November 16th

City of Atlas

United Kingdom of Atlas

Downtown

6:11 PM

Emmeline continued to pace briskly around her apartment while Emmett watched her in concern. She was on the phone, again, and tension continued to ride through the air. Since the day of the funeral and the comments made by the family and Sassler, she had received a maddening amount of calls from various council members and military colleagues and advisors – all of whom were less than pleased by what she and the president had said. At first, she had tried to keep the content of the calls private from him but, once she had been pushed too far, she had since given up and left her scroll on speaker as she continued to argue with various people. The arguments took rather nasty turns at a shockingly quick pace; even Winchester had thrown, not only his usual comments about her competency, a few snide remarks in about her family.

There were a few that kept bringing these conversations back around every few days, which, he knew, did terrible things to her temper. Click after click of her heels on the floor often was followed by angry grunts and muttering. Most of the time, it seemed, after she finished dealing with these people and the onslaught of opposition, she just was pissy for a while before she found a reason to have a drink with him on the balcony to stop thinking for an hour or two. The way things were turning, it looked like this was going to turn out to be one of those days. She'd been on call with Rebecca Neale for over three hours, finding a ridiculous amount of ways to rephrase the same thing in direct succession.

"Neale, for God's sake, I did what I thought was necessary," Emmeline said, forcing herself to be calm. "I did what I felt was right and I do not appreciate your comments on the choices I've made in regard to this matter."

"...Lieutenant Commander Ciel, honestly, you and your family and Sassler were supposed to –"

"Which we did," She said tensely. "We did express our feelings of loss, but we also informed the people of the state. I'm sorry if you don't understand what grief is doing to my family but -"

"...The truth hurts. Why couldn't you have just given them reassuring words of hope like we suggested?"

"That would have been insulting to my father's memory and for all his faults I am not going to accept people like you devaluing his sacrifices and the things he did for this country," She said sharply. "And, as you ought to know, we've had decades of peace, and you should know as well as the rest of us that there is no way that it will last. You've seen what's been changing in the world. Initially peaceful groups are resorting to violence, the grimm are growing stronger, people are disappearing and turning up dead like it's some twisted –"

"...Here is what I don't understand about your family. Reasonably, of course, you all support greater security, your brother has placed restrictions on the Schnee Dust Company through the legislature, etc, etc. Yet you all refuse to support taking military action against Mistral for what happened to several members of the council and then of course there's Emmett Schnee and your personal trysts with him. Not only that, you all are then are audacious enough to admit to the entire kingdom that we are at risk of losing our time of peace –"

"Which is true, and you know it. I just explained that, do not make me do so again," Emmeline paused but then went on. "Neale, listen to me and so help me if you don't. Inciting war is the last thing any of us want to do. Yes, I am aware that a lack of action in the face of a serious threat to an ally was what got Jansen –"

"...You are toeing the same line that Jansen did!"

"Neale," Emmeline snapped. "Shut the fuck up."

"...So, you admit that I'm pissing you off. I have to admit, it's pretty obvious. Never heard you tell anyone to 'shut the fuck up' before. Interesting change in diction though, I must say."

"I don't know why it seems that your major goal in life is to be a thorn in my backside, Neale, but I am not going to take back what I did, none of us will," Emmeline shook her head. "It is completely true that we are slowly losing our grip on peace. Whether or not we lose that peace in one year or, I don't know, maybe eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years is up to chance. I took the chance I was given to tell the truth and honor my father's memory. It's not as if I had decided to tell the entire kingdom about the aura –"

"...Make one comment about how it's ethical grey area that we're treading in and I swear –"

"It is, though. It is not ethically grey, however, to inspire false hope in the people or dishonor a man's sacrifice," Emmeline sighed. "That is just wrong. I cannot do that which is why I didn't. My family…Sassler and I are on the exact same page with regard to that. And you know what else? I have even more reasons for doing what I did that, if only you knew, could change your entire perspective on the world that we live in."

"...Some military bullshit, I assume. A report from one of your special operatives?"

"You would do well to watch your language, Neale." Emmeline said sharply.

"...You're one to talk. You were the one who just threw around the term 'fuck'. Seems to me like the attacks a few days after that speech with Sassler has made you paranoid."

"Neale –" Emmeline began dangerously.

"...No, I'll leave you alone now. After all, we don't want one of the people running our army to lose their mind."

The line clicked dead and Emmeline shut her scroll off in anger and frustration. Slamming it down on the counter before plugging it into the wall, she let her emotions show through on her face. Emmett sighed as she continued to pace, her heels clicking dangerously. It was six thirty and the sun had been down for a few hours now. Walking over to the refrigerator, he pulled out two beers and handed one to her. Taking it sharply from him, she slowly left her façade behind and allowed the two of them some peace to relax in. Embracing him tightly for a moment, she tried to put all her thoughts out of her head that weren't related to the two of them. As difficult as that was, she did so enough to feel better than she had. An hour passed, followed by another and she was almost calm by the time the doorbell rang and Emmett was met by the last person he wanted to see.

"What are you doing here?" Emmett asked of his brother in law who followed him inside as he slammed the door behind them in annoyance.

"I'm not here because of you, for once. I need to speak to Emmeline, regarding her brother." Though his expression was an attempt at neutrality, Emmett saw right through to what he was really getting at. Annoyance spread through him as he crossed his arms before responding.

"About what, might I ask?" Emmett raised an eyebrow. "Listen, I know this might be hard for you to understand, but -"

"I wanted to tell her that I thought they did the right thing," Jacques said silkily. "It could not have been easy to do as they did even with Sassler, to tell the people –"

"Really?" Emmett smirked upon realizing that he had yet another personal reason to hate the man.

"Excuse me?" Jacques said, narrowing his eyes.

Emmett responded to the lack of subtlety directly. "You know just as well as I do that the only reason you're here is because –"

"Jacques, no matter what anyone says, Ronnie's not lifting any of the restrictions he's convinced the legislature to place on the SDC no matter what you tell me or him. So, unless there is something so pertinent that you have knowledge of that involves Emmett that you need to be here for, get out." Emmeline slid down the banister and landed perfectly at the end.

Jacques rolled his eyes. "Emmeline, it really isn't just about profits –"

"Bullshit," She said bluntly. "That's exactly what it's about. You're losing profits because my brother is trying to restrain the unethical business practices that you –"

"The United Kingdom of Atlas –" He started.

"Oh, will you just get over the fact that we're not going to bend to your will?" Emmeline rolled her eyes. "No one will, don't you see. I know full well that –"

"What are you talking about?" Jacques demanded. "You want to do what's best –"

"I am not pushing back against temporarily closing our borders because of what has been happening with regard to the –" Emmeline started.

"You –" Jacques began.

"Shut up!" Emmeline snapped, everything about her beyond angry. "What I was saying was that the threat of grimm attack is higher in the kingdom than it has ever been. Not only that but, ever since what happened to the council members who were in Mistral months ago, I'm under constant surveillance because I'm at high risk, especially with what happened to my dad! Those have only increased that concern, so forgive me if my patience is running thin."

"Just get out," Emmett told him and, to his surprise, he did as Emmett insisted though not with a deep glare.

Once he was gone, Emmeline sighed in pure irritation. Unable to think of anything else to do, Emmett brought her into him and let her silently vent. Minute after minute passed while her breathing was on and off between steady and erratic. Shifting to take her hand and head upstairs, he himself began to grow nervous. The second that he saw the breaking news story on his scroll was the same second he thought he was going to lose her too. His third-year class had just let out and he was supposed to have a meeting with the rest of the staff when it was suddenly cancelled, and the news report came through alongside the cancellation from General Tanner. Things were growing steadily worse, and the attacks in September had only worsened that. All they served to do was make it clear that things really were getting more dangerous out there, and the last thing anyone needed was to have their guard down.

November 30th

Location: Unknown

7:37 PM

"Sit," Salem commanded her apprentice as they entered the conference hall. Cinder did as she was told, questions and observations flashing through her mind one after the other and then disappearing. "Let me be clear, you still have much work to do. However, you did well in providing the world with a warning and a scare."

Shock swept over Cinder's expression against her will. "I know that President Ciel and the council members assassinations were a warning, but what was the scare? I thought the bomb was supposed to kill Emmeline."

"We're not going to kill her… at least not quite yet. It wouldn't do us any good to kill her right now; after all, the only reason we'll kill her eventually is to prove that no one is safe. Not even Atlas can be out of our firing range." Salem circled around the ovular table before she stopped in front of Cinder, who visibly tensed. "Don't feel bad for them, Cinder, how many times do I have to tell you that?"

"I'm sorry." Cinder bowed her head as she tried to avoid the inflamed gaze of the Queen.

"Look up," Salem shook her head at the expression worn by the young woman. "Remorse is doing you no good, it is only holding you back. If you ever want to be better than them…you need to remove yourself from them to. Now: get out of my sight."

December 2nd

2nd Floor

Bushwood Apartment Complex

City of Vale

Vale

9:37 PM

Glynda let herself back into the apartment after her meeting with Emmett, Emmeline, and Ozpin. Things weren't looking much better, but they also weren't looking much worse. It was a relief to know that they were at a point of relative stability, but it was a dangerous point that they could easily tip off of. President Ciel's death had been the catalyst. Even knowing this, though, she was starting to feel better about herself now that her things were more under control. Things in Atlas were worrying to her, and it was in part due to her worries about the world the girls had been brought into. Still, she wasn't feeling conflicted or pressured in regard to her work with Ozpin's group and the girls had, more or less, settled into a fairly steady routine. James was always there for her to lean on, even when she couldn't understand how he could with his military work and constant deployments. She was losing track of the amount of times they had lashed out at each other and they were still been there for one another.

Reattaching her crop to her boot, she tried to be as quiet as possible. He had been at home all day with the girls and if the three of them were asleep it wouldn't do anyone any good if they woke up. That was especially true when it came to the girls. She was wrong, though, because, when she looked up after sliding her boots up against the wall, James stepped into the living room with a smile. She sighed as she put down her cape before she curled into him on the couch. As she let him hold her, she closed her eyes and tried to not think about everything that she was worried about. His fingers softly messed with her hair as she laid there in her temporary moment of bliss, but he knew that she was nervous. Her cramps had been steadily getting worse and the painkillers weren't helping anymore, so she stopped taking them. She shifted suddenly every time one happened.

Eventually her glasses fell off her face and struck the floor. Using her semblance, she pulled them into her hand and then placed them back on her face, but she didn't look much better. If anything, she looked like she was in more pain than she already was in. Slowly, she forced herself to get off the couch and shower. The hot water and steam helped but it didn't stop them entirely. An hour passed before she shut off the water and changed into her pyjamas. The girls were still asleep and, after her hair was brushed out and reasonably dry, as she came back out into the living room, she was relieved that James was still there. He had changed as well, but other than that it felt as if nothing had changed. Curling into him on the couch once more, she began to feel better. Leaning over to kiss her forehead, he sighed as he brought her closer to him. It wasn't long before they both drifted off to sleep, but for her it wasn't restful.

The creatures of grimm in the desolate city that had long since abandoned were growing in number. Flicking her crop, she knocked several back, but they kept coming back. Running into one of the buildings for temporary shelter, a scream escaped her as she found herself with a glass sword at her neck. The woman's face was undefined, but there was fire in her eyes, and she looked as if she had been lonely for too long. With her crop as her focus tool for her semblance, she pushed the sword away from her and the woman vanished into thin air. Hesitantly walking through the corridor, she felt more and more on edge. It wasn't until she ran into Emmett that she knew it was a dream. As much as he looked like her friend, he was not him. Silently attempting to kill her, Glynda barely missed the shots he swung her way. Noticing a sniper rifle on the ground, she picked it up and fired it at him. The recoil was strong, however, and it knocked her backwards. Falling into the dark abyss, it almost felt like she was going to die...die…die…

Eyes fluttering open calmly in spite of everything she had just seen, Glynda took a moment to observe her surroundings. James was no longer beneath her. He was across the room with his work clothes back on again in the kitchen making what smelled like earl grey tea with lemon. Quickly pulling the blanket off of herself, she looked around for her glasses next and relief spread over her as her hand found them on the table next to the couch. As soon as they were back on her face, she poked her head into her and James's room to check on the girls. They were soundly asleep. Ivy was sucking on her thumb and Caitlin had an arm tightly around her bear. The clock read 4:06 AM and, though it was still dark outside, the city lights poured through the windows. Coming back into the kitchen, she sighed as he handed her the tea and twisted her hair together before letting it cascade naturally down her back.

"Please don't tell me I woke you up." The look on his face said it all and she let out a soft sound of irritation. "I'm sorry –"

"Don't be, really don't be." Giving her a squeeze to prove that it really was okay, he was relieved when she nodded. "Were you having another nightmare?"

She nodded as she remembered it. "You know just as well as I do that they're awful."

"I know…was it another one where the people you care about turn on you?" He asked softly, not wanting to upset her even a little.

"This time it was Emmett. I've gotten to the point where I know they're dreams, but it doesn't make it any easier to have to fight the people you care about for your life even if it isn't real." Shaking her head as she placed down the tea, she let him pull her in. "It's worse when it's our teammates."

"Glynda –" He said gently.

"Not right now," She said, sighing. "I don't want to think about it."

"I'm right here for you," James kissed her forehead. "Please don't worry."

She nodded. "I love you..."

Closing her eyes as he comforted her, she pushed her fears away and tried to come back down. The last thing anyone needed was to fall below the waves and into the abyss.