And another chapter
Chapter 59:
Walking up the stairs, Cinder just gestured the guards away as she walked up to Ruby's door. Knocking on it gently before she opened it, Cinder just smiled as she could see Ruby clutching one of her pillows close to her chest. "I brought up a large portion for you. I know it is your favourite." Cinder said as she handed the plate over to Ruby. As she happily jumped off the bed and accepted the plate before placing it onto the desk to just hug her mother tightly.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't do it. Mom... I swear that was the woman." Ruby said as she just clung to her mother. All other feelings just seemed to vanish just from Cinder holding onto her. That was all that seemed to matter to Ruby at this moment in time. "It is at the very least those same damn eyes. I swear they are Mom."
"And I don't doubt you Ruby. Just, there is nothing I can do. I'd need solid evidence to really do anything to her." Cinder said as Ruby just shook her head and held onto her mother tighter than she had ever hugged the woman before. "You know I would bring down the type of sunder that is biblical if I had proof that she did try and kill you like that. And then send her husband a fruit basket because you then came into my life because of it." Cinder said as Ruby just looked up at her a little hurt. "Not in a joking mood. Got it."
"Mom... she... she really is the person. And even Glynda gave me that same stupid line of believing me... and it sounded just as hollow." Ruby said as Cinder gently cupped Ruby's face between her hands.
"Ruby. You know me. If I don't believe you, I don't mince my words with you and the reverse is true. That is what makes our relationship so healthy that a lot of people find it shocking. I do genuinely believe you. But what do you want me to do? What if she has an identical twin? You know that when it comes to you Ruby I wouldn't stop at anything. Especially if she was the one that tried to kill you when you were a baby Ruby... it might just be the biggest kindness that she could be given... but as of right now... I've got nothing on her besides she is a drug addict. One I'm forcing to get clean by cutting off all her sources. Apparently she already was in debt with some but a few words from me was enough to get that called off."
"Mom..."
"I swear Ruby, I have Roman checking her out fully. The second I have something solid... but you know I'm not going to let anything happen to you. It might be literally the only thing that will get me on the other side of those pearly gates. Just because I can honestly say I protected the one person who matters the most to me."
"I'll gladly argue with the God of Light if he doesn't let you in and aren't there when I go... I figure I might be only able to get either you or Grandma in... and she'd be furious if I got her in and not you." Ruby said as she just took a deep breath as Cinder just took a deep breath as she hugged Ruby tighter with a laugh. "And you aren't mad I called Glynda about this are you? You seem like the type that would."
"I'm not Ruby. It sounds like she was able to calm you down a little. Which frankly is what I ultimately want when you do call her. You should know that by now." Cinder said as she just took a deep breath and stared down into Ruby's eyes. "Now you should probably eat your dinner. I don't intend to be up much longer."
"I shouldn't be either. I've got that date tomorrow... and then I've got panic central as I need to tell Yang her step mother is a monster that tried to kill me and has been haunting my nightmares for years and years." Ruby said as Cinder just smiled and began to smile as she gently rubbed Ruby's back.
"I wouldn't tell Yang that Ruby. Not until we know for a fact that she really is the one. As for your date... must you go on it? Your eyes still aren't fully healed." Cinder pleaded as Ruby groaned gently at her mother.
"Mom... insanely hot woman... if I wasn't in pain would have gone on the date that we wanted to on Wednesday... hell if I lost a limb I still would have tried to go. I don't know how to put it into terms that you'd get... it is like if you found a nineteen seventy one Pontiac GTO Judge convertible that hasn't been destroyed by decades of rust, and the previous owner said it could be yours you just need to be there on a specific date otherwise it might be gone forever... except worse because at least there are seventeen of those left... there is only one Blake."
"And those cars won't be ex terrorists." Cinder said with a small smile as Ruby just pouted at her. "Besides, if I found one of those, you would be over it just as much as me. Like yeah, we'd need to have some serious modifications done to make it allowed for us to drive... but it would be so worth it. Especially because we'd need to repaint it and to be honest I'm curious about what one would look like stripped back." Cinder said as Ruby gently nodded her head along with the reasoning as if she was in pure agreement.
"Same thing with Blake... just maybe not us getting painted... or maybe. I don't know. Point is insanely hot, one of a kind woman who finds me genuinely attractive and wants to spend time with me... and she already knows you."
"Which is why I haven't paid them a visit yet." Cinder said with a soft tone as she could see Ruby just deflating just from how there was a veiled threat that both knew what it really meant. "Enjoy the food Ruby. And if Roman comes back with anything on that woman... you won't need to worry about her again."
"Thank you mom... for everything. I don't deserve a Mom as awesome as you."
"And at points I think I don't deserve you."
Resting against the door frame to the office, Blake just took a deep breath as she could see her mother starting to freak out all over again. "Mom... who cares if she is the daughter of the head of Grimm...you've met Ruby. Does she actually seem like the evil type of person? Bit clumsy sure... but even Sienna doesn't think Ruby has a single bad bone in her body and is aware that she is only alive at points because Ruby doesn't want her family to kill... not that they wouldn't if pushed or if someone was to harm Ruby." Blake said as Kali just stared at her.
"They are Grimm! The actual daughter and granddaughter of the single largest and most terrifying organisation to ever exist! Ghira talk sense into our daughter!" Kali yelled as the man just took a deep breath and glanced towards the duo of women.
"Oh it is so much worse... Ruby's mother is the Fall Maiden. I could have sworn I felt my blood freeze the second I saw her walking in. But I'd also be lying if i didn't also say that she is the one to convince me to step down from the leadership of the White Fang because Sienna was starting to stage a coup. And she has seemed to have softened up since she has given me that warning. But at the same time... I don't doubt that if something happened to Ruby... something horrible would happen to everyone that could have stopped it." Ghira spoke as Blake just stared at him absent mindedly.
"Mom, Dad. You both are just freaking out over nothing. Ruby and I are just going on a single date. If something major happens... I'm sure nothing major will happen. Just calm down. It is just going to be a simple date. Just wait up if you think I'm going to do something crazy... or stupid. Even though I'm past that part of my life."
"The other week you were seconds away from getting into a very physical fight with Ruby's ex girlfriend."
"That bitch had it coming!" Blake yelled as she shoved off the door before she just took a deep breath and started to seethe gently before she looked at her mother. "Seriously... who decides it is a smart thing to start shit expecting me to take it lying down?"
"Way to prove my point Blake. You are without a doubt one of the few people I know that is quick to anger over a lot of topics and I mean it is a lot more than a normal Faunus woman being hormonal because she is a teenager." Kali countered as Blake just matched her mother's gaze. "And to add insult to injury for your father and I... it is the Fall Maiden's daughter. A woman famous for torturing people so horrifically that as soon as they are able enough, they kill themselves. She has gotten people who were impossible to get the time of day from to talk about everything. And she is the granddaughter of a woman who is famous in the underworld for being one of the most cruel people to ever exist and she single handedly unified every gang under her and the ones that didn't conform to her lived in terror so you get cases like Sienna and although that was funny... I don't want you to be that fearful Blake."
Rolling her eyes gently at Kali, Blake just shoved off the door frame. "Mom. The date hasn't even happened yet. And Ruby has ex girlfriends who have lived just fine lives. The annoyingly loud teal haired woman is proof. And after talking with Ilia... Ruby is just fine and is ignorant of all of that. And word has it that if anyone breaks that illusion the entire army that is Grimm will be brought down on them. Ruby knows that her Mom and family as a whole are in gang related things... just not that she is the daughter of the current head. So just relax Mom... and someone is in and I need to get going to the library to study." Blake spoke as she spun around slightly to grab her book bag as she started to walk out of the staff area she froze as she could see a group of men locking the door as a red haired man in a bowler hat matching the worried family's gaze.
"Ah, you guys are in. Don't worry. This won't be a long conversation. And just a simple one me and the kitten need to have. And frankly it is simply a courtesy reminder call." Roman said as he gently reached up to fix his hat. "Largely because you've got no idea how precious that small gem is to people like me... and I'm just a humble friendly face in the cogs of that machination. I'm not even meant to be here." Roman continued as he simply took a deep breath. "So I'll make this quick before you need to get paid a much less friendly visit that will end with two coffins being filled. Ruby must not know about what her mother or even what her friends or I do... or more importantly the collective we work for... if you two break up... there will be no harm to come to you. Unless you need to be forced to break up with Ruby, depending on the reason depends on how much of a visit you need to be paid... just be warned... my boss and her mother won't be so nice."
Fighting the hold on her arm, Summer just glared at her husband who had matched her gaze with an equal fury. He couldn't even believe they are still having this argument. It had been going on since they had even gotten in the car last night.
"Summer. Think about this! If she really is the Fall Maiden... how are you going to sway her? All you are going to do is get yourself killed." Tai pleaded as Summer took a deep breath as she finally pulled her arm free from Tai's with a sharp tug.
"I feel like I'm going to die anyways Tai. Every time I look in your face I can just see her's... being high is literally the only thing that is able to get me through life. The way I see it... I'm either going to die by her or die by killing myself."
"You can get help Summer! That is what I've been trying to get you to understand! There are countless groups that are willing to help. I know of a hundred different therapists that will help you. You don't need to be alone!" Tai yelled as Summer took a deep breath and began to wrap her arms around herself.
"I do Tai... I really do need to. You wouldn't understand."
"She was my daughter too Summer." Tai spoke softly. It had been the one thing he had never really brought up before. It had been a clear sign to Summer she had to stop. "Ruby was also my daughter. And I've been tearing myself up every day since you left with her. I've done everything I can... you don't need to be alone. If you want to play the postpartum card, it happens to a lot of women. You can get help. There are countless support groups. If you don't want to go to a group... you can go to a therapist. Hell you can go to the one I've been going to for years."
"You don't get it Tai. You don't get any of this. So just... tell Yang if I do end up dying... I never held anything she said against her. I deserve all the hatred she has for me... but I do genuinely love and care for her... just like how I genuinely cared and do still care for Ruby. Just... Look after yourself Tai."
Seeing his wife storming off in the direction of the car, Tai just took a deep breath as he spun around and was about to walk back into the house when he could see Yang sitting on the porch. Walking up the wooden stairs, Tai just jumped a little as he felt Yang hugging him.
"She is going to be fine." Yang said with a calming breath as Tai just rubbed her back. "Even if she is blowing it out of her ass... I do know you'll be fine." Yang continued as she just felt her Dad stop hugging her. "I'll call Glynda to try and get you an appointment." Yang continued as she gently pulled back to stare at her father.
"It is fine Yang. I'll sort that out. Didn't you say you have plans today?" Tai said as he took the seat next to where Yang was sitting.
"It can wait dad. Do you want me to call your sponsor? Don't fall off the waggon Dad."
"It is fine Yang. There is no alcohol in the house anyways. Just go and enjoy your day."
"Not until you call someone Dad. I'll blow everything off today. I don't care what it does to my grades or anything else."
"I promise in a few minutes I'll go call Glynda. Just go and enjoy your day." Tai said as Yang just stared at him with a clear question burning in her mind. One that Tai picked up on as he sighed and slumped further into the chair. "I won't do anything drastic Yang. I just need to think some things through."
"Okay Dad... just remember I still love you. And if something happened to you... I'm not sure if I'd be able to live with myself." Yang said as Tai just looked up at her with a glare.
"I may be stupid Yang... but I'm not that stupid. I'm telling you I'm going to be fine. Go and enjoy your day. I promise I'll call Glynda. And if it makes you feel better I'll even call you at seven tonight. If I'm late feel free to drive down here and pop me on in the head. Okay?"
"Okay dad."
"Did you visit them?" Cinder asked as she was handed the folder that just caused her to smile a smile that would have put the god of darkness to shame as she could see the results of the test she had been staring at.
"I did. We should have nothing to worry about. Also according to the guards, we have a guest coming up... a certain guest who I'm assuming you've been expecting as you've been staring at the file for a while. What is it? Is it another person I need to visit today?"
"No. It is a DNA test I had done on Ruby and this woman that was here last night that caused Ruby to have a breakdown. One hundred percent maternal match." Cinder said as she closed the file and tossed it towards the man. "That is the woman that tried to kill my daughter... and would have succeeded if I hadn't found her. The woman who has caused all of Ruby's nightmares. And I was actually thinking I'd need to go down and burn her out of the house... and she is dumb enough to come here."
"Holy shit." Roman said as he looked at the file before looking up at Cinder. "What are you going to do with her? Should I have our cleaning crew ready?"
"Oh... that might not be necessary. I've planned this for years and years. Frankly I'll be fine cleaning up afterwards. It will be worth it."
Author's Note:
And another chapter is done.
