Summer Rose stared at her cup of tea, lost in thought. She glanced up across the den to the couch where three-year-old Yang and Ruby, who was barely one were sleeping under a shared blanket.

"Are you ok, Summer?" Tai asked her as he entered the room and sat his beer on the table.

Summer sighed. "Please don't drink in front of me. I get enough of that at home."

Tai looked at Summer. Her eyes were puffed from tears and lack of sleep. Dark circles framed them, making her look sickly. What in the past and been an infectious smile, was now a blank expression.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking," Tai said.

"I get enough of that too," Summer said, her voice wavering. "Empty apologizes. Next come the promises you never intend to keep."

"Summer…"

"I know his missions are stressful and I know he deals with what he thinks his semblance is, but what I don't know is why I'm not enough….why Ruby isn't enough to make him happy."

Summer buried her face in the palms of her hands and began to sob. Tai moved from his chair to comfort her. He wrapped his arm around her and allowed her to rest her face against his chest.

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice from behind them slurred.

Summer and Tai turned to see Qrow standing there look at them.

"You're home early," Summer said standing up. She walked over to her husband to greet him wiping the tears from her eyes.

"What the hell did you do to my wife, Tai?"

"I was just having a bad day, Qrow," Summer assured him. "Tai was just giving me a friendly hug."

"That's all it was, really," Tai said. He turned to look at the girls who were beginning to stir in their sleep. "I'm going to take the girls upstairs."

Tai carefully gathered both Ruby and Yang in his arms, being careful not to wake them. Ruby's eyes fluttered open for a moment and when she caught a glimpse of Qrow she smiled and reached for him. "Da!"

Qrow went to take Ruby from Tai and the baby girl instantly fell back asleep in her father's arms. Qrow kissed the top her head through the tuft of messy black hair.

"She wasn't talking when I left."

"You've been gone over a month," Summer said. "Babies tend to grow fast."

"I'm missing everything."

"It's your job, Qrow. I understand how important it is to you."

"It's not enough," Qrow said, passing Ruby to Summer. He pulled his flask out of his shirt and began drinking.

"Do you have to do that in front of her?"

"She's sleeping."

"It doesn't matter, Qrow. She is your daughter and she needs her father to at least attempt to show he cares."

"That's why I keep working this godforsaken job, Summer. You think I like being away from you…from Ruby?"

"Sometimes it feels like you do. You're not the only huntsman Ozpin could call upon."

"Not to brag, but I'm the best there is. Well, not counting you I am. Ozpin knows that," Qrow said. "I think he made sure we were partners so we'd breed."

Summer smiled at Qrow's joke. She couldn't imagine the tiny baby in her arms, who had recently discovered she was frightened of her own shadow, would become a mighty huntress.

"Do you want to sit down?" Summer asked. "I know you must be tired."

"I am," Qrow said with a heavy sigh.

Tai, who had just reentered the room cleared his throat. "Uh, I came to see if Ruby was ready for bed."

Before Summer could speak, Qrow answered. "She's fine here."

Qrow took Ruby back from Summer and sat down on the couch, resting the baby on his chest. Ruby snuggled against her new warm pillow. Qrow reached in his shirt and pulled out his flask once again.

"Don't you dare…."

"Relax, Summer. I was just moving it so she'd be more comfortable."

Summer sighed. "It's hard to tell with you sometimes."

"Well, I think I'm going to head up to bed myself," Tai said. "Good night, Summer…Qrow."

"Good night," Summer said softly.

Qrow patted the place on the couch next to him. "I've missed having you in my arms."

"I've missed you being here," Summer said, sitting down and laying her head on Qrow's shoulder. "Ruby cries for you a lot. It usually takes both Tai and I to get her calmed down."

"Tai," Qrow muttered bitterly.

He wasn't angry at Tai really. He was angry with himself. He wished he was a better man. He wished his semblance didn't get in the way of everything. His marriage was falling apart. His drinking was getting worse and he knew it. He wasn't a fit father, a fit husband, of a fit human being.

"Have you talked to Oz about taking a break for a while," Summer asked.

"No. Why?"

"You said you would."

"Things are complicated."

"Things always are."

"I can't help that."

"But you can help how long you're gone. Do you know how hard it is raising a child without someone there to help you."

"You mean someone like Tai? You two seemed to be a cozy couple before I walked in."

"I told you that was just a hug between friends," Summer said, gently petting Ruby's soft head. "I don't have feelings for Tai."

"I almost wish you did."

"What?"

"I wish you loved him and not me."

"Well, I don't, Qrow. I'm in love with you and I am trying my best to support you, but you're not making it easy on me."

"Then maybe I should leave."

"If you walked out on Ruby I'd never forgive you," Summer said.

"What if that's what's best for her."

"Qrow what are you talking about?"

"Summer, Salem wants me dead and she'll go through any means to bring me down. She's not above killing the innocent….even children. If she got to you or Ruby I couldn't live with myself. The more I'm gone…the longer I stay away, the better things are for you and Ruby."

"And you couldn't just tell me this?"

"You would've never let me go," Qrow said. "You're as stubborn as you are beautiful."

"We can get through this together."

"No. This is something I need to do alone. Salem doesn't know about you or Ruby and she doesn't need to. The longer I stay here the greater her chances of finding out I'm married and have a family."

"Is that why Raven left?"

"No. Raven had more selfish reasons for leaving and I still don't understand why she did."

"When do you have to go again?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Summer looked at Qrow with tears in her eyes. "And when will you be back?"

"I don't know."

"What do you want me to tell Ruby when she cries?"

Qrow took a deep breath. "Pass her to Tai and tell her, her daddy's right there."