"Oww, oww oww."
"Come on sit down, this can't be helping." Qrow was following Ruby around the room as she paced back and forth holding her belly.
"I can't! It hurts and I don't get why she is doing this!" Ruby hugged her belly. "Come on stop please."
Qrow finally got her stop and hugged her belly. "Come on little one, we need to go to Haven. Please stop kicking so much."
Ozpin got up and pet over her stomach with both hands. They were all trying to grasp the bond with their child to figure out what the heck was wrong. "Please stop, you haven't done this before please."
Finally, their little girl stopped. They could feel, something unsettled from her but nothing to really understand what had set her off. "Maybe you should stay here today." Ozpin said. He was worried, their girl had been very well behaved only ever really kicking when she had something to say. This was like a temper tantrum.
Ruby shook her head. "No way I am missing classes. Ow!" She bent over and Qrow had to hold her up.
"Well we can guess what she is mad about. Though I don't understand why." Ozpin helped Ruby sit down on the bed. He knelt and pressed an ear to her belly. He could feel the kicking against his cheek. "I understand that there is something you don't like about Haven, but punishing your mother is not the way to communicate." Even as he said the words he tried to send a feeling of what it meant to their child through the fledgling bond. He knew she could not understand words, but had communicated to them in other ways. From the past examples her kicking was usually more just a way for her to get their attention.
The kicking stopped and what they felt surprised them. It was worry, how did their child even know that emotion? Furthermore what on Remnant could she be worried about?
Ruby stared down at her belly. "I don't know what to say. I have to go to school, could she just be upset about the changes in our lifestyle?"
"Maybe." Qrow said and they got up again. "Come on we are going to be late."
"You guys go on ahead I need to speak to Lydia." Ozpin said as they headed downstairs he parted and headed into kitchen were Lydia was having her morning tea.
"How is Ruby?" Lydia asked as Ozpin sat on a stool across from her.
"Our daughter was kicking up a storm and when we tried to understand her through the bond all we got from her was a sense of worry. Which I don't understand at all, how can a unborn child even know worry?"
"It's possible she has been passively picking up emotions and understanding them through the bond. I'd be surprised if she doesn't show a more developed mental state then most babies when she is born. She does have access to all three of your minds all of the time, or we can assume when she if wished for it. Though I am at as much of a loss as to you as to why she would be worried." Lydia frowned. "I will revisit my mother's journals, maybe they will be able to provide some insight." When Oz traced the grain of the table with a nail she asked. "There's something else, isn't there."
Ozpin swallowed his stomach twisting in knots. "I know… Skogr has been gone for a while."
Lydia set her cup down and looked directly into his eyes. Ozpin averted in seconds and spoke to the table. "I was wondering if I could take wood from your grove to make a crib for my daughter. I can't assume to know his mind, but it would be an honor to crave with his wood again. To use it to make a safe place for my child."
"Ozpin. You know my husband would allow you to take from the grove, why are you asking like this?" Lydia asked.
"I haven't been there since we scattered his ashes. I didn't want to assume, I don't even know who tends it anymore." Ozpin mumbled to the table.
"Oz dear, it's a oak forest. It doesn't need tending more then once a century. What you did with my husband was more for both of your enjoyments. You made him very happy. Take whatever you need from the grove Oz, it would bring me joy to see you working again." Lydia got up and walked over and kissed him on the temple. "This is your home too. When I pass I fully intend to leave it all to you."
The old soul looked up to her, she always made him feel both small and safe. "I don't know what to say. But thank you and you are not allowed to pass anytime soon."
"Oh I don't plan too. Say, have you three picked a name yet? You know it's a girl so why the delay?" Lydia asked.
"We want to wait till she's born, it just feels like the right thing to do." Ozpin said softly with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I see. Well you should get going or you'll be late for your own classes. You're already on thin ice in the news so you have to be perfect right now my becan valen." The old woman kissed his head again and Oz glanced at the clock. The stool spun on one leg from the force of his departure. Lydia laughed softly and steadied it, then walked out into the living room to the mantle.
Upon it was a picture of a man, grey in his old age, with a rack of antlers ranging back growing from just behind his temples. His eyes were a warm chocolate brown and his features strong. He held Ozpin under one arm and was ruffling his hair they were both laughing. Lydia took the wood carved portraits down and gazed fondly upon it. "Oh Skogr, I wish you could have seen how much your son has grown."
"Turn to page three hundred and ninety four. Where we will be going over the infrastructure of Mistral and efficient ways to create long term camps for recently attacked villages."
Ruby opened her book and sighed. Not that she didn't like her dad's classes, he even let her sit close to a door in case she needed to make a dive for the bathroom. It was just this stuff was so dull. Ozpin and Qrow were splitting the actual first response classes, while Tai was covering infrastructure and the plethora of math that was needed to understand any of it. She did like math but she at the moment her mind was on other things. Mostly she was worried about why her baby was worried. What made this child in her womb different from the normal.
Her friends sat around her, all listening and reading diligently. She glanced over to the other side of the room where team CRNL all at in a row having somehow survived Beacon and had also made their way to Mistral. She wasn't happy to see them and so far they had blissfully ignored each other but then it had only been a few days. Ruby had a sinking feeling that everyone in the school was still sorting out the who's who of everyone and soon the dynamic would change. She worried about Qrow as well, the last time he taught he had been bullied mercilessly due to his drinking. Now he wasn't drinking but she had already heard people talking about his connections to the Branwen Tribe and his Semblance. Something bad was going to happen she could feel it.
Thankfully the class passed without incident, Taiyang was so new to all the students they didn't know what to make of him. Well aside the fact he was Ruby and Yang's father. The curriculum was faster so students and teachers were kept on their toes to make up for the lost year. The bell rang and everyone packed up, Ruby a little slower then her friends as she was taking everything at a slower pace. With her daughter's temper tantrum that morning it seemed a wise idea.
As she walked down the steps she ran into Cardin Winchester. He had gotten taller and broader, not Ozpin tall but he might end up there. He smirked at her and purred. "Ahhhh, if it isn't little Ruby Rose. Must be good, knowing you'll pass this class."
Ruby rolled her eyes, she had grown way past caring about him. "What are you trying to say Cardin?"
"Well he is your Dad right? It pretty much guarantee you'll have no problems. Daddy play favorites? Come to think of it you'll have an easy time of the whole semester. What with you being fuck buddies with the Headmaster AND that bandit shitstain."
" . ."
Cardin froze as Taiyang stood directly behind him, he slowly turned to find Taiyang glaring at him with his arms crossed. The rest of his team were quick to hurry out the door and leave their leader.
"Detention I think and you better pray to whatever deity you believe in none of the teachers ever hear such comments again. Return after classes Mister Winchester." Tai nodded to Ruby who made a speedy retreat.
The cafeteria was a cacophony of noise as a few too many students were packed into a small space. Ruby headed up to the main table, there was an empty chair between Ozpin and Qrow which she happy parked in and was quickly given a good morning kiss from Oz. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah, she hasn't kicked up a storm like that since we got to school. Though she does turn every few minutes." Ruby purred as Ozpin nuzzled her neck while spreading a hand over her belly. "Hmm I can feel it, maybe a doctor's visit is in order."
Ozpin's Scroll rang and with a perplexed look Oz pulled it out and set it on speaker holding it between the three of them. "Yes Lydia?"
"Oz~ love. I need a favour."
That informal address and purr coming from his Scroll drew the attention of the rest of the staff and some of the closer student body.
"What?" Ozpin eyed his scroll suspiciously.
"My DJ just cancelled and you know how I like to have a party for the Wylde Hunt. It's the Saturday coming up and I haven't been able to get any of my other regulars to fill in. I've also been getting requests for you to come and DJ since you left."
Ozpin groaned and ran a hand over his face. "Lydia, you know how much I love to DJ. But I'm teaching two classes, arranging a cleansing of the forest, I need Qrow and I have to find replacement teachers. I'm swamped!"
Qrow and Ruby covered their mouths trying to stifle giggles. "Best reference ever." Ruby snickered.
"Most creative use of that one I've seen."
"Come now Oz. I've got people that can help with two of those things. Heck I've got people that can probably do them better then you can. Just think about it, the lights the crowd, the pulse of the club through your body. Hmm I image you'll want to get painted, more importantly get Qrow painted. Imagine him dancing to your music on my stage." Lydia purred like she was uttering the sweetest sin.
Ozpin's head hit the table with a thump. "You win."
"Good boy. I'll start arranging things on this side. Thank you." Lydia hung up.
Oz whimpered into the table.
Ruby reached over at pat his back. "Come now it can't be that bad."
"I lost all my music files at Beacon! I'll have to go digging through Lydia's collection and see what I can put together in under a week! I mean I think I saw a collection of my old industrial rock but industrial went out of style ages ago. Ugh! I haven't done a Wylde Hunt night in ages!" Ozpin shoved himself up and slumped in his chair.
"Well it is the Wylde Hunt, at least you don't have to think of a theme." Ruby said, she really didn't have any idea what this was about.
"It's harder when I can't pick the theme. I mean I know of a band or two, but I'll need an two hours music at the very least. That is not easy to put together." Ozpin rubbed his hands over his face going through his memory.
"Electro is a safe bet." Qrow offered.
"Qrow, it's the Wylde Hunt."
"Hey so long as it gets people randy." Qrow shrugged.
"No."
"Then I guess you're hitting up the Omnia." Qrow took a drink of his juice.
Ozpin pulled a set of wireless headphones out of his pocket and put them on. "Don't mind me if I spent most of the next week plugged in."
Ruby giggled. "I get the feeling we'll enjoy the fruits of your labours."
Meanwhile, Glynda, Peter and Bart were all wondering just who the heck Lydia was to Oz that she could get him to do something so huge with just a phone call. "Ozpin." Peter asked. "Just where does this lady want you to work?"
Ozpin pulled off a headphone. "Lydia? She's the owner of The Crimson. I used to perform there in a few different functions. DJ'ing was one of my favourites, haven't done it for her since I left for Beacon."
Glynda's brow skyrocketed. "The sex club? The one that costs a small fortune to get in with one of the strictest dress codes I've ever seen?" She blinked a few times. "You worked at a sex club?"
"I'm amazed you know so much about it. Where did you think I learned my tricks?" Ozpin asked smirking at her while she turned a tomato red. "Lydia was a very thorough teacher."
Qrow and Ruby fought to keep straight faces and failed. "Oh yeah totally. Part of me really wants to see that collar she had you in again. You were so whipped! It was amazing." Qrow sighed happily at the memories.
Ozpin scowled. "That was a one time thing! It will NOT be happening again." He gestured one with his finger. "And you guys weren't supposed to be there."
"Hey she invited us and I am so glad she did. It was fun." Ruby smirked, making Oz change colours was pretty fun. "Plus you so came out on top of that one."
"I'm just gonna sit here and be grateful there are no cameras allowed." Ozpin sulked.
"Just what happened?" Peter asked genuinely interested.
"Lydia caught wind of some of the stupid he pulled at Beacon and took it out on his lovely red ass. He was late coming home once so I called Lydia and asked if he was coming home soon. She invited us to the Crimson, so we go and find him waiting on tables in not but a g-string, heels and a really heavy ornate collar." Ruby purred.
Bartholomew pressed a hand to his noise. "I think I'm going to have a nose bleed."
"It was brilliant." Qrow said. "I mean I've seen him in costume a few times but seeing him as Lydia's play thing was a totally different ball game."
"You are so getting tied up with a prostate massager and left alone for at least half an hour when we get home." Ozpin growled at Qrow.
"Sounds fun."
"With a cock ring."
Qrow's glee fell away. "You wouldn't dare."
Ozpin leaned over and purred. "Try me."
"You two are terrible." Glynda said covering her face with a hand.
"Thanks we try." Ozpin and Qrow said in unison while Ruby giggled.
"You lot do realize this is a public space?" Peach asked, her cheeks were a impressive shade of crimson.
"This is a post secondary institution Peach, we are all adults here." Ozpin turned his attention to her with an almost bored expression before it changed to curious and he cocked his head. "Are you alright Peach? You've changed a great deal since Beacon, it's not like you to care about such things."
"A great deal has changed since you left us. Even you have, you didn't used to be so blatant about things." Peach said. "Not to mention what you did to the lower city only months ago."
"Peach. I behaved as was required of me at Beacon. My chains are broken and I can be much more of myself now. Also it has been over a year, we are allowed to change in that period." Ozpin said much more to his old tones.
"I just don't think you changed for the better." She said and got up from the table. "Excuse me I have work to get too."
Qrow watched her go and said. "That one is going to cause trouble~." At Oz's silence he looked over. "You okay Oz?"
Ozpin was staring down at his worn hands, battered and scared. Was she right? He shook his head and stood giving Ruby another kiss on the cheek in his departure. "Excuse me, my classes are done for the day and I need to get to work. Lydia better have been serious when she said she had help for me."
As he left their daughter kicked sharply. "Oww." Ruby cradled her belly petting over it trying to sooth the child within.
Peter pursed his lips. "I get the feeling that those two are going to clash till something explodes."
Ozpin again parted from Ruby and Qrow when school went out. They headed off to see how the teams had rearranged their rooms while Ozpin was doing his best to slip out of the city. Easier said than done when he was in the news at almost every major news hour. Still he managed to get out without getting into trouble and headed out into the forest.
It was not a flat expanse like much of the area around it. The part of the woodland that Lydia owned had many hills and undercurrents of rock. The canopy of conifers bloated out the sunlight, fog curling over the ground. Ozpin's feet knew where to take him and he found upon a oak tree a carved depiction of an serpent dragon. The sigil of Lydia's house. Below it was a metal sign, "Property of the family Schwarzer-Wald. No trespassing." ivy clung to the sign almost hiding it from view.
Ozpin paused looking at it, he reached out and pulled the ivy away brushing the sign down. The wind blew through him and the forest creaked and moaned with it. A strong chill went up Ozpin's spine, he hadn't been here without Skogr or Lydia. It felt different, more oppressive like it was sick or angry. Oz silently straightened and a child's laughter reached his ears. It set his heart pounding, no one was supposed to ever come here.
Foolishly Oz ran after the voice deeper into the dark gaping forest. Fog thickening around him. A minute later the voice was all around him, in giggles.
"Papa." The voice called out in a whispering voice. "Papa."
Ozpin spun around trying to see the source of the voice. "Where are you?"
The giggles came from one place now and he ran again, the forest swallowing him up the sunlight a thin veneer through the branches.
"Papa."
The voice rang in his ears and was all around him. The fog cleared and Oz's heart dropped, Skogr he remember the order clearly. "Never come to the centre."
The tree appeared to be dead, gnarled and bony. Thin in long branches but a fatness to it's trunk like a old man who drank himself to death. A breeze turned the dead-life over the floor and Oz to see the bones of many many people. Bits of red entrails that would never rot.
"Papa." Now the voice was behind him.
Ozpin spun and the forest stole his breath.
She was maybe thirteen, big silver eyes. Qrow's nose, Ruby's lips… his brow. That hair such a dark black that it consumed the light, his black but with a slight curl that feathered feature of Qrow's. Only by her right temple was a long shock of dark blue hair. She wore a white lace dress that reached the forest floor but left her arms bare. There was no doubt in his mind that this was his daughter. He took a step towards her and reach out, seeing his hand before him made him stop. Skogr had once said. "Never touch a vision."
Ozpin slowly lowered his hand. "You're… you are my unborn daughter."
She smiled, her pale moonlight skin was a perfect copy of Ruby's. "Why haven't you named me yet?" Her voice was soft and angelic.
"We don't know what you would look like. We don't want to name you poorly." Ozpin said fighting the urge deep in his bones to go to her to touch her.
She spun on the spot her long hip length hair spun around in a halo. "Now you do. Name me."
"I can't. Not without your mother and… dad." Ozpin said taking a step closer to her.
"Name me."
"I can't. It would be wrong." Again Oz saw his hand come into view reaching out to touch her and again he pulled it back. Forced himself to take a step back and another. "This isn't real. Skogr told me to be wary of things like you."
Tears like starlight gathered in her eyes. "I'm not a THING!"
Her sobs called on every instinct that Ozpin had, he obeyed and returned to her and gathered her into his arms. "I'm sorry." Ohh she felt so real, she smelt nice not like Ruby or Qrow or even himself but a mix of them all. She had Ruby's roses, Qrow's rain and just a little of pine, in the end it seemed like she was a new forest or a garden. She was warm, she felt so real.
She snuggled into him as he knelt holding her tight and let out a relieved sigh. "Please I need a name. I need it's protection. So many things try to kill me here, a name would finally protect me."
Ozpin squeezed his eyes shut and held her tighter.
"Please, please papa. I need a name."
The forest creaked around them, that twisted tree was watching them. Ozpin didn't feel the roots till they tightened around his calves. They snapped back and yanked Oz down and through the bones and dead leaf rot.
"Papa!" She ran after him as the tree pulled him in and grabbed at his hands. "A name! Please a name!"
Ozpin's voice strained as he tried to shout the first name that came to mind but pain racked through him. He only managed a wheezing sound, he could almost smell the burning of his body. He spun and thrashed finally turned to kick at the roots as that tree came closer. He tried to scream but the smell grew stronger.
"No, no you can't have him. I need him!" She gave up grabbing at him and swept a hand out. A purple so dark it was almost black strike of Aura just like what Qrow like to do cut through the roots around his legs.
The tree screamed!
Oz strained to speak, to give her a name. Only for for his voice fail and for him to cough blood flying from his lips. The fog closed in around them again, the terror in her face haunted Ozpin. Out from the fog red hands huge and splotching with black claws reached out and snatch the young girl away and they vanished into the fog.
It turned to fire and Ozpin finally managed a scream. At the sound it all vanished and the forest appeared normal. Well as much as the Schwarzer Wald could ever be normal. Ozpin gasped into the dirt, bones all around him. The fire was gone, the fog was gone, his daughter was gone and all he could smell was earth.
Ozpin looked up and swallowed harshly, feeling all the scarring in his throat. Beside him was several large branches of wood. It was dead but free of decay. He started to get up and turned to sit on his behind and looked up at the ghastly tree. "You can't expect me to take it now."
The whole forest moaned at him again, a wind blew and one of the branches turned and touched his hand. Ozpin took a long breath and slowly got up to stand. "Lydia will know what to make of this." He gathered up the wood, more out of a fear of offending the these woods then out of any want.
The fog slowly came back and male giggles and happy laughs. Ozpin didn't recognized the sounds it was only the deep voice that made him look up.
"Come back here Ozpin."
Skogr had been a big man. Bigger then himself, taller, broader like the elk he was the fanaus type of. A boy, not even fifteen stopped running ahead and looked back to Skogr. The full gown Ozpin's eyes went wide, it was easy to see that the boy was him but he had no memories of being that young. Something wasn't right, it was like he was seeing it from the perspective of someone or something else.
"I'll be fine! I'm not afraid of any Grimm." The boy Oz turned on his heel and started to run away.
The memory of this happening hit Ozpin like a bag of bricks. He started off after them, running along side Skogr as he saw something he hadn't at the time this had happen. As he ran Skogr touched a tree and a wooden spear all but leapt into his fingers.
The howls of Grimm soon filled the forest and they came upon boy Ozpin. Grimm were closing in on all sides as Skogr threw his spear, the thunderous crack resonated through air. It was not the sound of the impact of spear into a Beowolf's chest but the roots of the forest shooting up from the ground and ripping the Grimm apart while all shrouded by fog.
Skogr slowed down to a walk as the Grimm's remains scattered with the wind and found the young Ozpin curled up against the trunk of a tree. Ozpin remembered that he had gotten stuck in a memory and hadn't been able get out of it on his own. Skogr knelt gathered Ozpin up into his arms and started to pet up and down his back. "It's alright, Oz. Papa will keep you safe."
Ozpin shook his head. He remembered the 'It's alright, Oz.' but not the rest. His daughter had called him Papa even how Skogr hugged him had been a mirror of what Ozpin had just done for his own offspring. The vision faded away again and again Ozpin found his footprints and followed them back the way he had come.
His heart wouldn't slow and Ozpin couldn't help the terror that was sinking into him. The forest was acting so different than he remembered. He remember this being a safe place, a happy place for him and Skogr. This was not that and as he raced past that metal sign, he didn't notice till much later when he reviewed his memories that it was covered in vines again.
It was was well past dark when Ozpin got home. It was like time had warped while he had been in the forest. Like she always did when something was wrong, Lydia opened the door and let him in. Looking at the sizeable collection of wood in his arms. Neither said a word as Lydia reached up and cupped his cheek as she sank into his mind.
When she was finished she wordlessly let him in and closed the door behind him. Ozpin walked straight of the living room while Lydia took a pinch of salt from a jar on the side table. She drew a long dense salt line at the eve of the door. She walked to the living room to find Ozpin stripped down into just his shirt and pants with the wood he and brought sitting by the hearth.
The silence in the room was stifling. Lydia's gaze flicked to Skogr's portrait on the mantle and she wondered what he would do. The dark hearth stared at her and she went to it and knelt and started a fire. The atmosphere reminded her of a Rymrgand's Night, that something wanted into the house. That something had followed Ozpin home. She made a roaring fire, it would keep anything from coming down the chimney.
"Help me with salt. We are putting it on every window and door. I've a bad feeling about tonight."
Ozpin was startled out of his brood by Lydia's voice in his head. Taking the warning he reached out to Ruby and Qrow. "Speak nothing aloud till I give the word."
"What's wrong Oz?" Qrow asked.
"I don't know, but I am afraid and so is Lydia."
"Silence it is." Ruby said, having already learned more than enough to take Lydia's fear seriously.
Lydia grabbed the two pots of salt that were always on the mantle, handed one to Oz and picked up a pure iron horseshoe. They started in that room, Ozpin drew a thick line of salt in the doorway as Lydia walked through the room holding the horseshoe by the middle hanging it on her middle finger and only that finger. She walked to every corner along the walls making a complete circuit of the room and then over all the places to sit.
The pair traveled from one room to another. Salt on every window, in every door frame. Lydia walking through each thoroughly with the cold iron horseshoe. Bit by bit the cold silent oppression started to fade at least in the room they closed off and cleansed. Even in the hall using the salt they broke it in half and Lydia cleansed it. The stairs came next, they kept close to each other, all sorts of nasty fates could be met upon a staircase.
"Ozpin I feel strange. What are you two doing?"
"Lydia can you hear Ruby?" Ozpin asked.
"Yes. Lets go do your room right now. Bottleneck the stairs so whatever it is can't get down there and try to push to the east side of the house or banish it out a window. Dawn light just to be thorough."
They carefully headed up the stairs and into Oz's attic room. Ruby and Qrow were standing by a window in housecoats. The feeling was stronger in this room. Ozpin zipped over and put a line of salt on the window nearest them while Lydia drew a line of salt behind her. She picked up the horseshoe again as Ozpin pulled Qrow and Ruby away from the window and drew a salt circle around the three of them.
The feeling of oppression pressed down on Lydia but did not touch the other three. She walked to the bed and looked under. She of saw nothing but as she past the shoe through the space a shriek filled the air. She saw the shape of baby but it vanished quickly and the feeling with it. As soon as the feeling left Ozpin slammed the window shut and drew a line of salt.
Ruby opened her mouth to speak but Ozpin covered it with a hand and shook his head. "We haven't done the rest of the house yet. Stay in the circle. It could come back through a unprotected window. I'll let you know when we are done."
Ozpin and Lydia departed and worked through the house west to east. However the house already felt better then when Ozpin arrived and continued to improve. Still they didn't speak a word allowed till the last line was drawn.
Ozpin let out a sigh of relief. "I can't believe I didn't notice it follow me home." He sent to Ruby and Qrow. "We're good now. Sleep if you can, I need to have a talk with Lydia but then I'll be right up… I'll draw a salt line around our bed too, move it off the wall please."
They heard the thud of the bed moving a moment later and Ozpin had to smile at that. Lydia took a deep breath. "Right then, I think we could do with a cup of tea."
"Tea fixes everything." Ozpin said and they headed to the kitchen the weight truly gone from the house.
The pair headed down to the kitchen and Lydia put the kettle on as Ozpin sat on a stool. His mind turned back to the events in the forest. "Lydia, you recall the vision where I was younger and Skogr called me son?"
"Yes. That was the first time you ever saw him fight wasn't it? The vision?" Lydia asked sitting down across from him and folding her hands together.
"Yeah. I remember when he took me there, I was so cocky and didn't pay enough attention to my surroundings. Got caught up in a memory and the Grimm attacked. For a guy who claimed to be passive Skogr had one hell of an aim." Ozpin said softly thinking back on Skogr.
"Just because he didn't like to fight doesn't mean he couldn't defend himself, or the people who mattered to him." Lydia said with a soft smile.
"It's odd, how I feel the need to grieve for him, I already did that when he passed." Ozpin said a deep sadness in his heart that he thought he had put to bed.
Lydia let out a sigh and removed a canister of sugar for Oz's tea. "My love, grief fades but it never leaves us, not completely. Think about it, grief comes from the feeling of love we have for those we've lost. If we didn't feel the need to grieve then it would be like saying we don't hold love for that person anymore."
"Does that mean you still . . ."
"Everyday. It doesn't have to be painful but it does have to exist." Lydia said getting up as the water came off the boil with a flick and set about making them tea.
"Lyda… he called me his son in the vision. I don't remember him ever saying that to me." Ozpin couldn't look at her, he hugged himself instead and listened to her sigh.
"Oz. Our relationship is… complicated. In comparison yours with Skogr was much simpler." She took a deep breath. "Yes. Skogr loved you dearly, we never managed to have a child of our own and you were that to him. It was only because of how our own relationship started he never said anything. You were hurt, fractured, damaged when you came to me and neither of us wanted to confuse you by how emotions can shift." Lydia pursed her lips. "That may even be why the forest showed you as a child, it was how Skogr saw you."
Ozpin stared at the wood grain before slowly hauling his gaze up. "What about you? Did your feelings change?"
Lydia only smiled and said. "I am what you need me to be. When you don't need me anymore, I'll let you know all the different ways I love you."
Ozpin blushed and smiled, it felt nice to hear her say that. He had a lot to think about already with Skogr and just that one line from her. "Thank you."
Lydia served the tea and Ozpin let the blueberry herbal calm him. "What about the first vision? With my daughter, she kept asking me for a name."
"Magic can be both a wonder and burden and the grove is full of it, Skogr swore it and I believe his words. If the vision of your child is calling for a name then maybe you should listen to it. Names are power my little becan valen and a good start to protect the unborn babe." Lydia said, Ozpin wasn't the only one would be reviewing that memory over and over.
"Hmmm." Ozpin finished his tea.
Lydia got up and walked over to give him a kiss atop his fuzzy head. "Talk to Ruby and Qrow about it, not the vision maybe but definitely about names. It can do no harm to discuss and don't worry about the wood. I will give a look over and do a few things Skogr taught me to make sure it bares no ill will."
"Thank you." Ozpin got up and hugged her. "I'm going to go draw some more salt and go to bed."
"Try to sleep well."
"I will. Goodnight." Ozpin headed upstairs to draw the salt and when he crawled in with his lovers, he and Qrow held Ruby between them. Providing the best shield they could, though for a long time none could sleep. However a foreign feeling came from over them, a heart wrenching voice singing a soft lullaby and they quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.
Lydia found Ozpin in one of the rooms in her house that hadn't been used in a very long time. She strode over the already cluttered floor and threw the curtains open allowing light into the room. She was worried about him over the past couple days he had drawn inward and thrown himself into work. Ignoring the wood that begged to be carved.
"Arg! Hey!" Ozpin shielded his eyes.
"You know better then to work in the dark." Lydia said putting her hands on her hips.
"It helps me think, plus it's mostly just listening and adding plus transitions." Ozpin said and stretched in his computer chair.
"Making progress then?" Lydia asked walking over and peering over his shoulder.
"Yeah, lots of my old stuff is still good and I recorded a few new things last night. Surprise for the fans you say have been asking after me. Some of it is not quite on the theme of the night, but I'm trying not to fall back on the industrial metal that's so common." Ozpin said and rubbed the corror of his eyes.
"Well come and take a break. You've a few other things to do and rules to adhere too." Lydia pulled him up out of his seat. "Plus I got you an artist."
"Who?" Ozpin said now much happier to move.
"Come on you'll see." Lydia pulled him through the house and as soon as he saw the person in the living room he jumped back and hissed. "What is she doing here?"
Lydia pulled him forward. "She is here to take your blood for testing. Which I'm sure you haven't had done near often enough and you know it's a rule of the club."
Ozpin raised his shoulders, hackles up and growled louder.
"Really Ozpin that's how you thank me for putting you back together twice." Doctor Rutile smirked pulling her blonde hair up into a ponytail. "I'm taking your blood as well as Qrow, Ruby and Weiss. As well as anyone else who wants to play at the club."
"I already reached out to your teams, I imagine they will be here soon. Now sit." Lydia pushed Oz towards a chair.
"Shirt off Ozpin. I might as well look at your scaring now that the ink is gone." Rutile said as Ozpin crossed the room grumbling as he pulled his shirt off and and sat down.
Rutile swallowed looking over the now clear scars, they warped the entirety of his back. She knew they went further. "How are earth did you get them this healed within an year?"
"You'll want to hit me if I tell you."
"You used your Aura didn't you." Rutile scowled at him.
"Yes." Ozpin said and braced himself.
The good natured swat came from Lydia for the doctor who couldn't. Rutile picked up the medical band and wrapped it tight around Oz's right arm. "Alright I'm sure you know the drill."
Ozpin obediently clenched his fist and looked away as she readied a needle, poked him and filled the four vials of blood. As she finished up teams RJR and RWBY plus Qrow walked in. Ruby, Nora and Ren all said in unison. "Hello~ Nurse!"
The tall man laughed. "Brilliant!"
"It's Doctor." Rutile removed the needle and pressed an absorbent pad to his arm. "Hold that."
"Okay. How have you guys been?" Ozpin asked as the young adults collected, a few glaring at the table full of medical stuff.
"Good. We rearranged our rooms. One for storage and one for sleeping." Nora said as Ren walked over to the bags and opened the cooler bag.
"Red tag Ren." Rutile said as she moved to Oz's other arm and swabbed down deltoid. Ren walked over and handed Rutile a needle.
"What's that?" Ozpin started to inch away.
Rutile stabbed the seritzed spot and pushed it down and it was done within three seconds. "That," She said and removed the needle, uncaring when the larger man yelped at the sting. "Was your tetanus shot. You didn't think you'd be getting away from those." She put a bandaged on the site went back to his other side and pulled the pad away happy to see the bleeding had already stopped and it had healed. She went to the table and disposed of the needle in a biohazard bin and picked up another. "And this is whooping cough."
"Isn't one enough?"
Ren could hear the quiver in Oz's voice. "Are you afraid of needles?"
"I never said that!" Ozpin snapped but it was all over his face.
"He is." Lydia said. "He used to yelp so much."
Rutile cleaned down another spot, while Ozpin tried to wiggle away. Ren bit his lip thinking it over and as the needle moved closer he reached out and cupped Oz's jaw and quickly. leaned in and kissed him.
Nora let out a WOOOP! "About time!"
There were other happy shouts and clapping but Ozpin was totally distracted. He didn't even noticed the shot or when Rutile finished with him. Ren quickly ended up half on his lap. He was already marveling about how nice Ozpin felt against him. This had been on his mind and Nora was totally on board, it had just been a matter of courage.
Ren drew away his cheeks rosy and Ozpin had a blink a few times to get his brain to reset that had been a good kiss. "Well then, what brought this on?"
"Been thinking about it since that time you walked through the caf nude." Ren admitted hugging himself and hunching inward.
Ozpin got up at Rutile's gesture and Ren pulled off his coat, shirt and sat down. "That's a rather long time to maintain a crush."
Ren shrugged as Rutile prepped his arm. "You came back."
Nora got up and grabbed Oz's hand and pulled him over to the couch shoving him down and straddling him. "Ren's been writing dirty fun for ages. I've been trying but he's just so shy. I know he wants a hundred and one lessons on anal sex."
Qrow and Ruby were trying not to laugh at Oz's stunned expression. To be fair he did have a facefull of Nora's breasts, so who could really blame him?
"Hey Weiss I think you've got competition." Qrow called out to the heiress who was giggling her heart out.
Weiss got up and sauntered across the room and sat on the arm of the sofa beside Ozpin. Hello boobs. "I think my position is quite safe." She patted Oz's head as he was suddenly distracted by underboob cleavage.
Nora looked over to her and grabbed her by her waist and nuzzled her face between her breasts. "I am sure we can share. Besides everyone knows my boobs are nicer than yours."
Like any reasonable male Oz's thought pattern was reduced too. Holy boobs! As Nora withdrew and pulled Weiss off the side and into Oz's lap. He had Atlas boobs on one side of his face and the pride and joy of Mistral boobs on the other. Weiss puffed her chest out and said to Nora. "Maybe he just likes a little verity. Rather then be smothered by your melon monstrosities."
"You're too flat chested to be a proper boob pillow." Nora said bouncing a little on the spot to make her breasts jiggle. "Come on Oz who's boobs are better?"
Ozpin looked between the two and knew giving any answer would result in his doom and potential removal of said boobs. So instead he grabbed both by the waist yanked them towards him and buried his face in between the lovely cleavage and water boarded them. Weiss and Nora giggled up a storm trying to wiggle away but were really having way too much fun. At the same time Ozpin forgot all about the evil needles in the room.
Ren finished and now it was Qrow who took his place. He snuck up and grabbed Nora by her under arms and pulled her off Oz. She kicked out thankfully not hitting anything. "Hey I was having fun!"
"You need to let the man breathe. You've been wanting to jump his boner just as long as I have." Ren sat with a flop pulling Nora down with him into his lap.
"We are going to need one big bed, heck room to explore this." Ruby said with a giggle and moving to take over Oz's lap. Weiss sat beside them taking one of Ruby's feet in hand and giving it a massage.
Lydia was nursing a glass of wine, it was only through sheer force of will she wasn't laughing at their antics. "Oh I am sure you'll all think of something."
"Headmasters office?" Yang offered, she had Blake in her lap.
Jaune was the one to shake his head. "Way too high a risk of getting caught. Plus there is no way it wouldn't smell like sex for days. Glynda would murder us."
"Avoiding Glynda is half the fun." Ozpin said very happy with his armful of Ruby.
Qrow was finished and Nora volunteered to go next. "He's not wrong, avoiding the other teachers is a time honoured tradition of ours. Plus that school needs christening. Vale style!"
Jaune only sighed, he had a feeling they'd find a way to make it work. There was a knock on the door and Lydia swept from the room afterwards and returned a minute later with a short woman with brown hair and a large backpack. "As I promised Oz, your body paint artist."
"Hello everyone I'm Mai." The healthy but thin woman did a little curtsy. "Lydia contracted me to do your paint for Saturday. Who will I be painting?"
Qrow, Ozpin and Weiss all raised their hands. Qrow raised a brow at Weiss who shrugged. "Lydia said I could dance for her too."
"Ohh this is going to be fun." Qrow purred.
"Do you know what you want for paint?" Mai asked.
"I go as Cernunn, Qrow you doing a raven again?" Ozpin asked.
"Yeah, that's always fun." Qrow nodded.
"I'd like to be a sidhe please." Weiss said, she thought she'd be able to pull it off well.
Mai beamed. "Oh we are going to have so much fun!"
While the others started off on what to expect during the club's Wylde Hunt event, Ruby pouted. Unfortunately she would be sitting out of being painted this time as the ink wasn't recommended for the baby's safety but she could still take part in the festivities itself, albit slow.
A hand waved in front of her face as the Doctor gestured for her to follow. "I may as well give you a check up, come on."
Ruby followed her to the corner of the room where she pulled out the equipment and checked her blood pressure. "How have you been eating?"
"Errr okay I suppose, nothing's really changed much."
"What about your prenatals? Are you taking them everyday and exercising?"
Ruby nodded as the pressure of her arm tightened. "Yep, Oz is very … adamant about time and diet and generally taking care of myself."
Rutile raised a brow. "That sounds rather accurate to other patients I have come across. I'm sensing there is something else at play?"
"He's just, there's been some nightmares. About the baby that is, he's worried, exceptionally worried." Ruby added.
After jotting down her results the Doctor started packing away her equipment and withdrew two needles. Ruby took one look at the needle and blanched. Rutile rolled her eyes. "Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you don't get shots too. They are even more important so as it protect the baby."
Ruby held out her arm and only winced slightly when the sharp needle went through her skin. Doctor Rutile remove the shots, placed them in the bin and had Ruby hold the pads in place. "As for the nightmares while I can prescribe something for it I doubt he would take them so I won't bother. However." She started, her voice taking on a softer tone. "Expecting fathers sometimes have anxieties about their children and don't even know it. Those worries can bring about nightmares and daydreams or even hallucinations."
The red head looked over to where Oz sat, Weiss curled around him with Qrow on his other side. "Is there anything I can do about it?"
"Hmmm, talk to him. Maybe even address some of his concerns, I can't really tell you. You know him better, what do you think he needs to hear?"
Ruby watched as Oz pulled a silly face, unsure what the joke was about but everyone was laughing anyway. It made her both happy to see and concerned that there was possibly something worrying under that grin. "I'm not sure."