January 3rd
Government Offices of the Atlesian Council
Department of Foreign Affairs and Military Action
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Uptown
9:35 AM

"Eliza," Admiral Winchester said jovially, entering her office. "I like what you've done with the place. I see models of ships were not your forte."

She laughed weakly. "You're retired, sir. You don't have to check in on me."

"I feel obliged to," He replied. "You are, after all, my successor. I feel the need to check in on you just as much as I feel the need to do so with my own son and his family."

Elizabeth sighed. "Everything's fine, you needn't worry."

"How has Karissa liked being raised to your former position?" He asked. "I assumed she'd be thrilled to no longer have to take notes at meetings and instead be viewed as semi-important in them."

"She won't show it, especially since she's only come to a few meetings since Matthew and Percival were born," Elizabeth said with a faint smile. "But I know full well that she does. She never expected to progress so quickly, especially with being a mother, but, honestly, she wouldn't keep getting promoted if she didn't work her ass off all the time and we didn't like her."

"Quite true," Winchester agreed. "You know, when you think about it, the military is akin to an exclusive club in its own right. Us admirals and generals, after all, are exclusive and decide who gets to join our ranks and who doesn't."

Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. "Sounds to me like you've denied plenty of people a rise before."

"And you would be correct," He replied. "I never took the power given to me lightly, and I hope that people remember that of me."

"Your reputation is remarkable," Elizabeth stared at him almost incredulously. "It was part of why I was so surprised you vouched for me."

Winchester shook his head. "Elizabeth, there should not be surprise there. I value honesty and justice above all else and you brought that forth at great personal risk. Rebecca Neale has been stripped of her position and will likely end up behind bars after her trial wraps, and you provided information that has proven invaluable. It also shed light onto the details of a remarkably serious and devastating matter. If that did not make you worthy to become the chair of the Atlesian National Security Council, then I sincerely doubt anything else would have."

She was given pause and tapped her nails against her desk in anxious thought.

"Thank you, Admiral Winchester," She said after a moment. "I think I needed that."

"Of course, Eliza," He said with a smile. "But I hope you know I am telling you the truth and nothing more. Flattery is not my style, after all."

"I believe you," She said with a faint smile. "You have always told people things as you perceive them."

"That is the best thing someone in a position of power can do," Winchester said, then shaking his head. "I have to say, Elizabeth, you're taking all of this surprisingly well. Most people given power like yours – especially considering you're only in your thirties – would have had an inflated ego."

She eyed him critically for a moment. "I still think you are giving me more credit than I deserve."

"If that's what you believe, then I sincerely hope that you'll grow into the position," Winchester said, rubbing his neck. "I have great faith in you, Elizabeth, and I hope that you do not prove me wrong."

"I do too," She said softly. "I have more to atone to than I…"

Her eyes drifted to her scroll, noticing a new message from Tai.

"You're doing better, aren't you?" Winchester sent her a knowing smile. "Perhaps we'll be able to move forward, and wouldn't that be a treat for us all…"

January 23rd
City of Vale
Vale
Downtown
2:34 PM

"Look who I brought with me!" Emmett said happily as Glynda laughed and he stepped into her and James' apartment. "Little Samara!"

He set down his two bags and the carrier his daughter was in. She had been looking around curiously the whole time, or, at least, while she hadn't been sleeping.

"Emmy's at a meeting with some people on the base," Emmett told her. "I assume James is at work?"

She nodded. "Yes, but, at the very least, he's staying at home for the next few months."

"The girls asleep?" Emmett asked, leaning down, smiling at his daughter and lightly tickling her, causing the little girl to giggle. "Or are they hiding?"

"Caity's napping, but Ivy's playing with her dolls," Glynda replied, shutting the door behind him. "She would be a mess without them, but I think she'll wake up soon."

Emmett winked. "That's fair enough. How are you, though?"

Glynda sighed. "I'm fine, Emmett. Exhausted, perhaps, but fine."

He smiled. "Good, although maybe you need a nap just as much as your daughter."

"It's not that much of a problem, Emmett," She said, tiredly raking her fingers through her hair. "Besides, I don't go back to work until mid-March."

"A relief if we ever knew one," He remarked with a small chuckle. "I doubt I could handle those teenagers if I had to teach them all year-round."

"Speaking of which, Barty told me just the other day that you're going to have to start planning your own lessons with Spencer," Glynda sent him an amused but pointed look. "I still don't know how you two convinced him to let you both mooch off of his lesson plans from before he finished his doctoral thesis."

"In fairness, Karissa was pregnant at the time and Spence had a lot to think about," Emmett shrugged. "I merely reaped the rewards."

Samara started whining, reaching out from where she was in her carrier, and tried to reach Emmett.

"Hey, Sammie," He said, unbuckling her and bouncing her gently in his arms. "How are you doing, honey? You need anything?"

"Mommy!" Ivy cried from her room. "I hungry!"

"I'll be there in a minute," Glynda called back, quickly stepping over to the fridge, pulling out a bottle, and then grabbing a small bag of fruit snacks from the cabinet. "Sorry, Emmett."

He shrugged whilst he held baby Samara tightly in his arms and followed Glynda back into Ivy's room. The two-year-old perked up considerably upon seeing her mother and started on her bottle almost immediately. Ivy smiled and seemed content for a long time until she looked to her mother with wide eyes. Slowly, she started nibbling on her fruit snacks and bubbling to herself.

"Shh, Ivy," Glynda murmured, sitting down on the floor next to her daughter. "You don't want to wake your sister up."

"I wanna play…" The two-year-old whined, making herself look rather pitiful.

"You know Caity's no fun when she gets woken up," Glynda gently reminded her. "She gets cranky."

Ivy pouted. "Aww…"

"Hey, Ivy," Emmett said, awkwardly crouching down near her. "You remember Sammie, don't you?"

Ivy hesitantly glanced at the baby in his arms and then waved excitedly. Samara giggled in response.

"This is my daughter," He told her. "You two can play if you want, but be nice, okay? Sammie's still itty bitty."

He adjusted himself so his daughter could sit up against him. She happily reached for Ivy's surprisingly long hair and the two-year-old started laughing.

"At least they get along," Glynda remarked, half under her breath. "Hopefully things will improve by the time they have a right to know what's really going on in the room where it happens."

Emmett sighed. "It does seem like things are getting worse, doesn't it?"

"They'll be okay," She said, glancing to where her eldest daughter was still sound asleep. "She sleeps like a rock sometimes and other times she's so sensitive to everything. To tell you the truth, James and I are both worried about her. She's doesn't want to socialize like other kids, and she's extremely attached to me. I have no idea what it will be like when they start preschool in a few years, I really don't."

"But, for a two-year-old, she's smart as hell," Emmett countered. "Honestly, Glynda, I know why you're worried – any parent would be – but she'll find a way. I can't imagine it otherwise. She's already above average, and she's surprisingly opinionated. She'll be fine, and I'll tell James the exact same thing."

"I know," She said, staring at her hands for a moment. "Regardless, she's my baby girl. I can't help but worry about her. I'm not saying I don't worry about Ivy – because I do, albeit in different ways – but it's different. They're both…they're both above average, and they're both…"

"Glynda, think about it this way," Emmett said as gently as he could. "You and James are two of the most capable people I know. I hardly think your kids would be any different."

"You sound like him," She said quietly. "Maybe it is nothing. I could very well be paranoid."

"You're not paranoid," Emmett said, looking amused as he took his glasses back from his daughter, who had moved to snatch them off his face. "If anyone on our team is paranoid, it's me. Emmy's even said as much. I'm constantly in a state of anxiety about her, about Samara, hell, even about you guys and the rest of my family. You're a mother, Glynda, and a damn good mother too."

She rolled her eyes. "I suppose you always have been over-the-top."

"The other day I used my end-of-year bonus to get that fur coat I've been eyeing since I was twenty," He grinned mischievously. "Emmy was pretty pissed, at first, but she got over it quickly when she realized it annoyed the hell out of Ronnie. Not that annoying him is difficult."

Glynda raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to get yourself into trouble?"

"I honestly don't give a damn what Ronnie thinks of me," Emmett admitted. "Come to think of it, I don't think Emmy does either and he's her brother. All and all, as long as we don't overstep too far, he doesn't care and, anyway, he's got far more pressing things on his mind at the moment and believe me when I say they have absolutely nothing to do with his status as a popular senator."

"I'm almost afraid to ask," She remarked, lifting up Caitlin as she started to stir and rocking her gently in her arms. "But what exactly does that mean?"

"Ronnie's been seeing someone," Emmett said with a coy smile. "And you will never guess who it is."

"That I fully believe," She replied, delicately adjusting her thin glasses. "But, go on. Who is Ronnie seeing?"

"Rosella Katt," Emmett smirked. "I didn't even have to lift a finger to uphold the deal I made with him. The two of them met on their own because Ronnie had something pressing to address with Spencer and she stole my shoes and left them on my fucking car."

Glynda eyed him curiously for a moment. "She stole your shoes and left them on top of your car?"

"I was annoyed when I saw it, to be honest," He admitted. "My wife thought it was hilarious, but I disagree. And, yes, Ronnie and Ella have been seeing each other since about the end of May, I think."

"I genuinely have no idea how to respond to that," Glynda said, laughing a little at the thought. "So, that's about eight months now?"

"Yep," Emmett confirmed, perhaps far too cheerfully. "Yet Ronnie is no less of an asshole to the rest of us. Funny how that works."

"Don't be pretentious," Glynda said teasingly. "After all, you're well known for being a diva."

Emmett winked. "That I am."

February 3rd
Patch
6:13 PM

Tai glanced at his phone and smiled upon seeing another new message from Elizabeth.

"What's got you so happy?" Qrow pressed, pouring him a drink. "You've seemed light-hearted recently."

"I've…been seeing someone," He said cautiously. "For about a few months now, officially."

Summer raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"It's still sort of new, Summer," Tai said awkwardly. "Please don't press me on the subject."

"You know we're going to," Qrow told him. "There's nowhere to hide in this town."

"That's threatening," Tai said dryly. "I don't know if I feel safe in my own home anymore."

Qrow snorted. "That all you've got?"

Summer giggled. "We're going to burn your house down."

"You all live here too," Tai sent her an irritated look. "Can you not press it?"

"We're going to," Qrow repeated. "Spill, Tai. Who are you seeing?"

He sighed heavily, seeing no way out of it. "I've been seeing Elizabeth Morell," He finally said. "She and I met back towards the end of September while I was in Atlas and things have slowly escalated from there."

Summer clasped her hands together excitedly. "That's wonderful!"

"I disagree," Qrow said, scowling at Tai. "Seriously, you're dating the chair of the Atlesian National Security Council? Those are the same people that think they're better than rest of us because they live in the freest nation in the world and are the greatest kingdom. You're dating someone like that?"

"Eliza isn't a bitch, if that's what you're implying," Tai said tersely. "And she's been remarkably gentle with Yang –"

"She's been with Yang?" Qrow dropped his flask in disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Just because you've got issues with certain people there doesn't mean they're all bad," Tai reminded him. "Your issues are with the Schnees, not the entire kingdom, Qrow."

Qrow began to respond but was sharply elbowed by Summer and fell silent.

"Sorry," He finally said. "I know things have been hard for you."

"Better," Summer murmured.

"Speaking of relationships," Tai said, relieved to have the upper hand for even a moment. "What's been going on between the two of you?"

Summer immediately turned red. "Tai!"

"That might be all I need to know," He remarked, sending Qrow a pointed look. "Funny how the tables have turned."

"You ain't getting anything interesting out of us if we ain't getting anything interesting out of you," He gruffly replied. "If you want details, you better pay us back in kind."

Summer kicked him under the table. "That was one time," She hissed. "And we agreed to be careful because we're not ready to…"

"I know, I know," He said putting his hands up in surrender. "I won't get into it."

Summer let out a heavy breath of relief. "Thank you."

"Oh, and Tai?" Qrow picked up the blender nearby on the counter. "I will literally pay you to let me keep this fruit ninja thing as my drink mixer. Do we have any takers?"

He glowered but behind it was a surprising amount of joy that none of them had seen in him since Raven had left. It seemed that he, like them, was moving forward. If only the peace could last.

February 19th
Schnee Family Manor
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
3:16 PM

Willow Schnee smirked faintly when she saw a new text message pop up from her brother.

"See, Weiss," Willow murmured, letting her baby girl grab her finger. "Not everything is terrible."

Something had shifted since her second daughter had been born or, perhaps more accurately, since her brother's wedding. She had done her best to mend fences with her siblings, in part because it set a good precedence for Winter but also because she had felt genuinely guilty for lashing out at them. It had been difficult, at first, but the fact that Emmett was openly forgiving had helped. She knew she had slipped into a lower mood the first few months after Weiss had been born, but things had improved of late. Even with the continued targeting of the company in Vacuo by the new prime minister, Jacques had been careful in controlling his temper and it was because of that she believed things between them were on the upswing. He had been genuinely affectionate, calmed her down from a spell or two, and had forgiven her for the times she snapped. He had been far more patient with Winter, too, although the thirteen-year-old was hesitant to accept any affection from her father at best. At the very least, she seemed to adore her sister.

"Mother?" Winter nervously lingered in the doorway. "May I come in?"

Willow smiled. "Of course, Winter."

She hesitantly stepped in, shifting her weight between her heels and her toes.

"Hi, Weiss," She said, sitting down on the other side of her sister. "Are you doing well?"

The little girl merely shifted her head towards her sister and smiled.

"I'll take that as a yes," Winter said, awkwardly rubbing her neck and then glancing to her mother. "Are you feeling better?"

"I only had a bit of a cold," Willow reminded her, gently resting a hand over hers. "Really, Winter, I'm okay. Last year was just a bit rough for all of us."

Winter began to pick at her nails; a nervous habit she had been trying to stop to little avail.

"I just…" She sighed heavily, ignoring the fact that her hair was hanging over her eyes. "Mother, I just feel so…angry all of the time and I don't always know where it's coming from but it scares me. I don't get along well with most of my classmates, and I don't have very many friends. It's almost as if…it's almost as if there's something wrong with me."

Willow was silent for a long moment, unsure of what to say.

"Winter, listen to me," She said, brushing her daughter's bangs away from her face. "There is nothing wrong with you. You are thirteen years old: of course your emotions are giving you hell. Not to mention the fact that you have a difficult time balancing the heavy course load your taking and you're only in the seventh grade or that you have your training with Emmett, or the challenging relationship you've had with your father since Weiss was born."

Winter bit her lip. "Are you angry with me for insisting she inherit the company instead of me?"

Willow hesitated, knowing that it had not been entirely the young girl's choice, however it might appear to her now.

"I think you were rash in your decision," She finally said. "But if this is the path you want to take, then I will support you. I know that you're trying to do what you believe is right and, even if that doesn't align with my view or your father's, the fact remains that you are our child and we love you."

Winter suddenly lifted up her hand and brushed them over her eyes, almost as if she were ashamed that she had started to cry.

"Win…" Willow said gently. "There's nothing wrong with being emotional. You're not a robot, after all."

"And what if they get in my way?" She said quietly. "What if they prevent me from getting into Atlas Academy or even joining the military?"

"There's a difference between letting them control you and acknowledging how you feel," Willow replied, smiling weakly when Winter started to play with her sister. "I should have figured it out sooner, Winter, but emotions can grant you strength so long as you don't let them overpower you."

She stared down at her hands again, but Willow could have sworn she caught a faint smile.

February 24th
City of Atlas
Atlas
Downtown
6:54 PM

"Rosella?" Spencer raised an eyebrow when he pulled open the door. "What are you…"

"Ella!" Ronnie all but slammed his brother into the wall upon reaching the door and affectionately drew her in. He slammed the door shut with his foot and ignored the nasty look Spencer was giving him. "I am so glad you made it. Was traffic rough?"

"Not at all," She replied, her tail flicking happily. "I just had to finish up some paperwork since term starts again in a little over two weeks."

"I told you, Sammie," Emmett said, tickling his baby girl. "You're going to be coming to work with daddy, okay? I'm a little boring, but hopefully that means you'll take a nap while I teach."

"And hopefully she'll be the only one napping," Spencer remarked, pulling himself up off the floor and dusting himself off. "Otherwise, I think your job might be at stake."

Emmett rolled his eyes. "I really don't think there are people lining up in droves to teach a bunch of emotionally repressed teenagers about history."

Karissa glanced to him warily. "Where the hell do you two think you work? When I officially return in April, should I be concerned about where you take our kids every day?"

Spencer squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Not at all," He said softly. "Emmett's exaggerating."

Emmett shrugged. "I don't think anyone understands the meaning of the words 'emotionally repressed' until they see an eighteen year old get excited about beating the shit out of a dummy," Emmett chuckled. "I have to admit, that was pretty amusing to watch. It wasn't in my class, obviously, but –"

"You wander during your planning," Spencer finished, handing Natalie her sippy cup with orange juice in it and then poking his head into his sons' room to make sure the little boys were still asleep. "And then," He added, coming back and sitting next to his wife once more. "You mooch off of my lesson plans."

"That sounds about right," Emmett admitted with a shrug. "On the other hand, would you prefer I take risks and ask them on the first day of class what they know – or think they know – about history?"

"I would prefer it if you wouldn't mooch off me," Spencer said, crossing his arms. "Although you do grade most of the papers for me, so I suppose we can call it even."

"You got your lesson plans from Barty, don't even play," Karissa said, laughing when he suddenly pulled her into him and kissed her cheek. "Well you did!"

"He offered!" Spencer protested. "And, for the record, it works!"

Ronnie looked at all of them disdainfully and, after a moment, uncomfortable silence fell over them.

"There is something you all should know," He finally said, sharing a knowing look with Rosella that softened his features considerably. "Ella and I got married two weeks ago."

More silence fell over them until Samara started to cry and Emmeline immediately started to nurse her.

"I'm sorry, what?" Karissa looked completely stunned.

"Ella and I got married two weeks ago," Ronnie repeated, sounding surprisingly patient.

Emmeline took in a sharp breath and Emmett squeezed her knee reassuringly.

"Ronnie," She started slowly, hoping not to startle her daughter. "Have you lost your mind?"

"To be honest, we both thought it was for the best," Rosella put in, although it served only to make them all look more annoyed. "Ronnie and I do have feelings for each other, and it's good for his image to be married and it got my parents to stop riding my ass on the subject."

"I need a drink," Karissa muttered.

Ronnie scowled at her when she stood up and pulled a red wine from the cabinet.

"That's a lovely example to set," He remarked dryly. "Are you trying to –"

"Ronnie, if you think you can waltz in here and tell us you married a woman you've been seeing for a matter of only a few months, then you're out of your mind," She met his stare with narrowed eyes. "I think you know it, too, whether or not you'll admit it."

"There is no reason to be judgmental," He snapped. "For instance, I don't constantly criticize Emmett for being a flamboyant little bitch, now do I?"

Emmett looked distinctly amused. "Flamboyant little bitch?"

Ronnie said nothing but appeared uncomfortable, realizing that he may have undermined his point.

"There is something else you all should know," Ronnie continued, beginning to pace. "Ella and I…were perhaps…not careful and part of why we have been hasty in this is because we will have a child in early July."

Rosella's tail perked up excitedly, but she quickly grabbed it to push it down. Ronnie only smiled, wrapped an arm around her affectionately.

"Hmmmph," Emmeline snorted. "Maybe you'll finally learn to be responsible and not step all over the laws you create in the first place."

Ronnie sent her a dark look. "That's not true, and you know it."

"Is it?" Emmeline sighed. "Well, regardless, hopefully you'll manage. I'd prefer it if my niece or nephew didn't end up in the position we did growing up with a cold mother and a distant but occasionally affectionate father."

Ronnie swallowed hard. "You have no idea how much I want to avoid making our parents mistakes…none of you do, do you?"

In the end, he never got an answer.