there something wrong… Ren?"

"No." Ren turned his head slightly away, trying to hide the expression from his teammate and her family. "It's nothing."

Something's up with Ren… Pyrrha's thoughts raced as she tried to think of what. A mention of family had turned one of his rare smiles into an expression of emotional pain. This thought plagued her through all of the further merrymaking as they finished their journey back home.

"Well, gang, we're here. The home of the Nikos family." Pyrrha's father called out, pointing out their home amongst the others that stood off in the distance. It was a large-sized cabin in the woods, two floors, constructed largely of wood, as well as a brick chimney and a small storage building on the side to hold firewood. The roof was of an artificial siding, largely to protect the building underneath as it hung slightly over the sides to create a barrier. Five windows dotted the front with black glazing bars forming a cross pattern on each. A welcome mat sat in front of the door on a rather large porch that lined much of the front of the house. On the porch, four rocking chairs sat listing lazily in the breeze, with two on either end. The sides of the house each had four windows, one for every bedroom on each side: One for Pyrrha and her brothers; one for their parents; and a guest bedroom.

Ren and Nora went slack-jawed at the size of such a house. Pyrrha giggled when she noticed how surprised her teammates were. Well, when you have five brothers plus yourself and your parents… you're going to need a big house to contain them all. Turning the doorknob, she let everyone inside the house.

"Welcome home, guys!" Menelaus shouted boisterously as everyone flooded into the house, entering a hallway that quickly split in two, with one path leading to the kitchen, which had an open bar leaving much to the eye. Pots and pans hung above a metal sink faucet, and the smells of thyme, bay leaf, and rosemary entered their noses from a slow cooker on the counter. The stairs were further down the hall, and could only been seen in a slight glance past the first set of doors, as they twisted up and out of sight.

Three of the brothers all quickly dispersed, rushing towards their respective rooms while Nestor took a place in the kitchen, raising his quill from the ink well that rested on the table at which he sat.

"It's certainly a sight to behold." Ren mused, having regained his composure. "We still can't thank you enough, Mr. Nikos, for letting us stay here."

"Oh, just call me Papa!" Pyrrha's father flashed a toothy grin, showing his one missing incisor. "Yer livin' in my house, and yer Pyrrha's family at Beacon, so yer callin' me Papa."

Pyrrha shook her head at her father's bold antics. He had always been a interesting man, providing a lot for anyone who his family or he cared about or trusted without ever expecting anything in return. Since she treated her teammates like a second family, he saw them as the same. Why am I surprised? He did this exact thing with my teammates at Sanctum in the rare occasions they met.

"Alright, Papa!" Nora immediately retorted. "I'll call you that if you want me to. It's nice to have a Papa." This caught Pyrrha off-guard. What did Nora just say? She eyed Nora up suspiciously, looking to ask the both of them questions. Maybe that's why they were originally staying at Beacon.

Pyrrha felt a large hand pull her aside for a second. It was her father, who calmly gave her a few lien. "I want you to go pick up a small sack of paprika and a container of salt today at the market. Do you think you could do that?"

"Yeah, Dad. I'll do that for you." Pyrrha nodded, stashing the lien in a little pocket on her dress. "Let me get Ren and Nora settled first, though."

"You do that, honey. I won't stop you." And, with that, Mr. and Mrs. Nikos walked past Pyrrha and her teammates, disappearing behind the door just behind the staircase, a lock clicking after the door clicked shut. Turning back, she smiled, letting go of her bag's straps momentarily to get a better grip.

"Let's get you guys situated. The guest bedroom is upstairs." Pyrrha shifts her eyes. "Are you guys… comfortable sleeping in the same bed? I can get you guys separate blankets if you'd like me to."

"We're fine, Pyrrha!" Nora exclaimed, her ever-present smile as wide as ever. "We've slept together many times before!" This sent Ren into a deep shade of red as a blush quickly appeared on his face, putting his head in his hands as Nora stood, unaware of what she just implied.

"What she means…" Ren trailed off, head still in his hands. "Is that we've slept in the same bed when we were younger. Nora, please think before you speak."

"Oh." Pyrrha kept as calm a face as ever, knowing Nora's propensity for saying the wrong thing. "I guess you guys have known each other for quite a long time."

"We met when we were kids." Ren responded.

"Wow, yeah." Pyrrha beckoned them to follow her up the steps. "So, why were you guys staying at Beacon over the holidays? Were you not wanting to go home for some reason?"

Ren froze for a singular moment. It was as if he had no way to put their situation into words. They had stopped in the middle of the hallway, not far from the guest bedroom on the left. "Pyrrha, let's just get into the guest bedroom. Which door is it?" His expression, again, showed an underlying current of pain and sorrow. Taking a glance over to Nora, she could notice the same expression.

"It's right over here." Pyrrha moved towards the door, turning the old knob and leading them into a room that had been recently cleaned. A homemade, hand-stitched quilt laid atop the bed, concealing the cover and the linens below. Two downy pillows in white cases rested above it, leaning on the simplistic wooden bed-frame behind. "I hope the room is… satisfactory to your needs, guys." She treaded lightly with her words, considering how they glanced in silent agony over any mention of family.

Ren and Nora both simply nodded. The two moved inside, again faking smiles, and set their stuff down on either side of the bed. Nora plopped down on the left side of the bed, immediately turning back to Pyrrha. "It's just fine, Pyrrha!" Nora quipped with her same cheerfulness. "Thank you for having us. It sure beats hanging at Beacon."

Pyrrha closed the door. "I know there is something up. I apologize for being so pushy earlier… but I do think that I am someone you should be able to trust. I want you guys to truly feel as if you are home."

Ren spoke then, a long-held sigh escaping from his chest. "Home went away a long time ago, Pyrrha. That's why we were looking to stay at Beacon before your family kindly let us stay with you."

"Ren and I have been all the other has had for a very long time." This time, it was Nora who spoke up to reaffirm what her partner said. "It was a very difficult time for both of us. We were only kids. But, since then, it's just been us."

Pyrrha sighed. So that was the problem. "Well, you have family now, guys. Jaune and I… and I think you can consider my family yours. I don't think they'd be opposed to thinking of you guys as part of us." But, it was so that Pyrrha felt bad as she saw their faces. She had spoken of "us" and "you guys", indicating an obvious separation. There was no turning back, however, as she had already made the indications.

"Thank you for your offer, Pyrrha." Ren responded, slightly despondent over the comment. "It's just hard to think of those so new to us as family."

"Come on, Ren…" Nora had been the one to respond. Her light, sincere smile brought a bit of light to the dark moment. "I don't think there's anything wrong with calling them family. After all, they let us into their house and their father insists we call him our Papa. I think we should just do as the Nikos family does."

A small smile etched itself on Pyrrha's face. "Nora's right, Ren. We don't mean you any harm. And you remember what Ozpin was talking about. He wanted our teams to become like family. We're just a… special case. We can become a new family for you… if you want us to be."

Ren looked down for a moment, as if remembering something, and then glanced back up at his partner. "Alright. I'll… do my best to think of you guys as family. It will take time, though. For the both of us."

"It's all we ask, Ren." I hope this works… I want them to both be happy. They're here in Honeysuckle, and I think that they would both be glad to see the sort of hospitality a small town can afford. Pyrrha thought of something, anything, to help them stretch their legs after a long airship ride. "Do you guys want to go into town? I can show you around!"

"Sounds wonderful, Pyrrha!" Nora was back to her cheerful self, bouncing up. Ren just nodded, giving a slight smile as he often did when he approved of something.

"I really hope you do enjoy this town and all it has to offer. We can even go into the city during break, if you guys want to." The team leader beckoned with a wave of her hand. "Now, come on. If we leave now, we can get there before sundown."

Walking back into the town, with the population having dispersed back to their normal routines, the true nature of Honeysuckle shone bright. People walked by with a friendly hello to everyone who crossed paths. Everyone knew everyone's name- Pyrrha's was one that came up at every meetup, making them all stop while they traded festivities. She was holding a small basket, just large enough to carry the salt and paprika she was picking up.

"We're going to the general store first. Papa wanted me to pick up some spices. Then we could visit the blacksmith, then the tailor, and the saloon… there's so much to show you guys!" Pyrrha gushed about everything she could show them. It was important that she familiarize the duo with Honeysuckle- They need to feel at home. Taking another glance at her friends, Pyrrha saw Nora taking to the new town quite well. Despite her smile obviously being fake, she was quickly learning the customs and the rather open nature of the townsfolk.

Ren, however, was another story. He was nowhere near as comfortable as his best friend was. The boy had tended towards the background, especially with someone as boisterous as Nora always by his side. Pyrrha understood, however, that this sort of discomfort was different. He seemed very out of place, trying to reciprocate the greetings given to him, but still failing to do so.

As they neared the door to the general store, Pyrrha pulled him aside. "Ren, you doing okay? I know it's new to you guys and everything…"

Ren just let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "It's a new environment. For as long as Nora and I have been… inseparable, I've always been watching for any potential dangers or reasons to move on. While Nora was the one who was able to be friendly, I tried to look out for both of us. As a result, I've always been suspicious of new places. It will just take time. What you're doing is more than enough to help me acclimate better. Maybe… we'll eventually both find this place to be home."

At this, Pyrrha's smile became half-hearted. "We'll do our best." She responded, nodding with a sense of sympathy coursing through her. "You're family now, and I will never leave family behind. Home is when you're with people you can care about, and I hope you find this place your home." Stopping for a moment, beckoning Nora over to them, Pyrrha continued. "Now, let's go inside to get spices. We have a lot to see and not a lot of time to see it."

Opening the door, a blast of aromas shot at the group. Smells of spices, of the oil on freshly baked chips, and of a candle burning in the background gave Pyrrha a feeling of hearth. She took in a deep breath, and sighed longingly. "Oh, it's been such a long time since I was in here."

The man at the counter, who had been wiping it with a white cloth, glanced up as the bell dinged to alert him. "Good afternoon, Pyrrha! Whatcha here to get today?" His voice sounded genuinely jovial as always.

"Hey, Mr. Mastroakis!" Pyrrha waved, raising up her basket. "I'm just here to get some spices for dinner. Just a medium bag of salt and a container of paprika, please."

"Alright, Miss Nikos. That'll be fifteen lien." She quickly paid the man and was given two sacks to fill. Pointing them over to the barrels of spices that were in the back right corner, Pyrrha gladly ushered the group to them.

"Mr. Mastroakis was a former hunter himself back in the day. But, he's retired now. Living in the countryside, where he grew up, was a welcome respite from the dangerous life of a hunter." Pyrrha gave them a little story as she gave Nora the sack for the paprika. "He was my teacher when I was little, telling me stories about the adventures he had as a young man and about the history of Vale itself."

"What are with the names in your town, Pyrrha? They seem… archaic." Nora asked Pyrrha. Ren looked at his partner with a sort of silent outrage for a moment, but Pyrrha only chuckled.

"Nora, our village is a little different. Our village rose up in the undercurrents of the Great War, in the isolated forests of Mistral. Since Mistral became a culture of isolation and repression, families such as the Nikos family, or the Mastroakis family, names that wouldn't really show up nowadays because of the War, left coastal Mistral for villages like these in the backwoods. A couple, like this one, even grew into full-fledged towns and cities. " Pyrrha smiled, taking a glance at the man behind the counter as she shoveled salt into her sack. "The trend of colors, the relative lack of Faunus… both of these, and other things, are attributed to the general isolation of the village. Many of those who grow up in villages like these can live their whole lives here in peace."

"Is Mr. Mastroakis a reason you went to Signal to become a Huntress?" Nora asked, completely lost in thought as Ren finished shoveling paprika and tied the sack up.

"Nah, he isn't." Pyrrha smiled. "That's another story. My life was saved by a Huntress when I was younger. My brother Ajax still has a scar across his chest from the incident, but it was sort of a catalyst for all of us. I had the idea to leave and become a Huntress. We all just sorta left, eventually, to pursue our own dreams."

Suddenly, a creak was heard from behind. A quick look showed that Mr. Mastroakis was leaving his counter and was moving towards the group. "I can help with that story." His lips curled into a deep smile as he stood tall behind the trio. "I remember the whole thing. An old friend of mine saved your life."

Pyrrha's eyes grew wide. "She was your friend? You never told me who they were!" She half-shouted, and the merchant grew into a hearty laugh.

"She and I went way back, Pyrrha." His laugh slowed down until it disappeared completely. "She was at Beacon about 23 years ago. Team STRQ, I think her team name was. A group of fine individuals."

Qrow was on a team with my savior? That raised a bit of suspicion with Pyrrha. Leaning on the nearby salt barrel, still holding a half-filled sack, she asked more questions. "So, how did you meet her?"

The merchant shook his head, the smile still etched on his face. "You've heard so many of my stories, I'm surprised I never told you about the field mission. I mentored them on their field mission as first years. They impressed me, easily dispatching large groups of Grimm with only some help from me. I kept tabs on them; I was still a Huntsman in those days Any rising stars have Hunters keeping eyes on them. Like your partner Jaune Arc, for example."

The three gave a look of shock to Mr. Mastroakis, whose smile raised back into a grin. "How did you know about my partner?" Pyrrha asked, rather bewildered that he knew so much.

"Many traveling merchants trade information as well as goods, Miss Nikos." He responded, matter-of-fact. "I had some old friends keep tabs on your team. You've got a good group with you. Heck, even they have some good accolades going for them." Pointing at Nora, he smiled. "You two impressed in the Vale Junior Academy competitions, and Jaune straight up won the whole thing. 'Champion of Vale', he was lauded. Apparently going to be the finest of his generation, as the papers put it."

Pyrrha sighed. "Let's get back to the matter at hand, Mr. Mastroakis." She sighed, quickly formulating a question. "Why was she even here in the first place? I know she was a Huntress, but I don't see how she'd immediately answer the cries of young children."

"Alright, alright." Mr. Mastroakis calmed himself down and then got a little bit more serious. His cheerful wrinkles smoothed and his face fell, softening into a look of remorse. "It was 'right place, right time'. She was on a mission in Mistral and took a slight detour to come see me. Thankfully she did, because I wouldn't have been there in time to help you. Her semblance was a airy quickness, leaving only petals behind to show that someone was even there. She was the one to save your life that day."

Petals? I know someone just like that. "Did you say… petals?" Pyrrha asked, now a bit concerned about just who saved her life that day.

"Yeah, petals. It was always weird. They disappeared almost immediately, but for the slightest moment, they'd flutter in the breeze just so." His description of everything felt like it made more sense. It made Pyrrha believe in the story even more.

"I know someone who has a semblance just like that, sir!" Pyrrha responded, a bit frantic in the fact. "Just what was her name?"

"Summer Rose was her name." He finally responded, giving Pyrrha the closure she needed. "I think her daughters were in the tournament as well. I believe Yang even made it to the Semi-Finals."

The utterance of the name of her savior had been a major shock to Pyrrha. Combine that with the description of airy quickness and the surname of Rose… it was almost a surety. Ruby's mother saved my life. It was a funny twist of fate that her savior's daughter would become one of her best friends. Pyrrha almost wanted to laugh at the humor of the universe. She was standing in a place where she thought she could feel safe, but was instead learning a piece of information that changed some of her perception on life and on people she knew.

"They're both at Beacon with us, Mr. Mastroakis." Before Pyrrha, still dumbfounded by the shocking news, could speak, Ren quipped, much to the merchant's surprise.

"Oh, so Yang got into Beacon? Interesting!" Mr. Mastroakis responded, a graying eyebrow cocked up in the air. "I'm glad to hear that she's doing well."

"She's doing a lot better, sir." Pyrrha nodded, finally finding the words to speak as she tied up the sack of salt. "Ruby is, too."

The merchant's eye twinkled for a second as he gave a longing smile and a distance glance forward. "Ruby's there too? Wow. They've grown up on me." He began to slowly laugh, the sounds trailing off as he shook his head. "I remember ol' Summer showin' me photos of the two, and little Ruby would barely make it past your knee. Now's she's at Beacon with her older sister. Time does fly by when you're old."

Pyrrha noticed that a couple of tears had started to flow down her old teacher's face. He had been lost in thoughts of days past. She did not want to bother him, so she spoke up. "I hope you have a wonderful evening, Mr. Mastroakis; it's getting late and we should leave you be. Let's go, guys. Let's get some food in our stomachs to digest all this information." Her joyous pride about her town had been replaced with a different sort of happiness: a closure over her savior.

Much of the rest of their day was spent making the rounds about town wasn't the same ever since the news that Mr. Mastroakis revealed to the group, but Pyrrha tried to stay cheerful for the sake of everyone. It was a little sobering to hear that her savior was gone, but the team leader knew she could try to live for everyone that made a difference in her life. The rest of her team, her family, Ruby's mother, Team RWBY…

It made Pyrrha want to laugh. Ren stated that he and Nora did not have a true family when they had one with them at Beacon! And, now, they can consider themselves part of the family here. They can have a home and a family if they so choose…

Home. It was that word that gave Pyrrha the realization that she needed. Do they… feel at home? Surely, they at least felt comfortable. The Nikos family was nothing if not hospitable to their guests. But Ren and Nora aren't guests… they're family. Maybe they feel as if they're treated as guests?

These thoughts were still rumbling through her mind,as they walked back up the path home. Through the chatter of Nora rambling about some topic to Ren and the latter listening, she was given a little bit of space to think since she was the one who could easily navigate them home. How could she build a bit more familiarity with the world around her? Even in trying to be as inclusive as possible, it quickly turned personal.

Turning the doorknob and feeling a rush of air from inside made a lot of those problems melt away. Setting the sacks on the counter next to the stove, where her mother was cooking with multiple pans, Pyrrha shouted to nobody in particular inside the house, "We're home!"

Dinner was a joyous affair in the Nikos household. A pan of freshly baked bread was the centerpiece with butter and jam on either side. Each member of the family took turns doling out their portion of grilled chicken from a large bowl passed around, followed by as gigantic a portion of green beans, corn, and potatoes. Each taking as much as they could want. All ten plates were on the table, with one set left empty for the missing brother.

For the family, it was a way to recap the events of the day. Homer went on and on about what he was penning: a story of romance between two lovers separated by their countries. Menelaus spoke about helping his mother with cooking and of playing with his friends in the morning. It would only be one more year before he's off to the Academy as well. Odysseus spoke of helping out his father, hauling the firewood and also tending to the ground so that it wouldn't freeze over even in Honeysuckle's relatively mild winters. Pyrrha's father talked about splitting firewood and destroying the wild, invasive, brush that came out of the woods and would overrun his garden if he let it go.

Then, Pyrrha's mother asked, between bites of a juicy green bean, "So, what have ya done with the dress?"

Pyrrha was taken completely aback by the question. It had stayed in its box for the entire semester. She wanted to find an excuse to wear it, to feel its comfortable fabrics and to feel like she was in the past with it on. However, all of Beacon's more formal events were in the second half of the year. She was at a loss for words for a moment, trying to find an excuse to not disappoint her mother. "Um… Mama, there wasn't a good time to wear it. You said, save it for a special moment, right?"

Pyrrha's mother smiled sweetly, as she always did. She always knew how to keep face in good situations. "Doesn't mean ya keep in the box and let it collect dust, dear! It's your grandmother's, I expect ya to try it sometime." The team leader sighed, trying to think of a response. However, her mother continued, that sweet smirk still etched onto her visage. "I know how you are. You like to keep your promises to the word. You're brutally honest. But, you gotta go out there and make the special moment, dear. You aren't young forever, and you won't always have the opportunity to try and wear it. You're training to be a Huntress, a very dangerous position. Between you and Ajax, and even Menelaus if he decides to go, you all make me a very nervous woman. I don't want you to make the same mistakes Ajax did, and rush yourself into adulthood. Wear it the first day you go back, and then choose the right days to wear it!"

Nora snorted at Mrs. Nikos's assertiveness, almost jumping at the opportunity to respond to the woman's monologue. "I guess Pyrrha took after her father, didn't she?" Ren's eyes slightly perked up, but he shook his head as he downed another sip of water.

"More than you'd think, dear." The matron quipped. "I had to ask her father out. Imagine the look on the faces of the townspeople when I was the one carting him around town! But yes, Pyrrha is a spitting image of her father, from personality down to her straight red hair." She playfully batted a curl, before pointing over at his short, but noticeably straight, crimson hair.

Ren set down his cup, a very tiny smile on his face. Pyrrha could notice the gratitude in his eyes and the reverence that rushed out from deep within his very soul. "Thank you very much for the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Nikos. And thank you for having us. I'm happy to be… in a way, somewhere called a home." Ren actually hesitated. He's usually so sure of what he's going to say. "And dinner has been delicious."

"Why, thank ya, Ren!" Pyrrha's father spoke, a roaring happiness spreading through the room as he finally says his piece. "Took a long time to make, but it's worth the effort. But, about the home," He moves in close, ushering Ren and Nora towards him, and speaks. "Pay it no mind as just 'a home'. For ya, like I said, it's 'home' for as long as you need it."

"I know." Ren responded, still a bit hesitant. "It's just… tough calling a place I first entered today a true home."

The face of Pyrrha's father quickly softened. His jaw unclenched, and his eyes closed, nodding. "I can get how that feels. When I built this home, it took a while for us to get familiar with it. But, we eventually did. A new home may take some time to get used to, but I think we'll do the best we can to see that you can acclimate well to it."

Odysseus then spoke up. His voice was rather reminiscent of his father, with that same standing and power, but it had an underlying softness and command in it. "I don't think we have any problem with taking you guys in. I've helped my friends who were in bad situations out before. And I don't think my brothers have any issue with having you guys around. More hands to help with everything."

Pyrrha was glad that her family was skirting around asking questions about specifics. She knew that they might respond poorly to those, considering how much they dodged the issue when she talked to them. She noticed their smiles continue to rise, the reassurances actually helping.

Nestor spoke in turn. "Yeah, more people gives me more ideas to write about. I enjoy having more heads to argue with and discuss things with. I would be glad to see these two more often." He then adds, with a little smile on his face, "I'd like to see how they work. Different people often provide some inspiration for characters."

Menelaus stayed silent, as he often said little, but his calm smile and nod over to Ren said much about his opinions on the matter.

With everyone finished, Mr. Nikos began to laugh. "Now, as members of this household, Ren and Nora…" He trailed off, leading them on for a moment before asking between laughs, "Could you do the dishes?"

In the evening, by the time they had all retreated to their rooms, Pyrrha sat on a chair in her pajamas, (a comfortable pair bought while she was in Vale comprised of a t-shirt with the design of the moon on it as well as black pajama bottoms dotted with white stars) as she talked about the arrangements for the evening. "...Are you guys still sure you're fine sleeping together? I can sleep with Nora and you could have my room, Ren, if you really wanted."

"Pshaw, Pyrrha. Ren and I are like siblings. We don't mind sleeping in a bed together, especially one as comfortable as this one is!" Nora responded, bouncing on top of it to show its comfort. She was dressed in her pajamas- a pink shirt with 'Boop' spelled out in black letters as well as pink pajama bottoms. "Besides, we've slept in worse conditions."

"This really is preferable, Pyrrha." Ren responded, already in pajamas and laying atop the cover and pillow. "We're fine in here."

"Do you guys want to call the others, see how they're doing? It could be nice to check up on them." Pyrrha quipped, holding up her scroll.

"Let's do it another night, Pyrrha." Ren said, yawning a little bit. "Today was a huge day, and we saw them all this morning. There's not much to talk about."

"Alright, alright." Pyrrha pouted, shaking her head. She got out of the chair, holding her scroll, and moved towards the door. "I'll leave you guys to go to bed. Tomorrow, we'll be up at the crack of dawn. Goodnight!" She closed the door quietly, smiling a little bit as she walked down the hall to her room on the left.

Hopefully, they would find this place to be as good a home as anywhere else they've ever been. Pyrrha fluttered down the hallway quietly, trying not to disturb anyone who may be asleep in the house. As she opened the door to her room, her thoughts moved to one other person on her team.

I hope Jaune's doing okay.

A/N: Hey, guys! I'm so sorry for not publishing for the last couple of weeks. I have so much stockpiled because now, I am at college! I just moved in a few days ago, and today was my first day of classes. This is the first of four (Meant to be three. Sorry!) intermission chapters meant to segway into the rest of the story. I hope you enjoy them, and have a wonderful rest of your evenings, days... whatever it is right now for you lot!

-C. Exodia