"Glynda…" James said, probing his forehead worriedly. "You're clearly sick —"

"I'm fine," She insisted, although she was still on her knees by the couch. "Just dizzy and, frankly, it's probably just a migraine —"

"I'm going to have some words with Annabella," James said as he knelt down beside her, gently rubbing her back. "And if it turns out that there is foul play going on here with the things you and Emmeline are supposedly doing for her…"

"I'll give you it's stressful," She said tiredly. "But it has nothing to do with this. Besides the point is that I'm going to be extradited from it within a week or two."

James' brow furrowed in confusion. "How did you figure that?"

Glynda sighed. "I should have told you sooner," She eventually said. "But I was worried something would happen again."

His eyes went wide in realization. "Are you serious?"

"As it happens, ironically or not, I found out about a month after Karissa and Spencer learned they'll be having a fifth child," She admitted, fixing her glasses. "If you're angry —"

"Never," He said, tightly embracing his wife. "If it helps, I'll take leave after the baby's born."

"You're forgetting the Vytal Festival is in Atlas this year," She gently reminded him. "James, you and I both need to be there and if that means our child will be then so be it."

He smiled. "I suppose it could be early training."

"You're being surprisingly reasonable," She remarked. "Or maybe I've spent too much time around Emmett."

"He overreacts to everything," James replied. "He always has, so it seems."

She paused for a moment in consideration. "I suppose he did buy that fur coat to get a rise out of his father-in-law."

"It's not hard to get a rise out of Edward," James reminded her. "He's got the perfect public persona, and he listens to his advisers - all of whom are experts in their fields - but he's got no temper for his family. He hates all of them, it seems."

"All except Ronnie," She said under her breath. "I don't think he's ever had a sense of when he's overstepped."

James nodded but said nothing and only held her gently in his arms.

"If he and Eliza are up to something with Sassler, it's going to come to light," Glynda finally said, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Or, perhaps worse, it never will."

"Our bureaucracy prevents the loss of information," James said. "Every secret will come to light at some point, and our history proves it."

"There have been transgressions," She countered. "And, it seems, these days people like Elizabeth are too seated in their own power. She knows her limits and she's bent over them before. One of these days, she's going to bend too far."

"Sassler may have already," James tucked a stray piece of her hair behind her ear. "From what I can tell, at any rate."

"I know she has," Glynda quietly admitted. "Jamie, I didn't want to tell you this but it's become too important, especially now. She's trying to manipulate the system, she's willing to do anything to preserve her legacy without giving a damn what it does to people outside this kingdom. She'll be out of office at the end of the year and her sins will fall on someone else...even if it's not right."

He stared at her for a moment in stunned silence, horrified at the thought.

"That's always been her," He finally said. "She's done her best to hide it and she's succeeded in being better but at the end of the day Sassler's wanted nothing more or less than the best of everything. She cares about nothing but her legacy and her family. Everything else can burn in hell, in her world."

"She's trying to rope Emmeline in on her scheme," Glynda added. "And you and I both know she's already got Elizabeth in."

"Then we're going to have to do the best we can," James said, helping her to her feet and steadying her against him. "Because it's not just about us anymore."

She smiled. "In seven years they'll get to see a Vytal Festival they'll remember."

"And that one will be at Beacon," He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I promise I'll be there. Besides, you know how much I love Vale that time of year."

Glynda laughed. "That is where we tend to spend our holidays."

"We'll come out on the right side of this," He promised, wrapping an arm around her waist. "We always have."

"Then we should get ready for the upcoming festival," She sent him a pointed look. "Especially with the PENNY Project being involved…"

"I know," He said, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "I know. It'll be better at Beacon. We just have to get through this one and then it's over. Things will be better, we just have to wait this out."

Seven years, however, would defy all of their hopes and everything they had planned for.

Alissa Schnee bit her lip as she watched her wife methodically slice an apple.

"I know you don't want to talk about this —" She started.

"You're right," Dr. Caitlin Schnee replied. "And I have said my piece, don't make me repeat it. This is something you and I are going to have to work through, and it is also something we need to keep silent."

"Working through this involves talking," Alice retorted, crossing her arms.

Her wife set down the knife and sighed. Then, she nibbled on one of the slices thoughtfully.

"Al," She finally said. "By no means do I condone what you did. It was callous, cruel, and more vindictive than either of us have ever been, which I do not say lightly considering that I was not satisfied until my...accoster was given a life sentence with no chance for parole. What you did, or, more specifically, what you paid your brother to do off the prodding of Madeline and Ronnie, was absolutely despicable. I thought you were better than that, but I recognise your guilt and that you attempted to stop it at the last minute, albeit to no avail. Do I approve? No, but, then again, two of your co-conspirators whom, frankly, I think wanted this more than you, skirted the law to give me immunity from anything that might happen in the PENNY Project. I am pissed, don't get me wrong, but I'll find it in me to forgive you someday because I meant it when I married you and vowed both my love and my life to you. I did not take that lightly, and that has not changed even if I cannot believe what you machinated."

Alice couldn't help but cry and she all but collapsed into herself on the couch.

"I'm sorry…" She choked out. "I really am."

Cate sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair.

"Al, if you had come to me from the start, I could have helped prevent this," She said softly. "From now on, can we agree to, if nothing else, be perfectly honest with each other no matter the cost?"

Alice nodded weakly. "Yes…"

"Look, you've been through hell in your life and I would believe that's part of this," She went on. "It does not justify it, but it's important to consider. I might be a lot better off than you, but that does not mean we're not both kids that are all grown up and not alright."

Alice glanced to her hesitantly. "You should know Scarlatina had plans to oust Karissa as a power stunt. Emmeline found out when she was going through the things in Scarlatina's old office this morning. Some of her connections are troubling...including one to the teenager believed to have assaulted Eliza."

Her wife took in a sharp breath. "Damn it…" She swore.

"I don't know where will end up anymore but it sure as hell isn't going to be pretty," Alice chewed at the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. "I haven't seen the light of day in a long time...but at least you're a glimmer of it, even in this hell over me."

Cate brushed faint tears away from her eyes and fidgeted with her glasses.

"Alice, don't say things like that," She said weakly. "Times change and people change, and you're acting like there's no such thing as redemption. I'm not going to be any less shocked soon, but I think you're better than the rest of your family."

"I'm not," Alice said, her voice breaking. "I'm as bad as Roman."

"As bad as Roman?" Her wife scoffed. "Are you out of your mind? Honestly, that doesn't even -"

"Stop it," Alice said, her hands shaking. "Stop lying to me and stop lying to yourself!"

"I'm not!" Cate finally snapped and her eyes flared dangerously behind her glasses. "Alissa Schnee, stop feeling sorry for yourself! You aren't ever going to move forward if you wallow in the shit you've done or pushed for! I'm still here, can't you see it with your one eye? Or has that one gone blind too?"

Alice fell silent and stared at her hands while a sinking feeling began to overtake her.

"You might have an advanced degree in the study of the human brain but that doesn't mean you understand what's going on in mine," Alice forced out, her voice wavering at best. "I adore you but I don't know why you think things are going to get better. Sweetheart, if you want to know what's going on with me then you have to accept that I'm not a rosy Schnee. I'm still a Torchwick...and I will never be able to escape that."

"You can escape it," She countered. "You're choosing not to."

Alice buried her face in her hands. "You honestly believe that?" She mumbled.

"I do," Cate told her, trying her best to be gentle. "Because there's not a thing in this world such as destiny. That's not the truth...that's an idealistic fantasy we cling to because we want peace. We want peace in ourselves and the truth is that things aren't going to get better. If I had to bet, they're going to get worse."

"I think they already have," Alice said softly. "Don't you see? We're not safe anymore."

"From the White Fang?" Cate shook her head. "It's not just them we've got to worry about. It's Her too."

"Salem," Alice said, sniffing through her tears. "If we all manage to get out of this alive, then it's going to be a damn miracle, won't it?"

"Get over here, you little thing," The voice snarled at her, tossing an empty wine glass against the wall. "I'm tired of you limiting how I have my way with you and -"

"I've told you no for the last time," The sixteen year old hissed, inching closer to the stairs with every inch of her trembling. "And I meant it."

He slammed her against the wall. "Do I look like I give a damn? Do you think your father will believe you? That his closest co-worker was anything less than honorable with his weakling girl?"

Madeline felt as if all the air had been sucked from her lungs and she could barely even squirm against his force. She felt sick, and she was more terrified than she had ever been.

"Someone needs to teach you a lesson," He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pair of shears. "How do you like this? Feel beautiful, you stupid girl?"

He was drunk, beyond wasted, she knew, and that only scared her more. She felt the freezing cold metal brush against the nape of her neck as he roughly sliced off her hair and, by the time he was done, it was cut jaggedly up to her ears.

"Well," He said, spitting to the side. "Look at yourself!"

"This isn't me…" She choked out, willing herself not to cry.

He grabbed her harshly by the shoulders and forced her to turn towards the mirror.

"Your beauty won't last forever," He cackled and kicked her to the floor, seemingly pleased with the anguished cry that escaped her. "Nothing does. You're lucky you have me by a thread now."

She hid her face behind her arms, hating herself for ever coming onto this man in the first place. Madeline now, however wrongly, believed that all of this was her fault. There was no escape, not even in her own home. She would have given anything for one of her parents or even one of her four older siblings to come in and see her in this state. Then, maybe, she would be saved. Of course, that didn't make her hate her helplessness any less. There was a part of her, a part she did not want to believe, that thought she might die there on the floor and that no one would find nor mourn her.

"Get up!" He yelled. "If you don't get off the damn floor, you're going to feel a lot worse after what I do to you!"

Madeline glanced up, and, though she knew he could see the tears on the edges of her eyes, scowled. She was ready to fight. For the first time, she would fight back instead of submit. She was the daughter of Michael Taggart, after all, and he was the mastermind behind the largest hedge fund scheme to date.

"You want me to get up?" She repeated, her voice dry and cracking.

It was partially an act but her throat had gone dry in anticipation.

He laughed mirthlessly. "Madeline Taggart, if you don't -"

She forced herself up quickly and slipped just past him out the doorway. He followed her, expecting her to go down to her bedroom but, instead, she charged at him as soon as she could get the angle. He was standing with the stairs just behind him and the drop was long. With a sudden force, she charged at him and shoved him down. He let out a terrible scream and tumbled backwards all the way to the bottom. His head hit the window at one of the corners hard and the impact split his head open. Madeline stopped just barely at the edge of the stairs and stared in horror at what she had done. She had meant to prove she wasn't going to be taken advantage of anymore. She had never meant to kill. Yet, there he was. Lying still, dead at the bottom of the staircase in a mangled state. Her breath was quick, and she felt terrified. Then, heavily, she reached for the phone and called the police. When they came, and saw how scared she was and she explained what he had tried to do to her, she was let off. There wasn't even a trial. After all, there was more than enough evidence to prove he had been drunk off his ass and the circumstances she had described of him trying to rape her - for not the first time - explained away her fingerprints and DNA on his body. No one would ever have to know - nor would they - that, at sixteen, Madeline Taggart had killed her abuser.

"Motherfucker," Madeline muttered to herself, lighting up another cigarette. "What the hell am I going to do?"

"Maddie?" Ronnie tapped his knuckles gently against the door to their room. "You okay, hon?"

"Fine," She said shortly, taking a long draw on her cigarette. "What is it?"

He sighed. "I thought you had quit."

"I've quit smoking so many times you should know better than to assume it's permanent," Madeline mumbled. "Gambling too. I'm shocked your father likes me. I'm worse than Emmett, and we all know it."

Ronnie tiredly leaned against the doorway, rubbing his neck.

"Maddie, listen," He said softly. "My father sees you, just as I do. You've been through the hell and you've survived. You're stronger than the rest of us. It's going to be alright, I promise, just tell me what's going on."

"I said it's nothing!" She snapped. "How hard is that for you to understand?"

"Maddie -" He started gently, moving to embrace her.

"Ronnie, I can't take it," She whispered, letting him fold her fragile frame in his arms. "There's no sense to anything anymore and now…"

"It'll be okay…" He murmured, rubbing her back and carefully extinguishing her cigarette. "It will be."

Emmett Schnee grinned mischievously as he wrapped an arm around his wife and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"I told you Emmy's my witness," He said smugly. "I really did get thrown off a mechanical bull."

"And you're lucky you didn't break anything," Emmeline muttered. "If your teenage daughter is egging you on, maybe you should think twice about what you're doing."
Emmett scoffed. "Oh, pish posh."

Cristal raised an eyebrow and delicately adjusted her glasses. "Are you becoming our mother?"

"We could take bets on it," Spencer joked. "Want to take that risk?"

"After what happened the last time you bet against someone one of the Schnee siblings, I'm shocked you're willing to," She smirked. "Didn't you and Emmett lose against Caity during Crazy Eights?"

Karissa scowled. "We still have to pay her back."

"She's never going to hold us to it, you know," Emmett reminded her. "Cate likes to put stakes on things like that because she says it increases the fun. She's not going to come pounding on your door like the IRS. Don't worry, honestly, she doesn't care. I brought her lunch at work today and that cleared it up for me. Thank God I didn't bring it into her lab, though. Supposedly they're trying to develop a strong acid that can erode anything and that could have been bad."

Emmeline glanced to him in concern. "So you came into her office and set down take out?"

He shrugged. "If it works, it works. Also, she's loved mac and cheese since she was three years old, never mind that she's somewhat lactose intolerant. If you bring her that, lemonade, and a small cookie, she'll be a three-year-old in a forty-year old's body."

"That's a lot simpler than my solution," Spencer said dryly. "I was thinking of asking Ronnie to help me commit tax fraud."

Cristal sent him a sharp look. "Don't even joke about that, you could end up in serious trouble."

"We're all shocked Ronnie isn't, by now," Spencer countered. "I mean, come on. Everyone knows that he doesn't pay his bills."

"That's never been proven," Emmeline said, crossing her arms. "I agree that Ronnie tends to skirt the law, but, if we're going to call him out for it, then we should probably be getting our facts right."

Ozpin sighed. "Some days, I'm not even sure I understand what's happening anymore."

"That would be because this family is a fucking mess," Emmeline said bitterly. "And we've got our wonderful father to blame for it."

"To be fair, my parents are great," Emmett put in, and Cristal couldn't help but laugh. "Well, they are!"

"I don't disagree," Cristal said, putting her hands up in surrender. "I was just going to say that -"

"Oh, stop it," Spencer said, rolling his eyes although he was grinning. "We already know how Emily and I got screwed over and you all didn't."

"We've been screwed in other ways," Emmett muttered.

Karissa looked vaguely amused. "Would that have anything to do with the result of us -"

"Don't finish that," He said, sounding rather resigned. "I already know."

"Look, Emmett," Karissa said gently. "There was no way you could have known."

"Was there?" He sighed in resignation, pressing a hand to his head. "It still feels like I should have known...and there's a part of me that's terrified I could have all along."