Opening note: thanks for the help, I now know how to proceed. Once again thanks for the help, I've just been super busy with classes and my brain is mush at this point.

"You ever wonder what fate has in store for us Summer?" I asked, taking a seat at the Xiao-Long-Rose dinner table. It's the next day and the weekend and Cinder is showing off what she's learned in class to her juniors impressing them, and to some extent myself, especially considering the part where I gave her only some minor training before she went to Signal.

"Ah yes, the ever philosophical captain of the vale rangers," Summer jabbed, I chuckled at it. "Though I suppose a more serious answer would be that I don't believe in fate, do you?" She asked me.

"Myself, nah, after you've stared at god in the eyes you don't worry about destiny. Though I never did believe in destiny to begin with," I said to her amusement.

"So what is Yang going to be specializing in?" I asked Summer.

"Yang? She seems to take after Tai, brawling and all that. Ruby is split between Qrow's scythe or my rifle, mechashift technology is progressing quite quickly though so I imagine by the time she makes her weapon at signal she'll be able to do both," Summer said with a smile. I nodded in agreement, I also made a small note to look into mechashift technology for army equipment, a flexible fighting force will do good for most scenarios, and being able to change weapons on the fly is important for that.

"Cinder seems to take to archery quite well, I never was a robin hood type myself, but you know that's why rifles exist," I said shrugging, she looked at me confused. "Robin Hood is a fictional character back home, he's known for his proficiency with a bow. Well that and stealing from the rich and handing it to the poor," I explained.

"You know Cinder is thinking of picking up a guitar," Summer said looking out the glass door at Cinder and Yang brawling, Taiyang is watching them thank god, but still I expect nothing too crazy to come up, "you would know if didn't saddle two kids onto me to take care of," she said sarcastically.

"Funny, I'm trying my best to balance work and family, granted I should've picked CEO instead of army officer for that, but I try," I said before sighing, "I hope they aren't bitter about me not being around as much," I said offhandedly.

"I doubt it, Cinder is old enough to know you're doing your best, even if she doesn't always understand why she seems to spend a lot of time here, and Emerald you'll just have to hope can learn why sooner rather than later. If nothing else you're around now, which is more than what some kids can say nowadays," Summer said with a sigh.

"Unfortunately, but I suppose I ought to actually be out there instead of cooped up in here talking about depressing topics," I said getting up.

"For the best, I was going to go bake some cookies anyways," Summer said brightening up. I place the empty mug inside of the kitchen skin and walk outside.

"Hey Tai, Cinder and Emerald ain't giving you too much trouble are they?" I asked.

"Not any more than they usually do, though that doesn't mean much since she managed to hit an Ursa with that bow of her's," Tai said, shrugging.

"What did that happen? Christ I need to find more time away from work," I said in shock.

"While you were out on active duty, anyways wanna take over watching them, I need a drink," Tai said patting me on the back. I shrugged and sat down in his chair and watched as Cinder shot an apple out of the air. Which is better than what I can do, with a bow and arrow anyways, I've gotten pretty good with a rifle.

"So what did you guys learn in class, and Yang I swear if you burn this blouse showing off what you learned with your semblance I will end you," Cinder asked seemingly remembering something very important going on at school. I chuckled silently, what I'm allowed to laugh, it's not everyday I hear Cinder annoyed, and certainly not so comedically.

"Might I suggest an arena to show off in then?" I said aloud, they all nodded in agreement, "alright let me ask summer then, I said getting up. Walking inside all of them followed me in, to which I could hear Ruby, Yang and Emerald walking in at the exact same time followed immediately by Cinder laughing at the three. Turning around I see exactly what I thought happened, three of them were on the floor while cinder was still recovering from laughing.

"What happened here?" Summer asked walking up next to me.

"I assume Emerald, Yang and Ruby all walked into the same space and physics not allowing people to phase into each other knocked each other over," I said proposing a theory. Cinder at this point has recovered enough to help Emerald and Yang up, with Yang helping Ruby up afterwards. "I propose a backyard arena for them to spar in and the like," I said offhandedly to summer while I went to go check in on the three.

"And how do you propose we make one? It's not like we're swimming in cash and I don't think you want to crash Vale's economy this soon after moving to remnant," Summer said with an eyebrow raised.

"I mean I have an idea," I said smiling, she seemed amused at the idea.

— later —

"And it's done," I said, tying off the last knot.

"It's a mess," Tai said.

"It's an arena, you know, provided you ignore the fact that this is made of spare fence parts and rope," I said, patting myself off of dust.

"Someone can get seriously hurt because of this," Summer said, concerned at my lack of knot tying skills.

"I mean yeah probably, but they're also learning to be combat specialists, hunters if you want to be fancy, so their entire job is to be in danger," I said loosely justifying the homemade arena.

"You couldn't have just made an arena with your magic?" Tai asked.

"Tai, no one gets anywhere from cheating their way through life," he raised an eyebrow at me, "which I realize is a sham of a statement coming from me but uhh hey, Cinder what do you think?" I asked her deflecting from Tai.

"I think it's great dad, Yang, Emerald and I will just have to be a little more careful is all," Cinder said smiling.

"See she likes it," I said smiling, Tai face palmed and Summer sighed.

"I'll allow it, but no use after dark, and only when one of us is watching," Summer said, giving in. The kids and I cheer, much to their humor, doesn't matter to me I get the last laugh.

"I swear you're more immature than summer sometimes," Tai said laughing.

"Yeah but I'm half- not finishing that sentence Cinder still needs a father," I said feeling a blood glare coming from my right. Tai nodded in solemn agreement.

"So can I show off what I learned now?" Yang asked excitedly. I shrugged, Tai agreed and she hopped into the arena.

— the next day —

"You know, the Vytal festival is coming up, you kids wanna go?" I asked them from the kitchen.

"Sure dad," Cinder said, with a noise of agreement coming from Emerald. The two of them are currently in a staring contest of some sort, the television is going behind them, and I'm making lunch for the three of us.

"I get us tickets then, also lunch is ready," I said, placing a sandwich on the counter for them to grab. Cinder turned away, meaning that Emerald won, I assume that's why she's cheering anyways.

"Darn it!" Cinder said getting up. I smiled at the pair, it's moments like this where I know I'm doing the right thing, even if it's just me blindly stumbling forward into life hoping for the best.

"Alright you two, eat up, I need to head out for a little bit to get us passes for the festival," I said grabbing a coat, "Cinder take care of Emerald, Emerald make sure Cinder doesn't burn down the apartment," I said to the pair, a muffled yes dad could be hear, "and don't talk with your mouth full!" I said before leaving the apartment, okay 30 minute trip, get passes and get going, easy.

— Vytal Hall, The Kingdom of Vale —

"A statement about the deployment of army forces for the Vale inquiry sir!" One of a million news reporters asked me as I tried to squirm my way through the crowd of them.

"Sorry, I'm out on leave. I'm not allowed to speak about army business until I'm back on duty," I said to the female reporter. I'm half lying, officially I'm on leave and can't talk about army business. Unofficially I'm working on the ranger Corp, and literally can't talk about army business until deployment.

I wish I knew why me showing up changed the reporter's current target from the Vytal festival to hey let's harass the army captain. I mean I guess I was the one who started this movement, but god damn I'm just here to pick up passes for the Vytal festival. Standing outside the hall is an MP, I flag them to help me and thankful he saw me through the swarming press.

"Alright, break it up, if you want to interview army personnel you'll have to contact the press secretary of the army for that, now break it up!" An MP sergeant shouted while his men moved the crowd away from me. One of the privates helped me up, and after patting my coat clean of dust, I gave my thanks to them and went inside the building.

"8 passes for the Vytal festival, 3 adult ones and five for kids," I said to the cashier.

"Large family huh?" she asked while getting me the passes.

"I'm just picking them up for my neighbor too, as a thanks for watching my kids while I'm out," I said with a laugh while paying for them.

"Well just don't lose them, these military police are super serious about their jobs, I hope they don't dampen the mood too much though," she said handing me the passes.

"I'm sure they won't," I put the passes into my coat pocket, "thank you ma'am," I said walking away only to stop and turn back around. "Err don't suppose you have a back exit I can use to get out do you?" I asked her.

"We do, follow me sir," she answered with a giggle.

— end —

Not as clean as other chapters (nor as long) but I'm done trying to write this and I wanna get something out.

Hope everyone enjoyed it nonetheless,"