"And where exactly are you going?" Qrow asked in a grumbling voice as he leaned forward with his hands in his pockets, eyes lazily looking Weiss up and down.

"We're getting ice cream!" Ruby chirped, standing up and grinning, looking like she was about to bolt out of the gym.

"Really? You? Getting ice cream? Shocker," he teased, smiling gently at Ruby before he turned to look at Weiss like she'd broken something, "All of you?"

"Of course, would it be any fun if we all couldn't come?" Yang chimed in, eyes twinkling despite her swollen face.

"You got me there, as long as you guys don't do anything dumb, like drive with broken knuckles,," Qrow said before his eyes flicked to the railing on the second floor.

"They aren't broken, just bruised," Yang said as she showed off her split knuckles with a twisted grin.

"Wait, you aren't coming with us?" Blake asked with a raised eyebrow as she reached over and forced Yang's hands back into the ice.

"I never said that,"

"But you were thinking it," Ruby said sadly as she puffed out her lower lip.

"You know I don't like it when you read my mind, kid," he chuckled, eyes flicking past Ruby's puppy dog eyes and towards Yang. "I've got some stuff I need to take care of, I might be back late,"

"Oooh, you've got a date, don't you?" Yang asked, wiggling her eyebrows and getting a deep laugh out of Qrow.

"Something like that. Don't stay out too late, you know how Zwei get when he's left alone for too long,"

"I'll take a lot of blame, but you said you'd come home during lunch and let him out,"

"Yeah, yeah, the point still stands," Qrow said, waving his hand dismissively as he finally looked at Ruby. "And you better not bankrupt us, we can only add a little more to our tab before Glynda gets mad,"

"Gets mad at you maybe, she never gets mad at me,"

"I know, which is why I said it," Qrow said with a smile before his eyes landed on Weiss, all his levity vanishing like smoke in the wind, "You're going too?"

"Um, yes?"

"Your sister ok with that?" He asked, eyes like stone.

"I-..."

"Of course it's ok! She just called her and everything," Ruby jumped in, taking a small step between the two of them.

"And she said yes?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Yup, she sure did. Heard her myself," Yang said, and Qrow looked at her with wide eyes.

"Really? You're sure,"

"Positive," Yang nodded, standing up and handing Blake the bowl of water and half-melted ice. Qrow gave Yang a hard look, but the girl didn't budge.

"Blake?"

"It's true, I swear," Blake said, standing up and shoving Yang's hands back in the water, chuckling as the blonde shivered. Qrow looked between all four of them, watching their every move. His gaze halted on Weiss and she felt like she was under a giant spotlight with how much her face was heating up. It was the first time she felt the shameful burn of a lie since she'd left home.

"Alright, if you guys say so," He nodded, backing up and taking a step back from the four girls. "Just make sure she gets home in one piece, that's a conversation I'd rather die than have," he said as he turned around and started walking away.

"Wait, Uncle Qrow, I have a question!" Yang barked, stopping him in his tracks.

"And what would that be?"

"Could I have a few people over Saturday night? It wouldn't be anything big, we'd just hang out, maybe watch a movie," Yang asked, doing her own version of Ruby's puppy dog eyes.

"So the dance Friday night, that Saturday night, and Ruby's competition Sunday? Is she ok with-"

"I'm ok with it! I'll be in bed before midnight, I promise!"

"Midnight seems a little late, it's a big competition," Qrow sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Mmm, fine, eleven forty-five,"

"How about eleven-thirty, you give me back my key to the shop, and we call it a deal?"

"Deal!" Ruby squeaked as she jumped in the air and smacking the key in his hand, making Weiss giggle.

"Alright then, it's a deal," Qrow nodded, smiling as he watched Ruby shift her weight from side to side. "Weiss, keep an eye out for them, would you?"

"Me? Uh, sure," She nodded nervously, feeling oddly at ease when he smiled at her.

"Good, I trust you," He said as he turned around and walked away.

"Do you not trust us or something?" Yang cried out.

"Nope!" He called before disappearing into the crowd and making his way to who knows where.

"... Ya know, I can't blame him," Yang said before turning to Weiss, "You're welcome. You aren't exactly good at lying, you know that?"

"I've been told," Weiss sighed as she deflated into the bench.

"It's ok, we've got your back," Ruby said, smiling down at Weiss with shimmering eyes.

"As long as he doesn't get any angry calls from your sister I don't think he really cares what we say," Blake said as she set the bowl down on the floor, the ice almost totally gone now.

"So we're screwed then?" Yang laughed, making the pit in Weiss's stomach grow.

"We aren't screwed, it'll be fine," Ruby smiled, reaching out and touching her shoulder with the tips of her fingers. It was only for a moment and only a small touch, but it still made Weiss's heart jump.

"If you say so, but if not you're the one that's gonna be taking the fall," Yang said with a chuckle, but Ruby didn't crack a smile.

"Alright then, whatever I have to do," She said softly, her eyes lingering on Weiss before they flicked away with a chuckle, "So who wants ice cream?" She asked their friends who were all sitting behind them, all of whom were talking amongst themselves like they hadn't noticed Qrow grilling them. Or maybe they were listening and had just heard it all before?

"I do," Pyrrha croaked, cradling her throat with one hand and raising her other weakly in the air.

"Good call," Jaune chuckled as he reached over and patted her back slowly, the two of them sharing a look before Penny stood up between them.

"I should probably get home soon, my parents are gonna get worried," Penny said meekly, scratching the back of her hair as her pale face turned crimson.

"What? Why-" Pyrrha said before he voice seemed to give out, her eyes wide with concern.

"You know, it's just sort of late is all," Penny said quickly, a pleading in her eyes as they bore into the runner. Pyrrha had a steely gaze for a moment before giving a nod and looking back towards Ruby.

"Jaune and I will give Penny a ride home then, we'll probably come by later," She said weakly, giving Weiss a wink that meant they almost certainly wouldn't be seeing them again that night.

"We're gonna head home to, Nora has a test tomorrow and sugar's the worst thing for her," Ren chimed in as he stood with Yatsutashi and a pouting Nora.

"I'll only have one cone if we go!" Nora begged, hands wrapped in Ren's shirt.

"Nora…"

"I know, I promised," She sighed, standing up and taking Ren with her.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Ren said as he led the three of them out onto the steps and up towards the exit.

"See you, Ren! Thanks for watching me kick butt!" Yang called with a wave.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. Weiss, it was good to see you,"

"Oh, it was good to see you guys too," Weiss said with an awkward smile, but that was replaced by shock when Nora ran up and threw her arms around her neck.

"Good job, Weiss, I'm glad you came," She whispered before pulling away with a smile, leaving Weiss wondering if it had even happened. "See all of you lovely people tomorrow!" She said before following Ren. Yatsutashi gave a nod before following after, taking two steps at a time.

"We should be heading out too then. Ruby, are you gonna be on tonight?" Jaune asked, hand still on Pyrrha's back.

"When am I not?" She smiled, and Weiss felt a prick in her chest watching her smile, though she wasn't sure why.

"Great, Yang. Bye, Weiss," Pyrrha said in a raspy voice, her words short and almost inaudible.

"I don't get a bye?" Yang complained, but Pyrrha just smiled, keeping her mouth shut.

"Thanks for coming, Weiss. I know we didn't get to talk much, but it was still fun," Penny said softly, her hands clenched as she talked.

"It was fun, thanks for getting me to come, you're a really good friend. All of you are," Weiss smiled, looking at the three of them. Penny opened her mouth like she was about to say something urgently, but shook her head and smiled.

"You're a good friend too. See you tomorrow," She said before walking away with Pyrrha and Jaune.

It was only now that Weiss realized that the fights were all over and the gym was clearing out for real. There were a few younger girls working to take down the ring or putting away chairs, but aside from them, the seats were all but empty aside from a few stragglers here and there.

"Don't you have to help clean up the ring or something?" Weiss asked Yang as she crossed her arms, but Yang waved her concerns away, looking just like Qrow.

"That's for the younger girls. Plus Port said that if I messed my hands up and more than they are now I'd have to deal with him. Not that I couldn't, buuut I'd rather not,"

"Does this mean it's just us going to get ice cream?" Ruby asked, looking around like it just dawned on her that everyone had left.

"Yup, and you're driving!" Yang said, giving her sister a gnarled thumbs up.

"You can drive?" Weiss asked, astounded.

"Can she drive? She's been driving since she was in middle school," Yang chuckled, while Weiss looked at her in amazement.

"You want shotgun?" Ruby asked with a small smile as she held up a pair of old keys.

-A/N-

I just wanted to say that I didn't forget everyone this week. The wifi crashed at the place I'm staying and didn't get turned on until now. Thanks for being so understanding, I hope you enjoy!