This is the edited chapter
Ruby never imagined when she started her stay with her father that she would come to enjoy being there as much as she did by the end. It was close to time to return to Beacon, and the trio spent their last week in Patch staying in, ordering food, and watching a bunch of movies together. As the redhead's eyes passed back and forth between her sister and her father, she had one single, happy thought. I can't believe it all worked out.
"That was a really weird spy movie," Yang pointed out.
"Well, it was no James Blonde," Taiyang agreed.
"Yeah, I know, the movie told us a thousand times," Yang responded.
"The action was really good, though," Ruby spoke up, "That bit in the church was phenomenal."
"There's a sequel," Yang pointed out.
"Plug it in!" Ruby cried.
"Alright!" Yang jumped up and started working the player.
"Hey, Rubes?" Taiyang nudged his daughter's shoulder.
"Yeah, dad?" Ruby replied.
"I'm really glad you decided to come home," Taiyang smiled.
Ruby smiled back, "Me, too."
"I was wondering," Taiyang continued, "If you were thinking about staying?"
Ruby giggled a little, "What do you mean? I'll be back next break."
"I don't mean next break. I mean I want you to stay," Taiyang explained.
Ruby's smile never technically left her face, but her eyes showed clear confusion and disbelief. "Dad, what are you talking about? Beacon starts again in a couple of days."
Yang suddenly felt very tense and whipped around. "Hey dad, I think we need more popcorn before the next movie," she tried, pulling on his arm.
"Yeah, but… I just don't think you should go back." Taiyang told her, ignoring Yang.
Yang tried pulling Ruby away next. "Hey, I think the DVD is upstairs, would you help me look?" she asked nervously.
Ruby shoved Yang's hand away, her smile gone. "Taiy-... Dad, wherever you're going with this, please... Stop. Now."
"I mean, you're enjoying yourself, right?" Taiyang asked.
"Yeah," Ruby answered, "But I'm still going back to Beacon."
"And I'm not going to try and force you to stay," Taiyang assured, "But I still want you to think about it. It's not so bad here, right?"
Ruby stared at her father. "And you think that's going to make me choose to stay here, all on my own? Abandon Beacon, my dream?"
"Guys, please stop! Dad, shut up, Ruby, why don't we go for a walk?" Yang asked nervously, trying to diffuse the situation. Neither her father nor her sister were sparing any attention towards her.
"It's dangerous, Ruby," Taiyang tried in a comforting voice, "You know it is."
"Of course I do," Ruby's voice was starting to rise, "It's dangerous for everybody."
"But it's more dangerous for you," Taiyang pressed on.
"You think I don't know that?" Ruby asked incredulously, "I have it under control!"
"You almost died, Ruby!" Taiyang shouted, "Shouldn't that make you second guess things a little?"
"I did almost die," Ruby stared her father in the eyes, "but it had nothing to do with my heart. Or did you even bother to fact-check? Do you even know what really happened?"
"Guys, please..." Yang pleaded.
"Because that blow that almost killed me?" Ruby continued unimpeded, "would have killed Yang if I didn't push her out of the way! But you're not going to ask her to leave Beacon, are you?"
"Yang is her own person, she's capable of making her own choices," Taiyang argued.
"And I'm not!?" Ruby shouted.
"That's… that's not what I meant…" Taiyang tried to backpedal.
"Then what did you mean?" Ruby countered.
"I… I just…" Taiyang stumbled.
"Why?" Ruby demanded, "All these years, why is Yang allowed to risk her life to protect people, but I'm supposed to stay here in your little safety bubble? Despite proving that I can handle myself? What exactly are you so afraid of!?"
"I just can't stand lose you again, Summer!" Taiyang shouted before he could stop himself.
The room was dead quiet. Taiyang's face was horrified, and Yang just stared at him in disbelief. "What does that mean, dad?" the blonde asked.
"It means Qrow was right…" Ruby deadpanned. She grabbed Gilded Thorn and began to walk towards the door.
"Ruby, wait!" Taiyang tried to grab his daughter's arm.
Ruby ripped her arm out of his hand and reached for the doorknob.
"Ruby, I'm sorry!" Taiyang cried desperately, "I'm sorry, okay? I slipped up, a-and-"
"'Slipped up?'" Ruby finally turned back to him, her hand still on the doorknob.
"I made a mistake," Taiyang pleaded, "And I'm sorry. Please don't leave."
"What am I supposed to do here?" Ruby asked him.
"I made a mistake," Taiyang repeated, "but your stay here… it was better, right? Progress?"
"Yeah, it was," Ruby agreed, "Right until now. Then, it wasn't better enough."
"Another chance, please," Taiyang begged.
"Another chance?" Ruby almost laughed, "This was your chance. Am I supposed to forgive and forget, again? And what about the next 'slip up'? How many times am I supposed to 'forgive and forget'?"
"As many times as it takes," Taiyang told her, "I'm your father!"
Ruby's eyes were full of fury, staring down Taiyang. "You haven't been my father for sixteen years. And I refuse to stay here if all I'm going to be is a walking, talking portrait of someone else."
Ruby finally opened the door and left the house. Taiyang began to dash for the door, but was quickly stopped by Yang. "Dad, wait. I think it's better if I go after her."
"But-"
"Dad," Yang pushed him back a little, "Please."
He stumbled backward a little, his face completely crestfallen. "Bring her back, please…"
Yang said nothing as she stepped out the door herself.
Thus kindly I scatter
Ruby sat with her legs pulled up to her chest, staring at the marker through blurry eyes. She didn't want to blame the mother she never really knew, but she didn't know what else to think. Things had gone so wrong, so quickly, and despite the appearances of the last few months things have never been right since.
"Ruby?"
SHINK
In an instant, Ruby was on her feet with her weapon drawn directly at Yang. The blonde was almost surprised to see tears falling from silver eyes. "Are you here to drag me back, Xiao Long?" Ruby sobbed.
"No, I'm not," Yang held out a bag of books, "You left this behind. I figured it be awkward if you had to come back for them."
Ruby didn't step forward, keeping her blade trained on Yang.
"I'm not going to try anything, okay?" Yang promised, setting the bag down and backing away.
"I'm not going back," Ruby told her.
"I know," Yang nodded, "I just want to make sure of a few things."
"And what is that?" Ruby deadpanned.
"Don't get me wrong, okay?" Yang started, "I am pissed at dad. Unbelievably pissed."
"But he's still 'dad' to you," Ruby caught on.
"He is," Yang nodded, "And he's devastated. It's his own fault, I know. But I want to be sure that if I go back and take care of him, I'll still have a sister at Beacon."
"You really expect me to trust this?" Ruby questioned.
"I'm not dad. I'm still my own person," Yang reminded her, "I'm not going to force you to come back. I'm not even going to ask you. Just please don't make me choose between you."
Ruby's eyes narrowed, "Why not?"
"Because, right now, after what just happened, I'm afraid I'll choose you," Yang answered.
Ruby sniffled, lowering her blade slowly.
"And I'm afraid that if we both leave dad, he'll do something stupid," Yang continued. "I can live with you and dad not having a relationship. As long as i don't lose either of you. That might be selfish of me, but-"
"You always had him in a way I never did," Ruby's lament cut Yang off, with fresh tears falling down the redhead's face. "He was always your father, even when he wasn't mine. These last few months were perfect. I actually thought everything was going to be fine." Sniff. "I can't trust him again. I don't have it in me."
"I know…" Yang nodded slowly.
"I hate him," Ruby scowled, tears still falling. "But I wouldn't want him to… 'do anything stupid', either. So go, take care of your father. And Yang?"
Yang's eyes perked back up a little at the use of her first name.
"I'll see you back at Beacon, sis." Ruby nodded, sheathing her blade and picking up her books.
Yang took her sister into a deep hug, a smile threatening her lips. "Thank you."
Ruby reluctantly hugged back, still on guard after all that had happened. Yang let her go, stepping back and readying herself mentally to return to the house. "Where will you stay for the next couple days until Beacon starts? Menagerie?"
"Menagerie is a little far for just a few days, I'm not even sure there's flights there," Ruby answered, "If I hurry, I can catch the last ferry into Vale. And then I'll see if Joanna will put me up for a few days. If not, you know I can take care of myself."
"She'll take you in," Yang nodded, "She seems nice and all."
"I should go. I'll miss the ferry otherwise," Ruby bid Yang farewell.
"Be safe," Yang nodded, turning around to go back to her father.
Yang stepped through the door to her home to see her father slumped on the couch with a picture in his hands. "I'm so sorry, Summer…" Taiyang bemoaned, "I tried to keep her safe…"
"Dad?" Yang called out.
He whipped around, his eyes hopeful. Only seeing Yang made his face fall, and he turned back around to stare at the picture. Yang almost started to feel sorry for him… until she saw the picture he was holding. She recognized it as a selfie she took with Ruby a few weeks ago, folded over so Yang wasn't visible. Taiyang was still staring at Ruby and thinking of Summer, even if he didn't realize it.
"Dad." Yang demanded the old man's attention.
"She didn't come back…" Taiyang lamented.
"I didn't ask her to," Yang informed him.
"Why not?" Taiyang turned back around slowly.
"Because of that," Yang pointed at the picture, "Do you even realize which of the two that photo shows? She was right, dad."
"So are you going to leave too?" Taiyang asked.
"I'm thinking about it. I really should. I'm certainly pissed enough," Yang answered.
"Then go…" Taiyang sighed, "And neither of you girls will have to worry about me again…"
The finality in his tone reminded Yang of the reason she decided to come back. "You need help, dad."
"If you're going to insult me, I'd rather you just leave," The old man deadpanned.
"It's not like that," Yang sighed, "I mean, you need to get help. Get up, I'm taking you into town."
"Excuse me?" Taiyang turned back to her in surprise.
"We're going into town," she repeated.
"Why?" Taiyang asked defiantly.
"Because if you want me to stay, if you want the slimmest hope that Ruby could come back, you need to go to a Grief Counselor," Yang gave her ultimatum. "You. Need. Help."
Taiyang took another long look at the photo, unfolding it to show Yang in it and reminding himself who the picture truly showed. With a deep sigh, he reluctantly nodded and followed his daughter out the door.
A few days later, Ruby was standing in the front courtyard of Beacon. Between greeting other students and new uninitiated, she stood waiting for Blake to show up. She called her several days ago and told her what had happened. Her mother happened to be on the line as well and asserted her confirmation of her feelings about Taiyang from their visit.
Soon enough, Blake did show up at the courtyard, dashing to her girlfriend and throwing her into a deep hug. Ruby hugged her back, burying her face into her neck and taking in her warmth.
"I'm so sorry…" Blake told her, for about the millionth time since Blake heard what had happened.
"It's not your fault," Ruby reminded her.
"I know, but still…" Blake pulled her face back to look Ruby in the eyes, but still not letting go of her, "I never lost a father… but I could still imagine what you're going through. Someone you loved turning out to be something you hate."
"Adam?" Ruby asked.
"Who's Adam?" Weiss had shown up, and seeing her teammates, made a beeline towards them.
"An ex," was all that Blake offered. She was still hesitant to inform the Schnee of her past in the White Fang.
"Ew," Weiss responded, "Well, on the other end of the spectrum, I never had a real father, not even for the first five years of my life."
"How do you…?" Blake asked.
"Yang and I talk," Weiss answered, "She thought it was better I knew ahead of seeing you again."
"That makes sense," Ruby nodded.
The next person to show up, surprising everyone, was Qrow. He strode up from the direction Weiss came from, announcing his arrival with, "I see you've already breached the topic of the day."
"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked, "I thought you were on a mission?"
"Missions end at some point. You'd know if you were conscious for the end of yours," Qrow quipped. "I was nearly finished when Taiyang called, asked me to bring you home. Then I called Yang and got the real story. I'm sorry."
"You warned me," Ruby reminded him.
"Yeah, but you gave him the benefit of the doubt," Qrow replied, "That's more than I ever gave him."
"Yeah, and that ended well," Ruby scowled.
"I just came by to see how you were holding up," Qrow told her, "I'd offer condolences or help, but I can see you have all that handled," He looked over her team mates, his eyes stopping on Weiss. "You're, uh… sister doesn't happen to be here right now?"
"She is, actually," Weiss remarked, "Why?"
"I should probably get out of here before she shows up," Qrow rubbed the back of his head, "She and I have never seen eye-to-eye."
"Ruby!" Yang had finally showed up, running up to her sister. She stopped short of throwing her arms around the redhead, holding out her arms as if asking for permission. Ruby reluctantly nodded and embraced the blonde brawler.
"Hey," Qrow nudged Ruby's shoulder and pointed to the person who dropped Yang off. Taiyang approached slowly and carefully.
"Hello, Ruby." Taiyang greeted nervously.
Ruby gave Taiayng a few seconds of eye contact. After that, she took Blake's hand and walked away.
Yang stayed behind to have a few last words with Taiyang and instructing him to call her regularly about his progress, before hurriedly trying to find Ruby again. She finally found Ruby, along with the rest of her team, catching up in the shade of a nearby tree. "Hey, Ruby," Yang called out, unsure of how Ruby would react after seeing Taiyang.
"Hey, Yang," Ruby replied surprisingly cheerfully, "Are you looking forward to your second year?"
Yang was stunned and didn't answer immediately. "Uhh, yeah. I mean, of course! You?"
"Last year was… rocky," Ruby admitted, "Hopefully this year will be a little smoother."
"I took dad to a grief counselor. Who told us dad's case was a little too much for him, and referred us to a… mental health doctor," Yang told the group. "He's getting help. Maybe, even, in a few years, he'll be all better and you can-"
"Don't finish that sentence," Ruby warned calmly. "I don't care."
"Oh…" Yang's face fell.
Ruby sighed heavily. "Listen, Yang. After a lot of thinking, and some discussion with Blake, I decided that last year I learned that you're not dad. And I decided that I don't want to forget that lesson. Despite what he's done, you haven't betrayed me like that yet. Reconnecting with you was one of my favorite things about the last year, and I don't want to lose you as a sister any more than you want to lose me. Even if that man means nothing to me and everything to you, it doesn't have to get in the way of our relationship."
Yang smiled widely, "Thank you."
"Before going forward," Ruby continued, "We need to make something clear. I don't care about that man. If he's getting help, that's fine, and I even applaud him. But that doesn't change what he's already done. It doesn't change that I don't have it in me to trust him again. Because I don't have it in me to be let down by him again. I can't go back to that house, and I can't live with him. No matter how many doctors he has or how many meds he's on."
"I understand…" Yang nodded. It wasn't an easy compromise, but it was worth it if it meant not losing Ruby. "So how was Joanna?"
Things started looking up for the group, and Ruby in particular. Everything wasn't made better in a nice little bow, but enough of it was better. The redhead had opened up and learned a lot of things. She finally moved on from her Master's death, and learned to forgive herself. She moved forward in her relationship with Blake, and befriended Weiss and Joanna. She even found a sister again in Yang.
As for Qrow and Taiyang, the former visited Ruby often. Ruby and Qrow both knew he was trying to make up for Ruby not having a proper father. As awkward as the dynamic was at times, Ruby welcomed any figure who cared for her on a personal level. Taiyang, on the other hand, wouldn't see or speak to Ruby for another three years.
He was still receiving treatments when team RWBY graduated, trying to honestly get better. Ruby had moved on from her hate, though it didn't change the fact that in her eyes Taiyang was never her father. They had a polite conversation, perhaps the only real and proper conversation they ever had. Taiyang could only nod as his estranged daughter walked away from him for one last time…
All in all, Ruby had finally moved on from the scars of her past. Sure some stayed with her, one in particular that still rang from her wrist to this day, but she felt those experiences truly made her stronger. Even back at the beginning of that second year, with Yang at her back, Blake by her side, and the support of all the other friends she had made, she felt ready for whatever was next.
- The End -
I would like to thank TheShadow977 one last time for allowing me to build off his 'Idea for adoption'! I had a ton of fun writing this tale and I hope you all had a ton of fun reading it! I would love to hear your final thoughts on the overall story, and I'm sure Shadow977 would as well!
I hope you will all be there for my next project, which will be announced on my Tumblr when it's ready for reader consumption.
Until next time,
- VengfulFate
Edit: One addition I couldn't make to the story concerned Ruby's medicine and heart issues, which kind of dropped out of mention about halfway through the story. Enough people have asked for me to assume there are many readers who thought the same thoughts but didn't ask themselves, hence this note. To clarify, I did have a plan to use them once more, during the Amalgam fight. But the evolving story and the time it took for me to get to writing that part, resulted in me forgetting to add it. Whoops.