A/N: Aaaand we're back! Oh boy, GenCon was a thing; A little sleep, a lot of gaming, and way too much expensive food! Then, I come home to an eclipse, which was fun (though not as fun as being in a totality zone). But now, the real world is calling, which sucks as usual. Well, I hope y'all have been doing alright, and I do apologize for the delay in this chapter's release. I'm also sorry if it's not up to my normal level: bit of rust, and all that. Thanks for reading, and please enjoy chapter 11!

Quick shout out to Solvdrage! I love your Arkos, even if you do tend to add a few more letter to it.

Pyrrha did her best to look appropriately regretful as Jaune pleaded for his team to save him from his shopping trip with his sisters; as his partner, she needed to show at least a token level of solidarity.

Said solidarity came in the form of a "Have fun, Jaune" and a salute of her spoon as he was dragged from the room.

Their talk last night, and the following discussion with Ren and Nora, had been wonderfully soothing for her, but Pyrrha understood Jaune needed some time with his family. Trouble with the Arcs had been one of her partner's great concerns at Beacon, and reminders that they understood his choices were important to his own health. So, she and the remainder of JNPR found themselves enjoying their breakfast with young Verte and Rose.

The girls were watching Nora with the same mix of awe and horror that Pyrrha had worn the first few times she saw her ginger teammate eat. Nora was well on her way to finishing a ten-egg omelette with a side of hash browns.

"How are you so thin?" Rose asked in a shaky voice.

Nora saluted with her fork before swallowing: "Exercise, ladies. I got the best training program in Beacon! I've gotta stay strong to use Magnhild, plus Ren's cooking is delicious!"

Verte had a hungry look in her eye, and Pyrrha was sure it had nothing to do with the meal. "Can I hold your hammer?"

"Can you?!" Nora was on her feet and hauling Verte away before her fork could hit the table.

"Be careful!" Pyrrha, Ren, and Rose both called after them. The younger girl gave them a beaming smile at that, before returning to eating.

"She'll remove the dangerous parts, don't worry." Ren assured Rose. "Nora is exuberant, but any Hunter understands weapon safety." Rose nodded at that, and the three resumed. Their peace was briefly interrupted by Nora barreling downstairs with Magnhild, Verte swinging on the back of the slung hammer, and ducking outside.

Rose watched her sister go with a worried smile, eventually turning to Pyrrha. "I'm kinda worried Verte wants to be a huntress. Ever since we learned Jaune got into Beacon, she talks about how cool it would be. Plus, you guys are really cool, and Verte thought you sparring was awesome. I mean, it was awesome, but ya know." Pyrrha thought very carefully before answering.

"Verte is old enough to go to a combat school; she'd have to apply soon, but wouldn't have to go until next year. They're very safe, and she may just work it out of her system." Many students did just that, opting for careers with significantly lower mortality rates. Rose seemed somewhat placated by the comment, but still unnerved.

"I'm sure Verte would love to have someone with her, should she go." Ren's words were quiet, casual, but Rose locked onto him. "Not everyone who goes to a combat school has to become a fighter: people can become teachers, doctors, or writers and still have been to combat school. If Verte does works it out, then she can always pursue something else. It is still a school."

"Yeah…" the younger girl was hesitant.

A thought occurred to Pyrrha, and she decided a change of topic would be advisable. "Will school be in session on Monday?" The Vytal Festival usually got people out of school for another week, but the festival was over prematurely. "And isn't that the understatement of the year, Pyr."

Rose flopped back in her chair, letting out an exasperated groan. "Yeah, school's back in. And Jaune just got here! At least you guys aren't going anywhere, right?"

Pyrrha nodded a confirmation, "We don't have plans to go anywhere soon." She wanted to reach out to Miss Goodwitch, and all of them agreed they should visit Patch eventually, but there were no hard plans.

"Can Verte 'n I have Jaune tomorrow? We won't be able to hang out as much later."

"Of course! Jaune is your brother, you don't need to ask us for him!" Pyrrha would be lying If she didn't feel a little flattered though.

"Awesome, thanks Pyr!

"Uhh, it's okay if I call you Pyr, right? That's what Jaune calls you?" The caution in her voice was so very Jaune, Pyrrha barely kept from giggling.

"Of course, Rose, it's fine."

"Can I call you Pyr, Pyrrha?" Ren added playfully. She nudged him with her arm before countering.

"Only if I can call you Renny." He scowled lightly at the name, though she knew there was no heat in it, before going back to eating.

An ominous 'thwump' sounded from outside, and Pyrrha instantly recognized it as Magnhild firing: she and Ren whipped in their seats towards the noise. They held their breaths, waiting to hear the explosive land.

When it failed to, they visibly relaxed in their seats.

"Like I said, no reason to worry." Ren offered to Rose.

"Ya know, you two could carry some of this?" Jaune was desperately hoping his little sisters weren't leading him towards a fountain or something, because the mound of boxes and bags he was lugging blocked most of his view.

"What would be the point of bringing you along if we carried the stuff?" Marron sounded completely serious, and she probably was.

"My company?"

"Bro, we have your company at the house all day. This trip is payback for ditching us for Beacon!"

"And for wearing a dress at Beacon!" Rouge fired back.

"It was one time!" He complained.

"One time is too many!" Rouge hissed. "Why'd you even do that?"

Jaune shuffled his boxes uncomfortably: "I said I would wear a dress if Pyrrha didn't have a date to the dance, and she ended up not having one. It was a bad night, it cheered her up."

Marron started to aww at the story but cut herself off: "Wait, how did Pyrrha not have a date?"

"That's what I thought! Pyrrha's really good, it intimidates a lot of people; look what you guys did yesterday."

Marron made a soft "huh" in front of him, remembering her own interest in Pyrrha's box cover. Rouge plowed on ahead, though.

"You fanboy over her being on Pumpkin Pete's? Betcha did!"

Jaune was embarrassed to admit it, but he had for a little while. He felt bad about it now, as he knew Pyrrha hated stuff like that; thankfully, he hadn't totally ruined their introductions. He might not have been alive otherwise.

"Well, she thought he dress was hilarious, so I managed to make something out of the night. We absolutely killed it on the floor, too."

"You and Pyrrha danced together?" Rouge sounded surprised.

"Well, yeah. I didn't have a date either; Nora told you how that went. JNPR did a routine Ren taught us, too, which was pretty cool." "Though that had been the most frustrating Saturday ever."

He could faintly hear his sisters having a hushed argument. Usually a bad sign for him.

"Alright, one more stop!" Marron shouted dramatically. "Yup, bad sign."

His sisters redirected him for a few minutes, before eventually pulling some of the boxes down. A men's clothing store proudly stood before him.

"No."

"Jaune." His sisters threatened,

"No! I like my look, it works!"

"Jaune, you're a Huntsman. You'll be eighteen soon." Rouge looked ready to rip him in half. "I am not letting my grown-up brother keep wearing a bunny hoodie."

He gasped, leaning back from the traitors. "It took us forever to get the boxtops for this!"

Marron threw her hands in the air: "That was three years ago, Jaune! How does that thing even fit you still!"

"He ordered one a size too large, sis, he was 'planning ahead'. Like it or not, you have to come with us and we're getting you clothes. Either stay out here, or come inside and mitigate the damage." Rouge threw overly dramatic air quotes on the last.

Half an hour later, Jaune was once again carrying all the bags and boxes as they waited in line, but far more pleased at his defense of his look. Standing in line, something caught his attention. Marron noticed to.

"Jaune, no."

"Yes."

"No."

"Let me win once, Marron!"

For once, he did win. It was a little victory, to be sure, but by the time they got back home, Jaune was proud to show off the newest addition to his outfit. A brand new black hoodie!

With Beacon's loco proudly stamped across it.

Rouge had conscripted her brother into taking his old spot in the meal prep rotation, while Ren and Nora went for a run, leaving Pyrrha unoccupied until dinner. She had sequestered herself in her room with the next few issues of Maedre when she heard a light knock.

"You can come it." She marked her page and set the comic down just as Noire walked in. "Good evening, Noire, it's good to see you." Pyrrha made to get up, but Noire waved her down and sat in one of the room's chairs.

"Evening, Pyrrha."

Noire didn't continue, she simply studied her.

"Does someone teach the Arcs unnerving gazes? I hope Jaune never takes it up." Pyrrha wanted to say something, but seeing as Noire had come to her, she had something to say first. Eventually, the short-haired woman spoke.

"You certainly don't make it easy, do you?" Pyrrha said nothing, holding her ground with a pleasant smile.

"I really want to hate you, you know. You're the closest thing to an embodiment of the danger Jaune is in, and I'm tired of waking up in fear of losing one sibling already. Knowing that any day may be the one where I'll never see Blanche again is almost crushing.

"And you're helping Jaune add to that weight, all three of you. It sounds selfish, I guess it is, but it's the truth. We're all terrified of losing him, of losing Blanche, of losing Dad."

"I know," Pyrrha softly placated, "Jaune worried about them at Beacon, and how you all would respond to his decision. I told him he could work it out." Noire frowned at her.

"You could at least be arrogant, you know. Or rude, something. But no, my brother's partner has to be a polite, helpful, well-spoken young woman. Ren is a perfect gentleman, and Nora is so chipper it hurts. That Weiss girl sounds like a bitch, couldn't you be like her? That'd make disliking you easier."

"Weiss can be difficult, but she means well; she just comes from a different background." She hedged, and Noire jabbed a finger at her.

"That right there is what I'm talking about! You're probably barely friends with Weiss, and you're sticking up for her. If I had a student half as polite as you, I'd dance in the streets: it's infuriating."

The woman took a long breath, focusing on the door.

"So, what am I supposed to do, Pyrrha? I can't stop Jaune, how am I supposed to deal with this?"

Pyrrha fought her natural instinct to look away, she knew weakness would be lethal. Metaphorically, at least.

"Trust him."

"Just like that? Trust Jaune to stay safe?" She snorted. "I helped raise my little brother, Pyrrha, I know how well he can stay safe: he's clumsy, he gets caught up in things, he's forgetful."

"He can block a direct hit from a Grimm more than five times his weight, he spends at least at least an hour a day training with a champion fighter, and he's already saved people's lives."

They were both quiet.

"Jaune is still clumsy, he still gets caught up in the moment, and he's still forgetful. But he isn't helpless, Noire, and he isn't alone. If I'm alive, he'll never be alone. I may not be an Arc, but I'll swear to it and mean it just as much."

Those intense Arc eyes again, and more silence.

"You really do mean that, don't you?" She nodded once. "I really wanted to dislike you, Pyrrha." The woman pushed herself up with an exaggerated sigh. "But, you can't always get what you want."

Relief washed over her, which she tried to desperately hide.

"By the way," Noire asked from the door, "who'd he save?"

"Myself, and indirectly our friends on RWBY. RWBY were the first responders at The Breach, Jaune got us there second, and in time to relieve them."

"And when did he save you?"

"The day we met, the first time he called me Pyr, the Dance." "During the Attack, last week."

"Really has gone and grown up on me, hasn't he?" Again, she nodded once.

"Well, I suppose I need to spend more time with the new Jaune. I'll see you soon, Pyrrha."

"See you then, Noire." And like that, the woman was off. Pyrrha waited until she heard the steps go downstairs.

She jumped up and started pumping her fists into the air victoriously.

Jaune sat down on the work steps of the porch, enjoying the night air. Most of the house was turning in for bed, but he had one more thing to do. He pulled his scroll from his pocket, swiped through his contacts for a moment, and called the number.

"Jaune?" Ruby's voice was soft, tentative.

"Hi, Ruby. Can you talk? I get it if it's too late."

The line was quiet for longer than he'd like. "No, I can talk. Gimme a second." The call screen closed, and Ruby's face pulled up. "Heya, Jaune." Ruby's eyes were red, her pale face paler.

"Hey. Good to see you up this time, you normally don't sleep in so much!" Ruby smiled a little but didn't laugh. "So, how's Blake handling Patch? I think I did a bad job of explaining Bar to my team, they were not prepared for the air depot. My sisters are taking to them better than I thought." Jaune was walking on thin ice here, and he knew it.

Ruby kept calm while he talked, which was a good sign. "I haven't really been able to show Blake around yet, I don't get out of bed much. Dad and her get along though, which is nice." Jaune imagined Blake would get along with Weiss' dad if it meant RWBY would recover.

Ruby laid down then, the world behind her tilting. She looked up at the ceiling past her scroll.

"Why do I keep losing people?"

"…" For once, even he couldn't force something out.

"I thought, if I was good enough, I wouldn't lose anyone else. But now Weiss is gone. Penny. Uncle Qr-" her voice hitched on the name, and Jaune could see she was crying.

"I'm so sorry, Ruby."

She sniffled. They were both quiet for a long time, Jaune simply trying to will his presence to his young friend.

"We can't do anything for Penny, or for Qrow, but Weiss isn't gone." He wasn't sure if Ruby was really listening or not, but he went on. "Weiss isn't gone. She's out there, and she needs you as much as you need her. I almost lost Pyrrha, really lost her, and I barely managed to stop it. But if I can do that, then you can get Weiss back, Ruby. You, and Yang, and Blake: I know you guys could do it."

"Why? We lost, I wasn't good enough", Ruby sobbed.

"We aren't allowed to be failures, Ruby, we've got a team relying on us." He smiled a bit, remembering their hallway talk months ago. Ruby cried a bit harder then, but he thought she might have tried to laugh too.

They were quiet for a while again, Ruby quietly crying while Jaune tried to be there for her. Eventually, Ruby wiped her eyes and sat back up in bed. "Thanks, Jaune. I gotta get some sleep."

"Any time, Ruby. Night."

"Night."

Verte and Rose spirited Jaune away moments after he finished breakfast, leaving Pyrrha to once again wish him luck. He looked more resigned than dejected this time around, so she supposed that was an improvement? Pyrrha was changing for a morning run when her scroll pinged.

It was Blake: "Up for a talk?"

"Mind if it's while I run?" Something to keep her occupied while she moved could be nice.

"I think I'll do the same, I'll call in a few."

She had just finished her stretches and begun when the call came through. "Good morning, Blake!"

She could softly hear Blake's stride through the call: "Morning, Pyrrha. How are things in Bar?"

"They're going quite well, actually. Jaune's family has been very accommodating, especially some of his sisters. His youngest have dragged him off today, so I imagine I'll be without my partner until the evening."

The girl hummed lightly, "A little demanding, aren't they?"

"In their defense, they haven't seen Jaune in months. Besides, I've got plenty to keep myself occupied. How are things on Patch?"

"Ruby and Yang both had breakfast at the table this morning: first time since we got here. Qrow was important to all of them, it's hit them hard. Breakfast was a good sign, though. Yang's having difficulties physically, and she isn't sleeping well either."

"I'm not much better myself, I'm afraid." It was an unpleasant thought, but Amber's memories gave her some idea of what Yang was dealing with, in a way.

"Her name was Amber. Did Ozpin tell me that?"

Blake was still going on the line, Pyrrha put the thought aside. "Tai told me he's planning a grave for Qrow, he wants to put it up near Ruby's mother's grave. Yang says she'll take me up there in a few days, 'introduce me to Mom', as she puts it." Blake was trying to sound light, but the idea clearly unnerved her.

"How are you getting along with Mr. Xiao Long?" A safe change of subject.

"Hmm, don't let Tai hear you call him that. 'Mr. Xiao Long is at Signal, I'm Tai.' He's a good man, a lot like Yang. He's not having an easy time either, but he's trying.

"Yang told me he's dealt with depression before, I hope he'll be alright. I hope they all will."

"Well, it's a good thing they have a friend like you, Blake." Pyrrha assured. "You'll be there for them. It'll work out."

"I hope you're right. Ruby moving today is good, but Yang adjusting is still adjusting to her own situation. She needs help doing everything, which she can't stand. I think being the big sister is making her extra stubborn on the 'help' department. You know, she just let me brush her hair for her yesterday? Eight months we've been living together, and I just got to touch her hair yesterday!

"Thankfully, Tai made some calls, and it sounds like General Ironwood has some people working on a prosthetic. We need to stay quiet for now, it's a surprise, and it may fall through. Until then, though, we've got a long road. She's angry, Pyrrha. Angrier than I've ever seen her."

"I can understand: no one wants to feel helpless."

"That's how I feel sometimes. Yang feels miserable so often, and I do so little. I don't even know what got Ruby out of bed this morning! I keep telling myself that I'm helping, but it doesn't feel like I'm doing anything for them." Blake was nearly shouting by the time she finished.

"I know it's frustrating, but you are helping, Blake. We just have to keep on. Just being there is helping, trust me."

Her friend took a deep breath, more labored than their few minutes of running would account for. "You're right, I need to stay in control. Sorry."

"It's alright, Blake."

The run was relaxing, and the two friends moved to easier topics, chatting between panting breath about easier times. Blake turned in early, no one really matched Pyrrha's stamina, and she returned to the Arc household to find Nora and Ren out.

She showered, changed into some of her new casual clothes, and plopped down on a couch to watch a bit of news. She'd been resting for half an hour when there was a knock on the doorframe, and Rouge poked her head in.

"Hey, Pyrrha, you busy?" The girl had that same grin Jaune had whenever he was scheming.

"Not really?"

"Good! Marron and I want to get some lunch in town before we're stuck with cafeteria food, come with us!" She was hauling Pyrrha to her feet before she could even respond.

Post: Cliffhanger as shit, be back soon, folks! By the way, if you want an idea of the eyes I'm talking about, watch Jaune during the training scene in V4.