The chat conversation with Watts was quick, to the point and simple. He told her that her mistress would be pleased, and that the next order of business was to get them out of Beacon, along with another small task. Cinder inquired about it and was basically told that she would know soon. As she chatted Jaune and Emerald sat on the couch watching her. Only their eyes moved as they followed her pacing form, as her thumbs typed out replies on the small scroll.

So Cinder moved from the new task, back to arrangements to get her charges out of Vale. It was still the plan to use the breech as a cover. To distract everyone from what she was really trying to accomplish. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Jaune and Emerald being rather amorous. The pair had stripped and reverted to their grimm forms; and Jaune was in the process of cleaning Emerald. Licking the side of her face and ear as the pair lay half on a couch much to small for their great bulk.

Again Cinder marvelled at how beautiful, sleek and powerful the pair looked. She made a mental note to speak to Blake about their apparent preference to being in their grimm forms. She needed to know if it was a regular occurrence. Not that she minded, though it would make having guests over to her room a little difficult; than again she had yet to invite anyone to her private rooms. So that was a problem she really didn't need to consider dealing with.

Setting her private scroll down on the coffee table she again regarded the pair who dominated her couch. Emerald was now nuzzling back against Jaune's administrations; and to Cinder it was becoming more and more apparent to her that the pair were acting more like mates. She made a mental note to speak with the Doctor about her suspicion. Taking a seat in the nearby arm chair she leaned back and crossed her legs. Her mind drifted from and situations that Jaune and Emerald could cause to the issue of Watts' small task.

She wondered about what it would entail. Obviously it had something to do with Beacon, and with her position on the staff, it would be up to her to see it done. She wasn't pleased with this possible complication to her already complicated situation. Letting her eyes wander from the pair of grimm cats she turned her attention to her private scroll. She would need to contact Roman and Mercury. The plans for the breech would now need to be brought back on track.

/=/

"You did your best Blake." Yang chimed as she leaned on the precarious pile of books that made the corner post of her and Blake's bunk beds. "Everyone knows that."

"Do they?" Blake countered.

"It was an accident." Weiss interjected, as she cuddled Zwei in her lap. "No one could have guessed they would react the way they did."

"I should have known." Blake responded.

"Was that their semblance?" Ruby asked as she tilted her head back to apply her prescribed eye drops.

"I guess." Blake replied.

"Cool."

"How are your eyes, Rubes?" asked Yang as she turned from her sombre partner to face her team leader and younger sister.

"Better."

"It has to be some sort of allergy." commented Weiss as she hesitantly set Zwei off her lap and onto her bed, in order for her to stand.

"I agree, but to what?" Yang commented.

"It only seems to happen when she's around Jaune and Emerald." offered Weiss.

"You saying she's allergic to faunus? That can't be right. Blake has been around since the beginning, and she's never had trouble like this before."

"Really Weiss?" Blake retorted as she climbed from her bed.

"I'm just pointing out the one common thing that is around when he starts having trouble with her eyes."

"True," Blake replied "but it still sounds wrong."

"Maybe it has nothing to do with their faunus heritage."

"Then what would it be?"

"Their semblances?" Yang offered

"Maybe." answered Weiss.

"How do you feel now Blake?" Ruby asked turning the conversation from her eye problems, back to the original focus of the little impromptu team meeting.

"Better, but still..."

"Still nothing. You are not responsible for Jaune and Emerald's every action. Yes maybe things could have been handled differently, but in the end no one was seriously hurt."

"You're right, but it doesn't change the fact that I brought them to combat class."

/=/

Jasmine was fuming. Not only was she going to be out of combat class for the foreseeable future, hence her team's efforts to prepare for the Vytal festival be hampered, but she also had to deal with seeing the one she blamed for the incident. It wasn't like she could really avoid her. Blake's team was just across the hall from her own, and had in fact become slightly close.

Her team for their part easily could tell that their leader was upset; but they stayed quiet. The whole situation would be better spoken about in the privacy of their own dorm. With her partner Pyrrha walking at her shoulder they rounded the corner on the way to their dorm. Jasmine stopped, her eyes narrowing. There was the one responsible; at least in her mind, Blake Belladonna. She was with her partner, and appeared to be just leaving their own room. Pyrrha placed a hand on her left shoulder only to have Jasmine shake it off, and stalked forward.

"Keep your pet freaks on a leash!" Jasmine snapped as she closed on the now startled pair. The speed at which she closed causing her own team to have to rush in order to catch up.

Yang was the first to react, stepping in front of her partner. Attempting to act as a barrier.

"Get out of the way cow udders!" Jasmine's face was red, the pent up frustration and anger she had been holding in, now having a target to be unleashed upon.

"Whoa! Whoa! Hold up there." Yang replied, shocked at the venom JNPR's team leader was spouting.

"Jasime, it was an accident. No one meant for it to happen." Pyrrha interjected.

"I doubt that! Right Belladonna. Missing all that time from combat class, you KNEW your team couldn't compete with mine. You had to do something didn't you. I can see it now. You're a cheat and fraud! Your kind doesn't belong at Beacon!"

"My kind?" Blake took a step back from the eraged team leader, trying to figure out just what she meant by that comment.

"Jasmine calm down." Pyrrha begged as she placed a hand on her left shoulder.

"No I wont. This all needs to be said. These frauds need to know someone is on to them!"

"Frauds?" Yang, Blake, Pyrrha, Nora and Ren asked in unison.

"Frauds." Jasmine snapped. "Two years too young and she's magically at Beacon! Own sister on her team, teamed even named after her! Not to mention the Schnee!"

"Jasmine," Ren spoke up, while looking apologetically at Blake and Yang, "that's enough. Come on, the doctor said you need to rest."

Jasmine glared at the half of team RWBY before her, before snorting, and turning on her heel. The beep of her scroll signalling that the lock was disengaged. With one last glare she turned her head and vanished into JNPR's dorm room.

"I'm sorry." is all Pyrrha stuttered out as she quickly followed her partner into the room. Ren and Nora followed suit, each giving Yang and Blake sympathetic looks.

"That was..." Yang started only to see her partner turn and walk off, "Hold up Blake."

/=/

Cinder kept one eye on her new charges, as she attempted to work out the logistics behind her requirement to attend counselling sessions, and her need to speak with Roman and Mercury. The pair were lounging on the couch; thankful in human form. Though Emerald was curled up at one end her head laying on the armrest while Jaune was at the other end, upside down with his head hanging over the side. They were both watching a children's show about a blue dog and his friend. Cinder didn't understand it, but it was keeping the pair occupied. Though she wasn't sure if they were learning anything from the show, or if the bouncing and chaotic movements of the cartoon dog was entertaining their more primal instincts.

Now the matter of meeting up with Mercury was easily solved. She could just let him know when she would be in Vale for one of her sessions, and he would meet her where ever she deemed appropriate. The issues was whom would watch over Jaune and Emerald while she was away from Beacon. As much as she wanted to just take them with her; she knew they were not ready for the experience. So she was stuck trying to work out who, and when.

Obviously the Belladonna girl was the top of the list, though trying to balance things around her class schedule was proving to be difficult. With the pure amount of class time she had missed, forcing her to take additional classes, at least in the short term; and that meant her free time was almost non-existent. So that left two people; and one of them Professor Goodwitch she instantly dismissed. Cinder doubted her charges would take kindly to being watched by the person that had injured Emerald.

"The Headmaster." Cinder sighed. Picking up her Beacon scroll she swiped through the staff contacts until she found his. Her thumb hovered over the connect icon icon. Was she really going to ask a favour from the man that was the enemy of her mistress? Taking a slow breath she hit the icon and waited for the call to connect.

/=/

"Not an issue Miss Fall. I will happily do what I can to assist you." Ozpin paused listening for a few moments, before speaking again. "Again not an issue. I will follow whatever you have deemed appropriate for them to be doing while you are away. So if there are no further issues, I will meet you at your room prior to you leaving."

Ozpin disconnected the call and collapsed his scroll. He chuckled to himself, as he thought back over all his past lives, and how in very few of them he had ever been asked to be an actual babysitter; though that term might not apply to his duties in regards to Emerald and Jaune.

"It is your duty as Headmaster to assist your staff." Ozpin mentioned to himself as he sat back in his chair and lifted his mug, "and it would be a shame to loose the services of Miss Fall because I couldn't accommodate her when she needs the assistance."

/=/

Yang frowned. It was obvious the Beacon rumour mill was in full swing, as she took in the off putting looks, and witnessed many of the students whispering to each other as she and Blake entered the cafeteria. She was hoping Jasmine's blow up out side of their dorm room would be the end of it, but it appeared not. Blake looked even more sullen as she picked up a tray and selected a few items. Her shoulders were hunched and her head hung low. She was obviously embarrassed and doubting herself. Yang wasn't sure what she could do, to perk up her teammate and partner; aside from just remaining close in case she needed someone to vent to.

/=/

"Cinder wants to meet me tomorrow." Mercury informed Roman without looking up from his scroll. "Anything I should pass on; aside from that we're ready whenever she says to do it."

Roman was leaning back into his couch, feet up on the coffee table; puffing on his cigar. Nearby Neo sat idly eating a bowl of ice cream.

"Nothing I can think of. Like you said everything is in place, we just need her to sign off, and let it happen."

"I wouldn't have thought you'd be okay with all this." Mercury commented as he placed his scroll in his pocket and moved over to take a seat on the second couch. "Vale is your home. Don't you feel a little off doing what we're going to do?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but the end of the day I made a deal." Roman lifted the smouldering cigar stub from his lips and focused on Mercury, "As bad as that deal has turned out to be, if at the end of the day it means Neo and I stay among the living. Then I'm okay with what I've been ordered to do."

"People are going to die."

"Better them, than me."

/=/

Cinder sat back in her chair; placing her private scroll down on the coffee table next to her Beacon scroll. Everything was arranged. The only thing left to take care of was Watts' little request; whenever he decided to inform her of what it entails. She turned her attention to her wards. They were still on the couch in human form, their tails twitching lazily as they watched a cartoon about a young girl who like wandering around exploring. Cinder shook her head; it made no sense to her, but then again for now it was keeping Jaune and Emerald entertained.

"Guess I should order us some lunch." she said idly as she took note of the time display on her pair of scrolls.

Picking up her Beacon scroll she swiped through the staff contacts until she found the cafeteria's main line. She had been informed prior to having Jaune and Emerald put into her care, that the food prep staff were prepared to deliver meals to her room. Thumbing the connect icon she lifted the scroll to her ear and waited for the call to connect.

"I'll think I'll get us all something light." she commented to herself as she waited. "Emerald and Jaune should get used to eating a more balanced diet."

As soon as she said that out loud, she knew she was going to have an issue. The pair were basically carnivores. They had a preference for meat, particularly red meat; nearly raw red meat. No, she put her foot down in her mind. If she was, as planned, to be taking the pair from under Beacon's nose; then she needed to make sure they saw her as an alpha. If they balked when she finally made her move things would fall apart. She needed to be in charge, and if to underline that point she needed to force them to eat differently, she would.

"Yes, how are you?" Cinder cheerfully spoke, "This is Miss Fall, could I place an order for delivery to my room please?"

/=/

Cinder felt like she was almost free as she disembarked from the shuttle from Beacon to Vale. The Headmaster had arrived when he promised he would and after a few words about how to keep Jaune and Emerald occupied; namely the tv programs the pair showed the most interest in, she was off. Before Ozpin had arrived she had spent nearly half an hour instructing Jaune and Emerald to be on their best behaviour, and to remain in human form. Cinder sighed at the image in her mind. She had come to Vale to finish capturing all of the Fall Maiden's powers. She was at one point in the process of planning the fall of Beacon; and somehow that had all been set aside for her to become a school counsellor. Not to mention having to now look after two feral teens, basically turned her into, for the lack of a better term a single mother.

Shaking those thoughts away she made her way to the office building that housed her therapist's practice. She wasn't sure what to expect from this first session, but she knew after it was done she would be meeting up with Mercury and getting a first hand update on how the plans for the breech were progressing.

/=/

Ozpin raised an eyebrow and took a sip from his mug. Before him Emerald and Jaune stared at him; their heads tilted to the side, and their tails swishing back and forth. Ozpin wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but he was pretty confident that the pair were trying to size him up. Which if he was being honest with himself; was slightly unnerving.

"Well," he commented more to himself than the pair standing before him, "I guess we should watch some TV, shall we."

Ozpin knew it was a cop-out. But aside from taking the pair to the training room and witnessing first hand how they could move and interact with possible threats; like the training bots, he had nothing else at his disposal. He knew Miss Fall would only be a few hours. Surely he could keep them occupied for that length of time.

/=/

Blake was miserable, and her team was at a loss on how to break her out of it. They themselves were also feeling the strain of the constant looks, and whispers. With no one coming forward to tell them what was being said they all felt to some degree like pariahs. They were being avoided, and in some cases completely ignored.

"We shouldn't concern ourselves with what others are saying about us." Weiss offered, she seeming to be the least affected by the turn of events regarding their reputation.

"Easy for you to say." commented Yang who was sitting dejected on Weiss's bunk next to Ruby.

"It's not, but we have to start somewhere. Not like any of it's true; whatever they're saying."

"She called us cheaters." whined Ruby.

"Who, Jasmine?" asked Weiss, "Who cares. She's understandably angry, but once she has time to calm down and consider her words, she'll understand that it is not the case."

"She was my first friend, here at Beacon."

"And I would say that has not changed. She'll come around and realize her mistake."

"You maybe used to the looks Weiss, but we're not. We're being judged and unfairly." Yang spoke up, her normal bravado gone.

"This is all because of me." Blake finally added from her place, huddled on her bunk.

"It was an accident; a mistake. It is not anyone's fault, least of all yours."

"I brought them to combat class."

"You did," Weiss agreed, "But its not like you had any other options, or knew they would react how they did."

"But..."

"NO buts," Weiss snapped, "the lot of you. We know the truth, and eventually like any other rumour this will all die down. Stop acting like this is the end of the world. You're huntresses."

Her three teammates mutter words of agreement and nodded their heads in a subdued manner. Weiss hid it well, but she too could, and was feeling constant judgmental eyes aimed at herself and her team. In some regards she was used to it, due to her station in the Schnee family. It still did not make it easy to deal with, and she needed to, somehow, break the air of defeat the rest of her team was stuck in.

/=/

Mercury sat across from Cinder, in the small cafe that had been chosen as the meeting spot. She sipped on a cup of herbal tea, while he nursed a glass of pop. They sat in silence for a little while before Cinder spoke up. Due to the public nature of their meeting spot he knew he'd have to temper his words to vague, and bland in case someone overheard their conversation.

"So?"

"Everything is arranged. Even improved upon." Mercury replied, and when he noticed Cinder's raised eyebrows he continued, "Automation. It has all be fitted with remote ... access."

"I see. Why?"

"We had the time, and our contractor felt it would be more beneficial."

"So what's the time table?"

"It is ready to start whenever you give the word."

"Anything else?"

"Nope."

"It will be a little longer until we can start the job." Cinder informed her underling. "How are our associates handling the delays?"

"Everyone is okay, for now; but some of our hired help is getting antsy."

"Then impress them the important of patience. This program can not be rushed, and the timing must be spot on."

"I understand. Anything else?"

"Another project has been... brought to my attention. Do you know anything about it?"

"No. Will it be an issue in regards to our priority project?"

"Unknown. It may delay it even more depending on what it entails."

"I understand."

"Keep me informed of any further developments."

"I will."

With that Cinder nodded her head; fished out some lien and placed it on the table before her. Without a further word she rose from her seat and headed off, in the direction of the Beacon shuttles. Mercury waited for her to leave, and even after eyeing the small pile of lien on the table, he finished his own drink and stood up. As much as he wanted to swipe it, he knew appearances were everything right now; so he left it and walked off.

/=/

When Cinder Fall returned to her assigned apartment; she didn't expect it to appear as if a bomb had gone off inside. She stood in the open doorway looking at the utter chaos, and remains of her furniture. Literally the only thing that had remained untouched was the TV hanging on the wall. The absurd cartoon dog jumping around the screen. Slowly she turned her head, and focused on what had to be the cause of the destruction. Ozpin stood in the kitchenette, his back pressed against the counter, his cane held out horizontally before him; and his trademark mug held protectively high above his head. Crouched at the entrance to the small area was Jaune and Emerald in grimm swishing back and forth in a playful manner, as they eyed the Headmaster.

"What the hell happened here?"

"Um... Miss Fall... ah yes." Ozpin stuttered as if trying to come up with a plausible and reasonable explanation of the situation.

"I'm waiting." she informed the Headmaster as she stepped into the small living space and let the door close behind her.

"Well... um... you see..."

"Jaune! Emerald!" Cinder let her voice rise in volume slightly. Just enough not to be yelling but to also push the point that she wanted their undivided attention.

The pair turned and tilted their heads in unison, tails still swaying back and forth behind them. Cinder pointed to a spot on the floor before her and the pair backed away from the kitchenette to approach the spot indicated. Cinder for the life of her could swear the pair had a pleased and proud look in their eyes. The torn and shredding clothing laying on the floor told her partly what had happened. The pair had, despite her telling them not to; shifted to their grimm forms. Once the pair had taken seat before her, she once again turned her attention to the Headmaster.

"Explain."

"Well you see..." Ozpin stammered as he lower his cane and his mug. "They were very well behaved for the most part."

"This does not look like well behaved. What happened?"

"Well they were showing undue interest in my mug, so I let each of them have a sip..."

"You gave them coffee!?"

"No. Heavens no. It's hot chocolate. I don't always drink coffee; there are other delightful hot beverages to savour."

"So you gave them a taste, and?"

"They liked it."

"And?"

"Decided they wanted more, but I didn't have enough to really share..."

"So let me get this straight." Cinder sighed, "You gave them a taste of something sweet, but didn't have enough to share... so what they decided to chase you around my apartment for more?"

"Yes. That is pretty much it."

"What am I supposed to do? They now have a taste for something sweet and caffeinated, plus my apartment is a disaster zone!"

"I will have everything that has been damaged replaced before the end of the day." Ozpin affirmed as he set his mug down and straightened his collar. Cinder did not miss Jaune and Emerald entirely focusing on the movement of the mug in question. "And I will also make sure... "

"You're about to bribe me with access to unlimited amounts of hot chocolate; aren't you."

"Well I... " Ozpin paused showing some obvious discomfort in trying to address the situation he had inadvertently caused, "I would be remiss if I did not take actions to help smooth over the matter."

"Do you think it is, or was wise to give to fairly overly energetic individuals a stimulant?"

"Well in hindsight..."

"I'm going to need access to a training room." Cinder sighed.

"I will make sure one is available post haste." Ozpin offered.

"Jaune. Emerald." the pair took their attention off the mug and focused on Cinder. "Go get dressed."

The pair tilted their heads, and then turned their attention back to the mug, that started it all.

"Go get dressed. We're going to go play."

That brought their undivided attention back to Cinder, and together they stood, before walking off towards the open door of the room they had been sleeping in. Cinder watched them go, and then turned her own attention back to the absolute shambles her living space was in.

"Everything will be replaced before you return from their playtime." Ozpin informed her as he picked up his mug, slid around the counter and her, before reaching the door and quickly exiting out into the hall.

Cinder heard the door close behind her, and after another sigh dropped her head in defeat. This was just what she needed. Two energetic, easily distracted teens, capable to turning into great grimm cats; high on sugar. And she thought planning the fall of Beacon was difficult. In the middle of her remuneration of how everything was so backwards to what she had envisioned; Emerald and Jaune exited their room, both dressed in Beacon uniforms.

"Play?" the pair asked in unison.

/==/

So slightly shorter chapter than I usually post. This one is just recently finished and will have typos. Probably plenty of them. On another note. Out of all my stories I have the most firm idea of how I want this offering to go; so it will be the focus of my writing efforts for the time being.

I would also like to apologize for the long delay in updating.

With that said I hope you enjoyed; and as always comments, suggestions and critiques are always welcome.