After a few weeks of recovery, Winter found herself laying on the coast of Menagerie. She watched as Weiss and Ruby argued over the best way to make a sand castle and laughed as Blake tried to talk Yang out of attempting to make glass on the beach. Nora had buried Ren up to his neck in the sand while also encouraging Yang to try making glass.
"I'm dreaming, right?" Winter asked the man laying beside her.
"Probably, I haven't had this much free time in who knows how long." Tai grinned and stretched.
The pair set up just in time to watch Qrow swoop down and grab Ruby by her ankles before flinging her into the water. The girl squealed with laughter and swam quickly back to shore. She tackled the previously dry Weiss and pulled her to the water. Weiss was content to wade in the waves and Ruby swam far out and let the tide push her back.
Qrow smiled and watched the girls play. Nora tugged on his shorts to get his attention and he knelt down so she could whisper in her ear. He nodded and the pair started digging. Qrow sat down in the hole and the ginger girl started throwing sand on him. Ruby caught wind of what was happening and rushed to join in. Blake sighed in relief as Yang ran to bury her uncle instead of setting fire to the beach. Qrow was quickly overwhelmed and called out for help. Tai laughed and shouted back.
"Welcome to parenthood buddy!" Tai laid back with his hands behind his head. Winter raised an eyebrow and looked between the two and laughed. She stood up and walked over to the man.
"I heard that someone needed help?" She grinned. Qrow narrowed his eyes and she began to throw sand on him too.
"I meant ME not THEM!" He shouted. He tried to wriggle free but he was packed tight.
"Who's ready for lunch?" Winter asked and all of the kids cheered.
Yang laid out the food that they had and Winter instructed the children to rinse off in the water. Tai joined them at the table and they all began eating. Winter walked back over to Qrow with a bucket in hand.
"Are you here to help me out?" Qrow asked.
Winter nodded and dumped the water on him, soaking him but also loosening the sand. She held out a hand and he took it. She pulled him up and he groaned. He grabbed his shoulder and winced.
"Wrong one." he moaned through gritted teeth.
"Is it really, or are you just a broken old man?" Winter taunted.
"If I was a broken old man would I be able to do this?"
Qrow grinned and picked her up bridal style and rushed to the water. He threw her in and then dove in after her. She splashed her way to the surface and pushed her wet hair out of her face. He surface and grabbed her waist to pull her to him.
"That hurt a lot, didn't it?" Winter grinned. Qrow didn't respond. "Was it worth it?" She asked.
Qrow nodded and kissed her square on the lips. She grinned into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer. There was a chorus of "ewwww"s and "ohhhhhh"s from the shore. The pair split apart, but not by much.
"Guess what." Qrow smiled.
"What?"
"I'm still here, aren't I?" Qrow pulled Winter in for another kiss. Tai wolf-whistled at the pair.
"Break for air and come get your lunch you two!" he shouted out from the beach. Qrow and Winter splashed him with all of their might, making sure that he was completely drenched before sitting at the table to eat.
A/N:
This one is actually pretty serious. This is a pretty nice stopping point but I did have other arcs originally planned out which would make this story easily twice as long. Would you rather I continue the story or leave it here?