A/N: Hello! Just a disclaimer: all bad grammar for this coming dialogue is purposeful! Enjoy!
"Then, the monster tried to hit me, like this!"
Wendy jumped and waved a crooked stick over her head as the three toddlers in her audience sat and stared up at her in wonder. She adjusted the paper mask she wore and had made with a sheet of notebook paper, yarn, and a red crayon.
"What happened after?" asked the little faunus girl, Nyssa. Her eyes were wide and her furry, black, cat ears were angled towards the eldest girl among them.
"I was going to be killed!" said Wendy as she pointed her stick at Nyssa, "But he disappeared before he got me."
"Where did he go?" asked Yelena. Her red hair was being combed through by Wilma, who was idly listening to Wendy's story too.
"I think he went back to his lair," said Wendy, "Because I stopped him from killing Wilma."
"Woah. Good thing Wendy saved you, Wilma," said Yelena as she looked back over her shoulder.
Wilma looked up at Wendy, "Wendy said I was sleeping when he came," she admitted.
Wendy stabbed her stick into the grass as she sat down in front of her baby cousins and little sister.
They were all playing in Auntie Ruby's backyard before Wendy and Wilma's parents came to pick them up.
Talk of Wendy's encounter with the monster quickly captured the interest of the fraternal twins, Yelena and Nyssa.
"Yeah, and he was staring at you with big red eyeballs," said Wendy as she pointed at her paper mask, "Like this but scarier!"
Nyssa stared in awe at the messily crafted mask. It had red scribbles emphasizing the torn-out eye holes and marking where the piece of yarn helped to secure it around Wendy's face.
"Wendy? Can you make me a mask?" asked Nyssa as she leaned forward on her hands.
"No, only I can have a mask," said Wendy as she held onto the paper in front of her face, defensively.
"Please?" Nyssa begged, "Why can't I have one too?"
"Because there's only one monster," Wendy explained, "It would be weird if there are two kids with masks."
Nyssa frowned and idly pulled some grass from the dirt.
At seeing Nyssa's reaction, Wendy briefly looked to the side while playing with her fingers.
"Wait a minute… You can make a different mask!" Wendy suggested as she leaned towards her younger cousin, "Then you can be scary, like me, and there can be two monsters."
Nyssa looked up at Wendy with sparkling, golden irises that were wide with wonder, "Ohhh… I want to make a mask!"
"I want to make one too!" chirped Yelena as her hand shot up in the air.
"Your hair is really long, Yelena…" Wilma absent-mindedly commented as she continued to comb through red locks.
"Wilma, you should make a mask, too," said Yelena.
"I don't want to," pouted Wilma as she folded her arms.
"But Wilma," Nyssa whined, "Why? Do you want to be monsters with us?"
"I want to be a princess, not a monster," said Wilma, matter-of-factly.
"Everybody, stop!" commanded Wendy as she stood up, "I am the leader of the monsters! That means everyone has to do what I say."
"I don't because I'm not a monster," said Wilma, "I'm a princess."
"Yes, you do!" cried Wendy, "Or else we will eat you!"
"Why do you get to be the leader," Yelena asked.
"Because my monster is real," said Wendy.
"But Mother said it was a dream," said Wilma.
"Then ask Miss Cindy," pouted Wendy, "She said she knows the monster. That means he is real and he really tried to kill us!"
"Does he ever come to your house anymore?" Yelena asked, her silver orbs, glowing with interest.
"He only comes in my dreams now," Wendy explained, "I used to be really scared of him, but now he isn't that scary."
Nyssa gasped, "Are you friends with him?"
"No!" said Wendy, mildly offended, "He's gross and annoying! I want him to stop but he won't!"
"Tell Miss Cindy to tell him to stop," Wilma piped in.
The other children turned to Wilma and looked at her like she was crazy.
"That won't work," said Wendy, "He'll kill her."
"But you said Miss Cindy knows him," said Wilma, "She could tell him to stop bothering you."
Wendy thought for a moment.
Yelena gasped and stood up as well, "Wilma has a good idea, Wendy! Tell Miss Cindy to make the monster leave you alone for good!"
Wendy took off her paper mask and shoved it into her pocket, "I have to go to her house."
Wendy started for the fence gate but was stopped when a small hand grasped hers.
"You can't go by yourself!" said Yelena, "Just go with your mommy!"
Wendy frowned and looked down on Yelena as Wilma and Nyssa backed her up, "I bother my mommy too much. That's why she made us stay here for a sleepover."
"But you'll get lost," Nyssa whimpered.
"No, I won't," said Wendy, "I've went to Miss Cindy's house a hundred times."
"Woah… a hundred?" said Nyssa, wonderstruck.
"That's a lot of times…" whispered Yelena.
"I'm coming, too," declared Wilma as she took to Wendy's side.
"What should me and Yelena do, Wendy?" Nyssa asked.
Wendy looked at the fence gate behind her and hummed in thought, "The fence is locked, so you have to help me and Wilma get over it."
"My mommy said we can't go past the fence," mentioned Yelena.
"You guys stay here," said Wendy, "Don't tell anyone where we're going, too. This is a secret mission."
"I won't, Wendy!" cried Nyssa.
"Good job, little monster," Wendy smiled as she patted Nyssa's head and walked to the fence, "Wilma, let's go."
Wilma walked to Wendy and, with the help of Yelena and Nyssa, hoisted herself up until she could reach the top of the fence.
Wendy pulled herself up and landed on her feet on the soft grass outside the fence.
"Help Wilma get over, guys," Wendy called over the fence.
After a few grunts and shuffling from the other side of the fence, Wendy saw Wilma's head peek over the fence and caught her as she dropped down.
"Wendy, Wilma, are you okay?" Nyssa asked in a hushed voice over the fence.
"Yeah," answered Wendy, "We'll be right back! Come on, Wilma."
Wilma took Wendy's hand as she trailed behind her.
"How far is Miss Cindy's house?" Wilma asked.
Wendy hummed in thought as she led Wilma to the sidewalk in front of the house, "About fifty miles."
"How long does that take?"
"Five minutes," answered Wendy as they reached an intersection in the neighborhood, "Look both ways before you cross the street, Wilma."
Wilma did as was instructed and looked up at Wendy, "There are no cars."
"Then we can get to the other sidewalk," said Wendy as she pulled Wilma across the street.
After a few more seconds of walking on the sidewalks, Wilma began to hum a song.
"Wilma, you can't sing on secret missions," Wendy complained, "Huntresses don't sing on missions!"
"I'm want to play," Wilma declared.
"Huntresses don't play on secret missions!"
"Let's play the spy game," said Wilma, ignoring Wendy's pleas.
Wendy was about to chide Wilma again, but soon realized she was also quite bored.
"You mean the 'I Spy' game?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah! Yeah! I want to play that!"
Wendy looked around the neighborhood and smiled, "Okay, I'll go first. I spy, with my little, purple eye, something… fuzzy!"
Wilma laughed and looked around the street and sidewalks, "Is it… a mouse?"
"There are no mouses here, Silly," Wendy chuckled, "You have to find it."
Wilma looked again until a tiny black and yellow bug buzzed by them, "Bumblebee!"
"Yeah! Your turn," Wendy giggled.
Wilma jumped with excitement, "I spy, with my little, red eye, something blue!"
"Blue?" Wendy wondered as she looked up, "The sky!"
"No!" Wilma giggled, "Blueberries!"
"There are no blueberries here, Wilma," pouted Wendy, "Go again, and this time, you have to pick something that we can see."
Wilma hummed and gasped as she found her target, "I spy, with my little, red eye, something blue!"
"The sky," Wendy smiled.
"No!"
"There's nothing else that's blue!" Wendy whined.
"Yeah! Look!" Wilma cried as she pointed at a small, blue bird flying in circles overhead.
Wendy gasped and grinned at the bird, "A bluebird! I've never seen one before!"
The two kids stopped walking as they watched the bird circle them.
"Hi, bluebird," Wilma waved, "I like your wings."
Seemingly noticing the two little girls watching it, the bluebird deviated from the circle it was flying in and glided down towards them.
"Look, Wilma! I think he heard you!" Wendy cheered, "I like your wings too, bluebird!"
They watched as the bluebird landed on the sidewalk. It tilted its head as if it were studying them.
Wendy and Wilma giggled as they approached the little bird, only for it to slowly back away.
"I won't hurt you, Birdie," Wilma whispered as she inched closer.
"Wilma, wait!" Wendy commanded in a hushed voice as she grasped Wilma's shoulder, "What if the bluebird wants us to follow it. Maybe it will lead us to treasure like the blackbird at Grandpa's house!"
Wilma's eyes sparkled as a sense of wonder filled her, "Ohhh…"
"Let's get the treasure first, and then we can go to Miss Cindy's house."
The two girls stared at the bluebird, awaiting its next move.
The bird picked at its feathers and snapped its head in every direction before taking off to the sky.
"Come on, Wilma!" giggled Wendy as she grabbed Wilma's hand and pulled her along the sidewalk.
They followed the bird for a few minutes until it swooped down and disappeared behind a tree beside the path they were on.
"It went behind that tree!" said Wendy, heaving and out of breath from running, "The treasure's buried there!"
Wilma joined Wendy in her giggles as they neared the tree. As they were about to follow where the bluebird disappeared around the tree, a woman stepped out from behind it, causing the children to screech to a halt in front of her.
The woman smirked and rested her hands on her hips, "My, my… What have we here…?" she chuckled.
Wendy squeezed Wilma's hand tighter and stepped back. Their laughing faces were nowhere to be found.
"Please, don't be afraid," said the woman as she held up her hands, "I don't mean you any harm."
"I h-haven't seen you before…" Wendy nearly whimpered, keeping Wilma behind herself.
"I'm… new around here," the woman explained with curious, blue eyes, "My name is Daisy. Nice to meet you."
The little girls said nothing.
Daisy smiled sweetly as she noticed the girls staring at her arm, "You like my tattoo?"
"Birdie…" Wilma cooed.
Daisy chuckled, "Yeah. It's a raven. Although, I'd say I like blue jays better."
The girls shared a look and Wendy loosened her grip on Wilma's hand.
Daisy raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side, "What are you kids doing all by yourself? Are you lost?"
Wendy checked the area for any hint of where they were and frowned, "No…"
Daisy hummed amusedly and scanned the street.
Wendy followed Daisy's gaze and found some well-known neighbors watching from all around the street.
Daisy momentarily nibbled at her lip and smiled at the two girls, "How about I show you kids the rest of the way to… 'Miss Cindy's' house?"
"My parents said I can't go anywhere with strangers," said Wendy, unsure.
"Especially if they have candy!" Wilma added.
Daisy nodded, "That's wise of them… Maybe it would be better if you went with my friend…"
The woman disappeared behind the tree, and, not a moment later, the bluebird flew over Wendy and Wilma and landed in front of them on the sidewalk.
Wendy looked back and forth between the little bluebird and the tree. She let go of Wilma's hand and quickly ran around it.
"Magic!" Wendy shouted as she gripped Wilma's hand again, "The lady is gone!"
Wilma stared at the bluebird, "The birdie is back."
"Yeah, he's friends with the short-haired lady," Wendy reminded, "She said so."
Wendy turned her attention to the bird, "Hey, Birdie… Do you know where Miss Cindy's house is?"
The bluebird chirped and turned around.
"I think that means 'yes.' What about you, Wilma?"
"Uh-huh," Wilma nodded.
Wendy giggled and smooched Wilma's cheek as she patted her head, "Okay, Birdie! Lead the way!"
Yang let out a satisfied sigh as she enjoyed the way the wind carried her hair. There was nothing more satisfying and comfortable than cruising through Patch on a hot summer day with the windows rolled down.
She adjusted her sunglasses as she glanced at her passenger seat where Weiss was currently humming an angelic tune.
Today, Weiss had decided to let her hair down instead of having it in her signature side-tail. Although she always looked gorgeous, Yang had to admit she savored the image of Weiss in this state. So loose and relaxed…
"Hey, Weiss," said Yang.
Weiss smiled at Yang, "Yes?"
"I love you."
"I see you've taken my advice to heart," Weiss laughed, "I love you too."
"I'm making sure I say it enough," Yang smiled back, "And you're going to let me pay you back for that massage, by the way."
"What makes you think I wouldn't want that?"
"You have this nasty habit where you'll do something nice for someone and then not let them do something nice for you back."
"I do not," Weiss chuckled, "I just don't want them to feel obligated to repay me for doing something that I wanted to do."
"That's not what you said in the bath," Yang smirked and winked at Weiss.
Weiss did her best to hold back her smile but ended up bursting into laughter, regardless.
"Gotta love post-orgasm Weiss," Yang chuckled as she turned the car onto a different street.
"What are you talking about?" Weiss asked as she came down from her laughter, "This is how I am normally."
"No, it's not," Yang teased.
"It is, too," Weiss lightly slapped Yang's shoulder, "How am I, right now, any different from how I am normally?"
"Well, for one thing, you just laughed at a sex joke," Yang smiled.
Weiss tried to hide her smile with her hand, "Drat… You're right," she giggled.
"And you're still giggling like Wendy."
"Okay! Okay! You've proven your point," Weiss laughed.
Yang chuckled to herself as she pulled into Ruby and Blake's driveway. She took her keys from the ignition and stepped out of the car.
"I hope the kids didn't give Ruby and Blake too much trouble," said Weiss, "Especially with Wendy's nightmares."
"I'm sure Wendy slept like a baby with her cousins around," said Yang, rolling her eyes, "They probably stayed up all night."
Yang knocked on the door and waited a moment until Blake opened it with a smile, "Hey, Yang. I didn't think you were coming, Weiss."
"I probably shouldn't have, but I thought I could spare a few minutes to pick up the kids with Yang," Weiss smiled.
Blake stepped aside to let Weiss and Yang inside, "Come on in. We can have some tea while the kids pack up."
"Okay… I suppose we could stay a little while," said Weiss as she and Yang made their way to the living room.
"Hey, guys!" Ruby greeted as she jumped up from her seat on the couch and hugged Weiss and Yang, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Weiss and Yang said, simultaneously.
"I would feel even better right now if I didn't have exactly fifty-eight unread messages from yesterday," Weiss added.
The three women laughed as Blake smiled and walked to the sliding door that led to the back yard.
"Yelena! Nyssa! Auntie Yang and Auntie Weiss are here!" Blake called out, only to furrow her brows at the lack of a response, "Kids…? Hm…"
"What's up, Blake?" Yang asked as she plopped down on the couch.
"I thought the kids were in the back yard, but they must be upstairs in the twins' room," Blake mused.
"Yeah, I think I saw the twins come through here earlier," said Ruby as she sat down beside Yang.
"Ah, good," said Blake as she stood at the base of the stairs, "Girls! Auntie Yang is here!" she called.
The women were silent as they awaited the sound of tiny feet coming down the stairs.
"Huh… I guess they don't like me anymore," chuckled Yang.
"No, they love you," said Blake, "They should've been on top of you by now."
"Maybe their asleep?" Weiss asked, worriedly.
"Let me go check on them," said Blake as she started up the stairs.
"I'll come too," said Weiss, following Blake.
"Girls?" Blake called as she hurriedly pushed the little girls' bedroom door open, "Oh… There you are," she sighed in relief.
Yelena and Nyssa froze and stared at Blake as Weiss came up behind her.
Blake looked around the room and tilted her head, confused, "Girls, where are your cousins?"
Yelena shrugged as Nyssa shyly looked away while mumbling something.
"What do you mean you don't know? They were with you all day," said Blake as she looked at Weiss' wide eyes, "Weiss?"
"They must be hiding somewhere," said Weiss, hurriedly.
Blake nodded and called down the stairs, "Yang, come up here!"
A moment later, Yang was upstairs with Ruby not far behind, "What's up."
"Help me look through the rooms up here," said Blake, "I think Wendy and Wilma are hiding somewhere."
"Oh, I've got an easy fix for that," smirked Yang as she cupped her hands around her mouth, "Wendy! Wilma! Come out or I'm calling your mother!"
Yang's smile slowly faded away as the seconds ticked. She shared a look with Blake and went with her to start looking.
"Oh… no…" said Weiss as she placed a hand on her head and leaned against the wall.
"Weiss…" Ruby consoled as she kept Weiss from sliding down the wall, "Everything will be okay. They're probably just playing hide and seek."
Weiss clutched her chest as her breathing began to become shallow.
After a few more minutes, Yang and Blake returned to Weiss and Ruby. The frowns on their faces said it all.
"Weiss, I am so sorry," said Blake with a pained expression, "I swear they were here an hour ago…"
"Oh, no… No…"
Yang reached out for Weiss, but took her hand back, "They couldn't have gotten far. Ruby, I need you to search the town and Signal Academy. You can do it quickly with your semblance."
"We'll find them, Yang," Ruby nodded as she disappeared in a puff of rose petals.
"Yang, I—"
"It's fine, Blake," Yang cut her off as she took Weiss' hand and gave her to Blake, "Take Weiss home. I'm taking my car and searching the neighborhoods."
Blake frowned and nodded.
"Girls, get in the car," Blake ordered the twins.
Yang spun on her heel and dashed down the stairs. She knew her kids could not have gotten far.
A/N: So... That happened. Sorry for the cliff hanger, but I had to split this huge chapter somewhere. Stay tuned, and please leave a review!