As per usual hacked apart for ff.

For once Ruby was willingly letting the wet nurses look after Euclase. It was just breaking dawn and after Euclase had her early morning feeding she had given her to one of the wet nurses to take to the nursery for the day. Then she returned to her husbands. Since having Euclase they rarely had a moment to spare. Early on she had needed almost constant feeding, even as she grew and slept more Euclase was never far from Ruby. First she stopped by the bathroom to make use of a few things in case her lovers wanted to have her together. After which she returned to them.

The Silver Eyed Warrior slipped back into the massive bed and snuggled up to Qrow's back. He turned to her and pulled her into the middle of the bed. She leaned up and kissed Oz as he moved to her, his good hand resting on her hip. The kisses were slow and deep, grew wet as Oz added tongue to the kiss. Ruby moaned softly into the kisses, private time like this had been almost non-existent. The sensation of his lips against hers, full and moist was always nice. He tasted of lemon water, just a little tart but it sure beat morning breath. Not that any of them had that problem.

Ozpin shifted a little and kissed down her neck as she tilted her torso back. "Do you have something you want today?" He rumbled against her hot skin.

"We haven't played with rope or anything in ages~. I know you brought it." Ruby purred as Qrow pet up and down her stomach teasing a finger over her breasts. Qrow purred as he traced over a breast. "I like how you think."

The raven haired man got out of bed and walked over to Oz's duffle bag. Sure enough squirreled into one corner was several lengths of hemp rope. Treated and washed, perfectly folded and tied to keep it in good condition. Qrow was thinking about how they were going to do this, Ozpin would want to do the tying but he only had one arm. It would be pretty much impossible. He worried his bottom lip and walked over undoing one of the knots and running the hemp through his hands. "How do you want to do this Oz and what do you want to do Oz?"

Ozpin drew away from Ruby's lovely kisses. He knew what Qrow was thinking, one hand would make this tricky. "Hmm." He pushed the blankets away revealing his and Ruby's nude bodies to Qrow. "You'll have to do the tying." It irked him but he was sure he could make a game out of this. Made it sting a little less.

"Nothing too intensive, I haven't stretched." Ruby rolled onto her back and did stretch her hands above her head. She rolled the tension through her body, her chest rising and falling flowing into the muscles of her stomach. Then down into her legs as she stretched her hips doing little rotations as the tension carried down through them and out her toes.

Qrow swallowed thickly admiring the expanse of lily white skin, the little dusting of red hair at her venus mound. He stepped up to the bed still running the rope through his hands.

"How about just a chest bind Qrow? The star one, it won't put too much strain on her breasts." Ozpin moved drawing himself up to sit kneeling beside Ruby. He reached out and lay his hand to rest on her chest as he moved to hold one of her breasts. It was encompassed by his hand but it also filled it. Oz hmmed appreciatively, she had some of the most lovely breasts he was acquainted with.

Qrow was busy thinking about how pretty a chest bind would look. "Sit up Ruby." He almost stumbled over the words but if he was doing this he didn't want to seem nervous. Took some of the fun out of it.

Ruby giggled and sat up drawing her legs up under her. She reached out and touched Oz's chest, tracing a finger over his clavicle while looking up into his eyes. Qrow contained the moan that wanted to escape him. They looked so beautiful together. For all the scars that marked Oz, burns, cuts and scrapes scars that covered his body. Under them though he was just as gorgeous has he had always been. Long limbs and fingers made for playing a piano. Qrow knew just how well they could play upon him. The messy silver hair had grown it to just about what it had been like at Beacon. Qrow appreciated that, it made him feel more like he did at Beacon in spite of everything else. Ruby was his perfect opposite, small and curvy where hardship had stolen the meat from Oz's bones. Her skin was as flawless as always. Qrow adored the contrast between them.

The tall man set the rope down on the bed then walked around the room. Gathering a pair of candles and putting them on either side of the bed. The golden light they gave off warmed his lovers skin. With Ruby it cast the long line of her spine into shadow, accented the curve of her love handles. Her hair tumbling down her back to conceal the vibrant tattoo of the Relic of Knowledge on her back. The gold and green of the trees leaves caught the light, the blue lantern gave off the illusion of moving, swaying as though the wind brushed over her back.

Qrow moved back into the bed and sat kneeling behind Ruby, he reached out and brushed the long red locks out of the over one shoulder. Then dipped his head to kiss her shoulder chastely. "You're hair is going to get in the way."

()

"I'm sorry. I just hate not being able to be myself because of this blasted arm. Maybe I should have it taken off and replaced when we get to Atlas." Ozpin grumbled and pulled out of her lay down beside her on his back again.

Qrow came over with a wet cloth. "No way, not after all this time are you giving up like that."

Their wife curled up onto her side facing Oz, she enjoyed the feeling of their seed leaking out from her. "It will be fine Oz, it's already come so far. Besides you'd hate all the doctor's visits to get an arm designed and grafted."

Ozpin shivered at the thought. "Right forgot about that bit."

Qrow wrapped up Ozpin's arm. "Come on lets just rest together a while. Euclase will be getting hungry soon so we should take the time we have before then for ourselves. Not dwell on things that will mend in time."

"When did you get to be the wise one." Oz chuckled and sat up.

Qrow passed him and Ruby both a clean cloth to clean themselves with. "Too much time spent with you."

That earned him a very thorough kiss.

Ruby rolled onto her side, stretching limbs as she nestled between her two husbands. The hands around her waist began lazily stroking her belly and side. "How are you feeling Love?" Qrow's breathed into her ear causing a shiver to run down her spine. Without a word she turned in his arms, peppering slow open mouth kisses to that stubbed chin she loved so dearly.

Oz who had been resting against her breasts stirred and huffed out a whine at the loss of his squishy pillows. "Mmmn, c'm back." His good arm snaked under her waist pulling her closer, head resting in the crook of Ruby's neck. The soft breathing tickled her skin pulling a giggle from the redhead as she squirmed from under his hold.

Qrow loved days like today. The happy sounds from Ruby, Oz's relaxed form. It made everything seem to glow like a perfect golden bubble, free and safe from the shadows of the world. How he wished they could just stay there for eternity. Qrow toyed with one of the rings on his finger, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately but it was okay. He eyed his hand, the way it curled over Ruby's smaller one as though protecting it.

Then blood.

Qrow breathed in sharply. What had that been? It seemed neither Ruby nor Oz noticed the sharp intake, still cuddling together. Qrow swore that for one moment then his hand had flashed red, he knew what it looked like when blood coated his hand, how the red had dripped from his fingertips. The sticky coppery substance congealed like a syrup, the smell making him gag.

"Qrow?" Oz's voice snapped his attention, The red eyed man hadn't even realised that he was shivering, his hand clutching Ruby's tightly, so tightly that she was biting her lip with a twinge of pain in her eyes. Immediately he released her jumping from the bed with a cold sweat.

"I'm sorry!"

"Stop! Qrow, wait." Small warm arms wrapped around his form and Qrow shuddered again. A wash of reassurance spread through his mind, Qrow recognizing the touch of his wife and husband and the fainter one coming from his daughter. Their souls soothing his and the shaking that had taken root eased.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened." He peeked down at his hands. No blood … of course there was no blood and breathed in deeply. Perhaps he was just tired. Qrow sagged against Ruby's smaller form, smirking when she grunted under his weight. "I'm alright." He whispered and that seemed to set the others at ease.

Oz approached them. "What set that off?"

"Not too sure, I just saw blood on my hands, I swear I could feel the warmth of it." Qrow shook his head of the vision holding Ruby a little tighter.

Then like a silent scream, something like a piercing knife to the chest hit all three of them. Oz grabbed his arm while Qrow spun and Ruby clutched at her chest.

"Mama …"

"Papa … "

"Dada … "

"... help!"

Roi Xiao hated meetings, he hated them with a passion. It was one of the rare few things he despised about being King but necessary to running a Kingdom less he risk the wrath of Mistral and Atlas bearing down on his people. He had worked too hard, his family worked too hard raising up and maintaining this fragile hold on Mabin and he intended to ensure it prospered. If that meant he had to spend several hours listening to advisors and lords spew out their problems then that's what he would do.

He was just passing through one of the hallways when he saw the rose petals flash passed him. Years of sitting on a throne hadn't dulled his instincts and he raced after the floating petals. "What happened!"

Like a gale the gust of rose petals blew in every direction before pulling back to reveal a harried looking Ozpin, Qrow and Ruby. The redhead was visibly trembling while the other two grasped their weapons like they were ready to attack. Xiao's own hand slowly reached for the nearest weapon concealed on his person.

"Something's happened to Euclase. She sent a distressed cry to us." Oz explained. "She is at the nursery with the wet nurses."

Had it been anyone else Xiao might have laughed their concern away but after seeing the way Ruby and Qrow could communicate and from his own research into souls he knew that this wasn't some sort of separation anxiety. A moment later his sword was in his hand and a small black device with a series of buttons in the other. If something was happening he needed his guards on alert.

Rub was inching away from the group, every inch of her body and soul demanding she go to her daughter when the overhead lights started flashing red. "ALERT ALERT. RED ALERT!"

The King rushed past them, throwing over his shoulder. "Lets go!"

To save her Aura Ruby ran alongside the others her heart in her throat. Euclase's calling for them hadn't died down and even now she could feel the scared little soul cry with a frightened whimper that set her blood both boiling in rage and freezing in fear.

The hallways were oddly silent and as they came to the main doors to the nursery Ruby noticed that the two guards that were normally stationed outside were nowhere to be seen.

"This isn't right." The King said under his breath and crept towards the doors. From inside there was a loud cry and what sounded like flesh hitting flesh, then another whimper. That was all Xaio needed to hear as he reared back and kicked the door open.

Multiple cries echoed around the room as two men and a woman spun around with weapons outs towards them. The guards or at least one of them lay on the ground, scar face from the other day was face down with a pool of blood spreading around him. The ragged breathing was a relief but that was quickly drowned when Ruby saw her daughter in the arms of one of the intruders.

Euclase wailed loudly despite the hand attempting to silence her. The woman holding her crushed the baby against her chest to smother the cries as she pointed a short sword towards them. The shock of blue hair was matted with blood and that sight was enough to enrage the Silver Eyes.

Nobody registered the move but in a blink of the eye Ruby was launching across the room, eyes burning as she collided with every bit of strength in her trained body into the bandit. Rose petals bled in a fiery storm as the tornado separated them from everyone else and before Ruby registered it her fist was crunching the bones of the bandits face.

She didn't feel her opponent's blade cut into her hip, her Aura already working around it as her free hand grabbed for her child. The force of her attack sent the bandit flying through her self made twister and Ruby pushed her Semblance into a faster speed, making it into a shield of sorts while she stood in the eye of it holding Euclase to her.

Oz and Qrow had never seen such a rage before come from their wife, their words wouldn't reach past the force of her gail. Rose petals sharpened like tiny knives keeping everyone and everything out. When the female bandit was flung from the red storm she was covered in cuts and bleeding, her nose broken and blood dripping down her face while she lay in a heap on the floor.

"OPAL!" Xaio's voice broke Oz and Qrow's shocked gaze as the younger of the Kings wives was held by her pearly white hair by more bandits that had come in from one of the conjoined rooms. This man had a different attire from the others, it was the same as what castle guards wore and he was holding a pistol to her head. Opal's face was scrunched up in fear as she tried to reign in the tears that spilled over her eyes. The young woman was in obvious pain and when they looked at the floor it was wet with urine and broken waters.

"Well well well. My 'King'." The man gave a mock bow. "We weren't expecting you so soon."

"Briar. What in the name of Herion are you doing!? This is my domain!" Xaio couldn't keep his eyes off his pregnant wife who was squirming as a contraction went through her. Whatever had happened before they arrived had broken her waters and set her into labour.

Qrow recognised the name and did a double take, eyes widening. This was the current leader of the Lyri Tribe. Briar Moss. His sun kissed skin spoke of his southern upbringing, with thick black hair to his shoulders and beady green eyes. His arm, now bare of the castle uniform had a maze of vines running up covered in thorns and a green rose in the shape of a skull at the top.

The last time he had seen this man was when he was a scrawny teen, carrying a sword much too big for his frame but that didn't stop him from helping to butcher a farmer and his family while the tribe burned his home to the ground.

Qrow had still been in his tribe back then and the Branwens had ignored the family's cries for help before they were brought to a blood end.

"Well that's da thing ain't it Roi, tis 'was' ye domain and 'less ye want ye pretty baby mama's guts all over this nice floorin' you're gonna lay down that sword for me, right now."

Lights were still flashing red and it was clear that Xaio wanted to bide for time but Briar was slowly stepping back towards the room he had come out of. "Oh an if you're waitin' fer ya men yeh gonna be waitin a while."

The red twister remained strong and Qrow knew that Ruby was probably on a one track mind to protect Euclase. He tried again to reach her mind but all he was hearing was her soothing the baby in her arms so she would be of little help. The other two bandits had joined their leader and were ready to fight. His gazed strayed over to the King, catching his eye.

Oz saw the look on Qrow's face and took a step back bringing himself closer to the rose storm. He knew that look and it wouldn't end well for the Lyri leader.

The black door in Qrow's mind came into view as Qrow locked onto Briar. The many chains and locks keeping it bolted shut shun in the blackness of his being. Occasionally like a wind blowing through the gaps his Semblance got free but it was always in little wisps and breezes. Now he fitted a key through the locks and dropped the heavy chains.

Briar was still talking, holding Opal at gunpoint. "So as you can see." Step back. "I have the upper hand." Another step.

A crackle went through the space, unnoticed by anyone but when Briar took his final step back his face turned to horror. The floor, wet from the amniotic fluid was slippery and all it took for the Lyri leader to slip, his body flying backwards as his gun went up. A shot rang out but its target ended up being the chandelier above him.

Oz saw the moment the pregnant woman was released and slowed down time, racing across the room to scoop up the fragile lady in his good arm. He gave no thought to the heavy chandelier that broke free from the ceiling and came crashing down on Briar Moss's head, crushing it in a wet mess of brains and bone.

Qrow smirked and slowly locked his Semblance back down. That had felt good. He walked over to the sharp twister of rose pelts and sung out over the bonds. The twister slowed, condensed and Ruby returned to her usual form holding Euclase tight to her chest. Qrow stepped out to her and cradle the two close.

"Where do you want her?" Ozpin asked still holding Opal up.

Xaio raced to his wife's side ignoring the body on the floor. "I'll take her, see to your wife." Xaio scooped up Opal and shouted to the guards that had finally reached the nursery, they raced into the doorway out of breath and each sporting some sort of injury. From the feral grins on their faces it appeared Briar's plan to take out his people had failed. "Out of the way! Bring any of these scum you find to the great hall!" They fled to carry out his orders.

Ozpin moved to his husband and wife, brought them both to his good side and held them tight. His gaze however moved to Qrow, he had never seen or heard of Qrow actively using his Semblance to kill someone before. It frankly worried him. Qrow looked fine, content even, the remorse for killing that Qrow had possessed for years was entirely absent. He seemed to just be focused on Ruby and Euclase. Maybe it hadn't sunk in yet or … Oz had a sneaking feeling that wasn't the case. "Lets leave, I have no interest in being near a body."

Ruby took a deep steadying breath, Euclase was still whimpering against her chest, eyes red and wet from crying. "Good idea. Let's go see what is going to happen in the great hall."

Together they left the body and walked down to the great hall. By the time they got there the last of the men Briar had brought with him had been gathered up. A total of six men were on their knees with their hands shackled behind their heads. Xaio was pacing above them on the landing gun in hand. He took a deep breath. "Briar Moss is dead, you are all guilty for committed treason, failing to uphold the only law we have as bandits. The arrangement between the Mabino tribe and Lyri will now be absolved. I am in no mood to explain the consequences for this so…" He leveled his gun at the first ones head. "I Xaio Rio, sentence you all to death."

Ruby flinched as six shots were fired and six bodies were burned away with fire Dust. Euclase whimpered again at the sound and Ruby turned her into her chest away from the sight, cooing softly to her daughter. The faint smell of blood, Dust and death lingered in the hall and even after all that had been said and done the only thing Ruby would acknowledge was that lives had been taken this day. That her bright and happy world was incapable of shedding that murky evil that clung to life. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned them on the King, an edge to her voice. "Was that really necessary?"

"That is how the world works here." Ozpin said as he watched the body's smolder.

Xaio Rio walked over to them. There was blood peppered against his cheek and chin and somehow the red stain seemed too natural, almost normal, like this was just their way of life. "My apologies Mrs. Branwen. My intent was to have that over with before you arrive. I have to go and see to Opal and my newborn son, if you wish to return to Mistral I will have a ship arranged for you."

What was it her mother once said? Pretty words, pretty castles and pretty dresses, do not make for a pretty or good life. Especially not when bought on blood and pain. "Please." Ruby nodded as she nuzzled Euclase. "I feel that would be best. Please give my best to Opal and I hope she and her child are safe.

"As you wish." Xaio turned on his heel and raced off to see Opal.

"We should go get packed." Ozpin said, he had wanted to speak with Xaio more but he could feel that Ruby wanted her family and quiet. Time to process all of this. Qrow nodded but he was watching the bodies burn and Ozpin couldn't feel a hint of disgust from the red eyed man.