A/N: The muse has been given carbs and root beer, maybe that will convince her to be nice to our group now.

The trio search the edges of the clearing but they find no trace of Ruby. They decide to head back to camp in hopes that Ruby will either be there, or show up soon after they do. A small dark corner of Jaune's brain is terrified she's abandoned them because of him. He does his best to ignore that part. They walk in silence emerging from the tree line into the camp they see her. Ren and Nora sigh in relief, Jaune is equal parts relived and ashamed. Ruby has her back to them tending the fire. She either hasn't heard them or is ignoring them. The three stand in the silence for several minutes.

Nora, having lost her patience with Jaune, gives him a not so gentle push to get him moving. He shoots her an offended look that fades when she gives him a look that definitely screams "Try me" He nods at the redhead and walks over towards Ruby. Ren and Nora share a look an settle on their sleeping bags watching as Jaune wrestles with himself for the courage to break the silence. He thinks hard and settles next to her silently. Ruby turns her head to meet his gaze. To his surprise the look on her face is soft and patient.

"I'm sorry." He whispers.

"I know." She whispers back.

"I wasn't mad at you." He whispers back.

"I know." She replies back.

"I.. I'm frustrated with myself and, I didn't mean to take it out on you." He rubs his neck.

"I know." She returns again.

"You know, you're not making this any easier." He deadpans.

"Nope." She chirps. It catches everyone off guard. Jaune's eyes widen understanding.

"You were never upset with me at all, were you?" Jaune half expects another "nope" in response but she just shakes her head. "Why did you run off?"

She sighs and turns her head a little to see his face better. "I didn't know what else to do. I had already knocked the sense back into you.. my head still hurts from that by the way." She grouches at him pointing to her forehead "Trying to talk to you wasn't working, so I did the only other thing I could think of and gave you space. I knew what you were saying wasn't aimed at me."

"I made you cry though, I'm sorry." He looks her in the eyes to try and show his sincerity.

"Well, yes and no…" She begins, his confused look is something she finds great pleasure in right now. "I only cried a little, but I wasn't crying because of you. I was sad for you, and frustrated that I didn't know how to help." She explains.

"Still, I'm really sorry for everything, forgive me?" His eyes search hers.

"Do you even have to ask?" She asks wryly.

"I mean, yes?" He returns confused.

She can't help but laugh out of sheer relief. He almost, almost sounds like the old Jaune in this moment. She leans against him the way she had in days prior. "Of course I do." She whispers.

"Hey, Ruby?" He murmurs, she hmms in response. "Thank you."

She turns her face up to look at him again. "For what?"

"For being you." He explains. She rolls her eyes at him but smiles.

Nora grins ear to ear. This went better than she could have imagined in her wildest dreams. Ren is smiling too. He isn't honestly sure what he expected, but it wasn't this and he's really glad for it. A crow settles in a nearby tree. Ren swears it smirks at him. Maybe Jaune is onto something and that bird is following them. He shakes his head to clear the thought. Ridiculous he thinks.

It's not long after that Team Ranger head off for the day. There's a bit of awkwardness as Jaune overcompensates for the mornings outburst. Ruby fusses at him that he doesn't need to worry and he does his best to comply. The forest they are traveling in becomes unnervingly quiet. They stop listening for any sound at all. Its unnerving, the group are startled by a loud caw from a blackbird. It dive bombs them several times. It finally yanks on Ruby's hood. "Crazy bird! Get away from here! " Jaune shouts waving his arms at it. " I think it wants us to leave." Ren offers. The group shrug and head off at a fast pace, the eerie quietness of the forest spurring them on. The group will never see the satisfied smirk of Qrow and the pile of unlucky bandits he saves them from.

They setup for the night several hours later and, for the first time in a very long time Jaune doesn't sneak off to train. No, tonight he will dutifully stay at the camp. He is still harboring guilt from his outburst this morning. When Ruby ran off he had honestly been sure he had unintentionally ruined their friendship. Yet, there she is sound asleep, still with them as if the words were never uttered. He understands though, had the roles been reversed, he likes to think he would have been just as forgiving. He peers up at the cloudless sky. "I can't keep doing this to them, or to myself, but, what can I do?" He thinks up at the moon as if it had all the answers. He sits thinking for several long minutes when a rustling catches his attention.

Turning his head towards the noise. He watches confused as she sits up and rubs her forehead sighing. She scans the camp and smiles when she sees him. He has a thought and walks over to the campfire and settles in. He turns his head towards her, its an invitation she accepts. He smiles when she settles next to him and leans into his shoulder.

"Did I wake you?" He whispers.

She shakes her head. "Bad dream."

"I'm sorry." He murmurs. "wanna talk about it?"

"Not tonight" She returns.

"okay" He thinks for a minute and wraps his arm around her shoulders. She relaxes at his side as they sit in quiet companionship. Sunrise comes and with it Nora wakes. Jaune hears the rustling of her bag. He turns his head and with his free hand places a finger to his lips and looks over to Ruby, sound asleep on his shoulder. Nora nods acknowledging she understands. The young knight returns his gaze to the sleeping girl. Nora smiles a gentle smile at the back of her friends and lays back down resolving to give them a bit longer. Jaune especially needs these moments of peace. Ruby wakes not long after yawning sleepily. Her face twists in confusion for a second as her sleep addled brain makes sense of her surroundings. She smiles sleepily and turns her face towards "Good morning." Jaune smiles back "good morning sleepy head." He murmurs back. She crinkles her eyes at him and his heart flutters. He doesn't get to think about why as with Ruby awake now Nora can get them up and going for the day.

A/N: fluffy goodness to balance last chapter out.