"Well, I suppose that means the game is to me," Dr. Caitlin Schnee smirked as she laid out her full spread. "And now you both owe me a lot of money."

Spencer shrugged. "I still don't understand why we agreed to play Crazy Eights. You always make this game live up to its name, don't you?"

She grinned childishly. "Aww, are you two jealous?"

"You are ruthless," Emmett said, pushing the pile towards her. "Now let's stop before someone gets shot."

"No one's going to get shot," Spencer rolled his eyes. "Unlike Alice, we're not crazy enough to play Vacuoian Roulette with a bunch of ex-cons."

Cate laughed. "She was going to be perfectly fine, and she was. I'm not saying I recommend it, but no one's dead. That says something, doesn't it?"

"Does it say that for once Qrow hasn't been the reason a group of people is afflicted with bad luck?" Emmett frowned and ignored another text from Sapphire. He hadn't responded to her at all, and he was still upset about the effect she was having on his family. "I think I have enough strikes against me without playing Vacuoian Roulette."

"I think my sister would object to recklessly putting yourself in danger," Spencer glanced to him nervously. "Are you still…"

"You know what, Summer should have told me she was pregnant," Emmett snapped, startling his sister and brother-in-law. "It suggests that she, at the very least, wanted to -"

"Emmett, it's not your fault," Cate said gently, then pausing and biting her lip. "Okay, so, technically, you are half-responsible for this situation but -"

"You're not helping," He mumbled, pulling off his glasses and burying his head in his hands. "You might actually be making me feel worse."

"I'm not trying to make you feel worse," She said, awkwardly embracing her brother for a moment. "But I'm telling the truth. Besides, Emmeline isn't upset, is she?"

"She says she isn't," Emmett said weakly. "And she doesn't act like she is, but -"

"Emmett, I've talked with my sister," Spencer reminded him. "She's more worried about how this is affecting you more than anything else. Sure, she's got her own feelings towards it but she knows that if you had been aware you would have told her. Honestly, if she's angry at anyone, she's angry with the dead woman that should have been forthcoming in the first place."

"I suppose that's fair," Emmett sighed. "I still can't believe this."

Cate snorted. "None of us can. Personally, I think this girl only cares because she wants either money or information. Maybe proximity to power, or possibly all three. Either way -"

"I'm wary of her," Emmett glanced to his sister and then shook his head. "Does that make me an awful parent? Or -"

"You're her parent in only the biological sense," She said shortly. "Tai is her parent in every other way, which -"

"Is more than enough reason to be suspicious," Emmett finished. "I agree, but, regardless -"

"I actually think she's right," Spencer said, rubbing his neck. "How could you have known?"

"I couldn't have," Emmett hesitated for a moment at the admission. "Well, that felt a lot better."

"Because you're telling yourself the truth, for once?" Cate suggested.

"Yes," Emmett said, running a hand through his hair.

"Good," She said. "That means you're capable of moving forward."

"I sure hope so," He sighed as he stood up. "I should probably be getting home."

"Alright," She smiled awkwardly. "Feel free to irritate me."

Emmett chuckled. "You're my sister. I always irritate you."

"That's what little brothers do," Spencer grinned. "That and make a mess."

"That sounds about right," Emmett agreed, reaching for his coat. "All things considered."

"That's right," Caitlin said quietly. "All things considered."

"Are you okay?" Spencer turned on her. "You seem a bit…"

"I'm fine," She said shortly and, perhaps, a bit too quickly. "If I weren't...then, I promise, I would say something. I am the winter maiden...after all…"

Emmeline Ciel sent her daughters a sharp look when she stepped into the room with Alice, Glynda, and James. The three girls quickly scurried off upstairs, giggling and whispering the whole time and then slamming the door. She motioned for them to sit down and pulled out a bottle of wine that Alice stared at longingly. Glynda elbowed the other woman sharply, and Alice scowled at her but said nothing. James looked to both of them rather worriedly. It seemed that something had been bothering his wife, which he knew full well had to do, to some extent, with Elizabeth's underhanding and Sassler's own, undefined aims. Oh, it seemed they had tained too little care of repercussions of all that had happened in the last month alone and the tension between them all, even in the group, seemed to be amplified.

"What's going on with you?" Emmeline finally said, handing Glynda a glass of wine and hesitantly pushing one towards Alice. "It seems like the two of you have been acting strangely."

"I'm fine," Alice insisted, taking back a long sip of wine. "Just your sister-in-law, as usual."

They all looked to her in sharp concern.

"Are you trying to drink more than Qrow?" Glynda raised an eyebrow, adjusting her glasses nervously. "Or are you trying to make a rhetorical point none of us understand?"

"I'm not," Alice mumbled. "I'm not doing either of those things, I promise."

"One would hope," Emmeline said dryly. "Al, are you sure that -"

"I'm guilty as hell and exhausted," Alice snapped, although it was weak. "Don't push me, Emily. I'm not in the mood, and I really don't have the patience."

She shook her head. "Al, if this has anything to do with Linena Scarlatina -"

"You know it does -" She started weakly.

"- You had nothing to do with what happened," Emmeline gently reminded her. "There was nothing you could have done, and -"

"What if it is my fault?" Alice found her voice to be barely a whisper. "What if I was responsible all along?"

"But you weren't," James shared a brief look with Glynda, who sighed. "Alice, I don't understand where this is coming from. You say you don't feel guilty about hating her while she was alive, but then you also seem to still -"

"So, you see my dilemma?" Alice looked as if she hadn't slept in days and the three of them realized just how much of a toll things had taken on her. "How am I supposed to be able to...to accept my position, to -"

"You were wrongly removed from your position," He countered. "There is nothing wrong with accepting it again, especially because you shouldn't have had to plead for it in the first place."

Alice swallowed hard and began to fidget with her wedding ring.

"Some of us do terrible, underhanded things to get what we think we deserve," Alice said, biting at her lip. "I am paying the price for that while, at the same time, not -"

"Alice, what the hell are you talking about?" Emmeline stared at her sister-in-law in both concern and disbelief. "Whenever you start talking about anything to do with what happened you become almost damn near impossible to understand and I -"

"Let's just let it go," Alice stared at her pleadingly. "Please. I'm a mess enough as it is already, and…"

Emmeline said nothing for a long moment while Alice broke off in sobs.

"Al…" Emmeline came over to her and gently rubbed her back. "Your own wife doesn't even know what's really bothering you. We all know something's eating away at you, but we can't help if you don't tell us the what's really happening."

"And what if that makes me a despicable human being…" She forced out through her sobs. "What if it proves that I'm not better than the rest of my family…"

"Alice, we all have done things that are questionable at best," Glynda said, trying to be reasonable but she still wasn't comforted even when James took her hand. "I wish you could believe that."

"I wish I could too," Alice softly admitted. "But I can't. Not when there's blood on my hands."

"Alice," Emmeline said calmly. "What do you mean?"

She looked up, her eyes bleary from tears. "Cate knows the truth," Alice choked out. "She hates it...but she somehow still loves me...even if she's upset. If you really want to know...then ask her."

"No, absolutely not," Annabella Sassler glowered at the man before her. "You cannot have that information, Ronnie. It is no longer in your —"

"I am a member of the Atlesian National Security Council," He replied. "And —"

"Do I need to wipe that smirk off your face?" Sassler set her hands to her hips. "Or do I need to call my security on you to have you arrested for attempted -"

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Ronnie shook his head irritably. "I am trying to do what's right in a time when so much is unstable!"

Sassler pursed her lips. "Is that so?"

Ronnie crossed his arms. "President Sassler, I want the same thing that you do. I want to keep the people safe, and I want to -"

"You want power," Sassler looked at him disdainfully. "Hmm. Perhaps you are worse than I thought."

"Says the woman sleeping with my father," Ronnie snapped.

Sassler took a step back, affronted, and, for a moment, looked her age.

"How dare you?" She exclaimed, resisting the urge to screech. "How is it that you can accuse me of such a thing -"

"It is not an accusation if it's true," Ronnie replied, seething. "Tell me: does Brian know? Do your children?"

Sassler flinched. "You really are stooping that low, aren't you?"

"I should be asking that of you," Ronnie matched her tone perfectly.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," Sassler said, crossing her arms. Her voice was more than clipped. "On what are you basing your accusation, pray tell?"

"I'm basing it on what I overheard my father saying a few days ago," Ronnie shook his head. "Now -"

"You're impossible," Sassler tossed her hair over her shoulder. "And you're lying. You're going out of your way to antagonize me, and, as it happens, you are -"

"Your denial is convincing me that you're trying to hide something," He laughed dryly. "So, tell me, what are you keeping from the rest of us?"

Sassler bristled. "Nothing that you are to be concerned of."

"Nothing?" Ronnie scowled. "Aren't you bound to tell us everything -"

"That relates to national security," Sassler sharply reminded him. "With regard to my personal life, you have no -"

"This?" Ronnie shoved a file into her hands. "I'm pretty sure I do have evidence. You can thank Roman if you see him, by the way."

Sassler took in a sharp breath. "You couldn't have gotten any of this information legally."

"I didn't do it myself," Ronnie smirked. "Again, you can thank Roman when you see him, assuming he's not afraid to show his face around here."

Sassler glowered. "Oh, is that so?"

"Well, you have your guards, and your goons," Ronnie scathingly replied. "You are no better than the rest of us, Annabella, and I think that you should take the time to realize that you are not as reasonable and perfect as the people seem to think you are. Of course...it is easy for anyone to lead in a time of peace."

"Maybe if you weren't so obsessed with power you would understand the difference between what you are describing and making difficult decisions based on what we know," Sassler eyed him sharply. "And as for this…"

Ronnie let out a sharp yell and reached out to stop her but she was faster and the file he had given her fell into the flames of the fireplace.

"If you want your secrets kept, Ronnie, perhaps you should keep those of the rest of us," She said, dusting herself off. "You see, either we all make it out of this time unscathed, or we burn together."

"You've always favored the power of fire, haven't you?" Ronnie hissed.

Sassler snorted. "And you've always favored the power of ice."

Silence fell over them while the fire crackled.

"Let me tell you a secret," Sassler said, for the first time looking genuinely upset and rueful. "The world is not going to end in fire or in ice. It's going to end, as all things do...with a whimper."

"Yes," Ronnie agreed darkly. "But you, Madame President, are not T.S. Eliot."

"But I -" Sapphire started yet again.

"Do ya even want him to be a parent to you?" Qrow sent his adoptive niece a disdainful look. "Come on, Saph. All the Schnees care about are themselves and their -"

"Qrow," Tai sharply, scowling at his brother-in-law. "It's natural for her to be conflicted about this, and your own spite really isn't doing her any good. She's still young."

"I'm not a child!" Sapphire protested. "I don't need protection like Yang and Ruby!"

"Hey!" Yang crossed her arms as she stepped into the room. "Don't call me a child!"

"That's what you are," Sapphire snapped. "Might as well embrace it."

Yang's eyes flashed red and Tai nervously stepped in front of her.

"Sapphire," He said, trying to keep any semblance of peace among them. "Please try to be reasonable."

"I am," She said defiantly. "Yang is overreacting."

"Overreacting?" She yelled. "You think I'm -"

"What's going on?" Ruby poked her head into the room, the little puppy she had named Zwei squirming in her arms. "Why is Yang screaming?"

"Yang's screaming because she's angry about being a child," Sapphire said bluntly. "Even though she should consider herself lucky, since she hasn't been forced to deal with real problems in life."

"Don't be all high and mighty," Qrow warned her, taking a sip from his flask. "You're going to make things worse."

"Understatement of the decade," Tai muttered under his breath.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Sapphire said, then storming off up the stairs. "Leave me alone."

The door to her room slammed shut and Tai sighed heavily, jamming his hands into his pockets.

"Well. that was productive," He said. "Do you girls want some cocoa?"

Qrow's scroll buzzed and he swore upon reading it. "Damn it. I gotta head back to Atlas."

"I'll go," Tai said immediately. "I would rather you not make things worse than you already have."

He scowled. "I didn't make it that bad."

"You were pretty cruel to Cristal Schnee," Tai shook his head. "When's the flight?"

"Two hours," Qrow told him and Tai ran towards the door, grabbed his coat, and tore out of the house with his bag over his shoulder. "Tai -"

"I'll be back in a few days," He told them. "Should've just stayed in the first place, but -"

The door slammed shut behind him, too, and Qrow rolled his eyes.

"You girls wanna try whisky?" Qrow said, sounding a bit exasperated. "Or vodka?"

Ruby grimaced at the notion and shook her head but Yang perked up quite a bit.

"Whisky straight," The ten year old said with a killer grin.

Qrow laughed and handed her his flask. "That's what's in here, pipsqueak."

Yang all but snatched it out of his hands and uncapped it.

"This is awesome!" She declared, sniffing it and winking at her sister. "Hey, Rubes, I'm -"

"Don't do it…" Ruby whined. "It's going to be gross."

"Nah!" Yang waved her off.

"Drink it if you're going to," Qrow told her. "I'm gonna want it back."

Yang smirked and took back a long swig but her face scrunched up and she recoiled as she handed it back to her uncle.

"Ugh!" She exclaimed, stomping her foot. "You said that stuff was good!"

"When did I say that?" Qrow replied, smiling as he took his drink back. "I don't recall such a time."

"You tricked me!" She protested. "What the hell, uncle Qrow?"

"Feisty," He noted. "You're a lot like Raven, aren't you?"

"I never got to know my mom," Yang looked at him, hurt. "That's not -"

"There's a good reason for keeping you away from Raven," Qrow told her. "Believe me."

Yang shook her head. "Even if she left, I deserve to know my mom."

"You don't get that luxury," Qrow snapped, all humor left from his face. "So stop bitching about it."

She fell silent but the fire in her eyes suggested something very different underneath.

Willow Schnee was perched primly in the window seat, with her silk robe wrapped tightly around her small, frail body. Since her brief rush of adrenaline not even a week prior, she had shut down once again. It was as if though the year was new and the snow had stopped, for the time being, the world had sunk even lower. These were dark times, indeed, and she did not foresee a bright future for any of them. The world had gone cold, colder than any of them were used to even in Atlas, and she felt less and less alive with every day that went by. She and Jacques were still struggling to reconcile themselves, and WIllow knew she was making it difficult. That was on purpose. She was trying to punish him for how he had made her feel back in early December, and she was reveling in it.

She supposed that was a sign of bitterness, but she didn't care. Her eldest daughter had left and had all but refused to speak to all of them but except for Wesis and Whitley. It upset her that Winter wanted nothing to do with her or Jacques, but there was nothing that she could do about it. Her fingers curled angrily while her thoughts tumbled and, after a moment, she forced herself to relax. The last few days, she had barely left her room and had wanted nothing but to be alone. Klein had been the only to take care of her, although Whitley and Weiss had more than once popped in to check on her. She hated that she was worrying her children, but she could not make herself leave. Not then. She had realized, in just the last few hours, what had really been bothering her: that no matter what she thought she had, it would never be enough. Not for her.

"Madame Schnee?" Klein said, quietly entering the room. "Do you need anything?"

Willow sighed and turned towards him slightly.

"That depends," She finally said. "Do you have any viognier?"

Klein shook his head. "If I may be so bold, Madame Schnee, I don't believe drinking will solve any of your problems."

She blinked, surprised. "Sorry?"

He adjusted the empty tray under his arm. "Is there anything else you need?"

Willow hesitated. After a moment passed in silence, she forced herself to speak.

"Is Jacques still at the office?" She finally said, her voice remarkably delicate.

"Yes," Klein informed her. "But he will return soon. Within the hour, I imagine."

Willow bit her lip. "Thank you, Klein," She said shortly. "I believe he and I have quite a bit to discuss."

"I imagine so," Klein agreed, although he was unsure if that was wise. "I imagine so."