December 4th, 2040

1:30 AM

Taiyang got out of his car as he approached the house. He had just missed a fight, it seems as a police officer was getting bandaged up.

Seeing Agent Washington and Maine outside of the house, he approached them and asked, "What happened?"

"Old lady put up one hell of a fight," Agent Washington said.

"And?"

"The fight ended," Agent Maine quickly said.

Taiyang sighed, "I needed her alive. She could have told us where they went…"

"I doubt that very much, Lieutenant. She had already killed local task force members and would have killed more had Agent Maine not stepped in."

"Are there any leads as to where they may have gone?"

"The truck is missing from the garage. We put out a BOLO out, but I think it is safe to assume that they are long gone."

"Dammit…"

"I will admit. Adel was a smart one. Killing the two officers drew the authorities here, so that gave the Grimm time to escape. Plus this little fight bought them even more time."

"There is only one place left for them to go," Agent Maine said.

"Burlington," Taiyang said.

"Eh see Maine? He's onto it."

"Hmph…" Maine scoffed.

"So what happens now," Taiyang asked.

"Our job here is done. Agent Maine and I were assigned here to take care of the Grimm transport and we did. Burlington belongs to Agent Callows. Let us head back to the precinct and I will inform Agent Callows that you will be joining him."

Taiyang nodded and proceeded into the house. There was a blood splatter across the walls, most likely the injured cop's…

Proceeding upstairs, Taiyang walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Staring at himself in the mirror, Taiyang could see the effects of this job… his eyes were purple with exhaustion, his color pale, and he even could tell a few grey from blonde hairs. As he stared at the mirror, he heard her again.

"Tai…"

"Shut up, Summer…"

"The more you follow, the farther you fall… should you continue—"

Taiyang smashed his fist into the mirror, specifically where he could see Summer's reflection.

He did not feel any pain, perhaps due to shock, as he stared at his bleeding hand.

"I will find you, Ruby… I must…"

5:38 AM

Ruby had finally woken up, but she did not feel rested…

Looking into the back seat, Ruby saw Velvet was still asleep, but Coco was still awake, her eyes red and irritated from the tears that seemingly just stopped.

"Hey Coco."

"Hey…"

Looking towards the driver's seat, Jaune was exhausted… his eyes slowly shutting before he had to force himself to stay awake.

"Jaune, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he snapped.

"Hey, she was just asking a question."

"Well I gave her a damn answer, is that okay," Jaune asked.

It was obvious that tension was getting to the limit as Ruby butted in, "Guys, we are all just a bit tired from what happened this morning and—"

"Oh no, it's fine. Just add it to the list of shit that gets in our way and we will continue going on to most likely another fucked up scenario."

"Oh I am sorry that my grandmother's death is so in the way for you," Coco said.

Jaune let out a groan as he pulled over to the side of the road.

"What are you doing," Coco asked.

"I have been driving for hours," Jaune said as he pulled over alongside a forest, "I'm taking a break."

"Are you crazy?"

But Jaune did not care to listen to Coco. Instead, he just looked back at Coco and said, "I will be back in half an hour."

"Fine, but in half an hour, Velvet and I will be leaving," Coco said.

Jaune slammed the door and proceeded into the forest.

"What the hell is his problem," Coco asked Ruby.

"I'm gonna go talk to him," Ruby said as she got out of the car and followed Jaune into the forest.

5:40 AM

Jaune walked into the snow covered forest, angrier than he had ever been… He quickly looked to a tree beside him and placed his hand on the cold bark and said, "Ignis."

As he removed his hand, a burning hand print slowly turned darker and darker until a flame ignited. However, that flame was quickly put out by a sudden blast of water. Jaune, with his black and red eyes, stared at Ruby as she still had her hand extended.

"Are you crazy," Ruby asked.

Jaune looked to Ruby, his eyes narrowed, "I said I wanted to be left alone."

"Not if you are just gonna set fire to a whole forest." Ruby said.

Jaune gritted his teeth and quickly aimed his hand at Ruby, "Aer!"

Ruby's Grimm eyes widened in shock as she was sent flying back into the snow. Quickly getting up, she saw Jaune aiming his hands at the ground, "Aqua!"

Two clumps of snow beneath Jaune melted and flew to his hands before he shot the spell at Ruby again, but this time, Ruby yelled, "Aer!"

The two spells collided and turned into a small flurry of snowflakes as Ruby stood up.

"Jaune, you need to calm down."

"NO! Okay, I am done. I had this plan that I had been making for months. Then, you come along and everything goes to shit."

"Jaune—"

"I would have better off if I left you back in New York," Jaune yelled as he then shot a gust of air at Ruby.

Ruby aimed her hands at her feet and said, "Frigidus."

The snow that covered her feet solidified into ice as the air spell passed her. But that was only a distraction as Ruby then saw a fist come right at her. Using some basic defense her father taught her, Ruby blocked the punch and punched Jaune in the ribs.

"The train, the Hunter, fucking Haven… IT IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR FUCKING DAD!"

As Ruby stared at her friend, she could see the anger in his eyes. But there were other emotions in those eyes… pain… regret…

"Jaune?"

Jaune had his hand extended for another spell, but his hand was shaking so violently that he grunted in pain as he lowered it. Jaune fell to his knees and began to cry as he stared at Ruby.

"I'm so tired, Ruby…"

Ruby took a step towards Jaune as he just kept crying. Kneeling down, Ruby placed her hand on Jaune's shoulder, "It's okay…"

Jaune leaned in and embraced Ruby in a hug as he cried into her shoulder.

5:50 AM

Ruby and Jaune, who had finally calmed down, sat against the singed tree as the snow fell onto their shoulders.

"I lied…"

"About?"

"About how I would be better off if I left you in New York."

"It didn't seem that way, Jaune," Ruby said.

Jaune placed his hand on Ruby's, "Everything just…"

Ruby returned the hand hold, "I know. But James, this can't happen again, okay? If we are all gonna make it to Liberteria, we have to protect one another. Okay?"

Jaune looked at Ruby and nodded.

"Good, let's go before Coco actually leaves us behind."

6:01 AM

"Goddamn it, where are the keys," Coco groaned.

"Coco," Ruby said.

Coco looked towards the forest to see Jaune and Ruby walking back towards the car.

"Are you calm now," Coco asked.

Jaune took a step forward, "Coco, I apologize for how I acted."

"Well, I can't say that I was a saint either. Let's just get to Burlington and we can hopefully get some sleep."

Jaune extended his hand, and hesitantly Coco shook it. The three older children got back into the truck and drove off before Velvet even woke up to know what had happened.