A/N: Time to see what our group wants to get up to today. We're going to skip ahead a bit. Lets say this is after Ranger fight the geist.

Ruby was angry, fuming and also distraught. Ranger had been ambushed by a group of bandits earlier in the day. The tussle to no ones surprise attracted a pack of grimm. In one particularly unlucky turn of events, a beowolf had gotten its jaws around Crescent Rose and bit down hard cracking the handle of her beloved weapon along with its barrel. Thankfully the group were hours from a small town which would hopefully have a machine shop. Jaune wasn't sure what he could do for her current state. He was beating himself up over the incident, if he had been stronger or faster he could have gotten to the beast before it had gotten to his partner. The young knight didn't even bother correcting his rambling mind.

Through the months he had begun thinking of Ruby as his partner. He had dismissed the thought the first few times he thought of the tiny reaper in that frame, but, honestly somehow it felt right and made him feel warm. He hated seeing her like this, it was frustrating to not know how to help. It occurs to him suddenly this must have been how Ruby felt that day in the clearing. Nora was doing her best to distract Ruby from her tunnel vision on her broken weapon. The desired results were only briefly rewarded. The redhead looks Ren, he gives her a helpless look in return. Nora sighs and returns to his side, the worry on her face doesn't ease.

Jaune gives the two a reassuring smile bringing his eyes up from the map. "Good news guys, we're only about an hour from the settlement now!" The news seems to improve Ruby's mood a bit. It was early in the day and the town being so close meant she may just be able to fix her baby today. The thought of being without her weapon, even overnight was not something she was not comfortable with. In the event of an attack she was essentially a sitting duck. Her team would undoubtedly protect her, she just didn't want to be a burden. She sighs looking up at Jaune, he reaches out placing a hand on her shoulder as if sensing her inner turmoil. "It's gonna be okay, we're making good time today." Just like that her sour mood vanishes. She realizes she's being silly and protecting their own is what teams do. She smiles back "thanks" Nora makes a small happy noise behind them, Ren rolls his eyes playfully at her.

The group head to the machining shop before even checking into the hunters lodge. It's pretty nice, not quite as nice as the one at Signal, but not many shops compare honestly. She rents a table and sets up carefully dismantling Crescent Rose. She sends the rest of the team off. This is likely going to take her the rest of the day, she says hanging her cloak on a nearby hook. This is something she prefers to work alone on. She needs to be able to hear the metal talk to her. The three leave her to fixing her baby.

The trio rent their room and settle in to await the return of their fourth. Nora watches in amusement as Jaune becomes more and more antsy as time passes. She and Ren are trying to distract him by playing card games. The blonde boy has lost every round finding he can't focus on the game. He takes to pacing the room while Ren and Nora continue to play and chat among themselves.

"What's taking her so long?" Jaune whines dragging his hand over his face.

Ren cocks his head towards Jaune. "She said she'd likely be there the rest of the day." Ren draws a card from the deck.

"What if something goes wrong? She's all alone in a strange town!" The blonde motions towards the window.

"She has her scroll, and the local area tower is working,. Ruby'll call if something happens." Nora points out while shuffling the cards in her hand.

"What if the machine shop gets robbed while she's still weaponless? She's not good at hand to hand combat" Jaune paces again both hands on his head."

"Then, she has plenty of things to use as improvised weapons. There's always her semblance too." Nora points out logically while placing a pair of cards down in front of her. "I'm sure she's perfectly safe."

The question and answer game goes on for thirty minutes. Ren and Nora patiently answer his ideas with logic. Nora is getting a little fed up, even if his worrying over Ruby strikes her as quite adorable.

Jaune has been quietly pacing for a few minutes. Nora and Ren finish their game and put away the cards. Jaune sighs "What if…"

"Oh, for the love of Remnant! Would you just admit you like her already!" Nora grouches interrupting him.

"NORA!" Ren scolds.

The redheaded girls eyes go wide and her hands fly to her mouth. "I didn't mean to say that out loud." She half whispers.

Jaune stops dead in his tracks. His hands fall to his side, wide eyed and jaw hanging open several seconds pass as his brain and mouth start up again. "I…like her?" He repeats dumbly.

Nora rolls her eyes. "Obviously, I mean, look at yourself you've worked yourself into a ball of nerves just because she isn't in eyesight."

"Nora, you shouldn't… I mean, maybe now isn't the best time?" Ren attempts to derail Nora.

"I, wait? Ren? you think so too?" Jaune asks confused.

Ren rubs his neck feeling a bit embarrassed. "I have seen the signs for a while." He tries to. Keep his answer ambiguous.

Jaune sits on his bed with a sigh and shakes his head. "No, that can't be right, we're friends, teammates, family.. Of course I'm worried when she isn't around."

Nora has a knowing smirk on her face. "Oh really? Did you freak out like this when Ren and I were out for half a day at the last town?" Jaune just looks at her in silence. "Exactly." Nora points out.

"You're wrong, I mean of course I like her, she's my friend?" Jaune shrugs.

"Jaune, a few months ago, when you had the incident in the forest.. what started it?" Ren decides the damage is done, so he may as well walk his friend through his confusion.

Jaune drops his head at the memory. "Ruby's cloak.. seeing it torn felt like seeing her injured." The three of them had talked the incident through when they were searching for the silver eyed girl. "That doesn't mean I..like her..like her. What would she see in me anyway if I did?"

"Jaune, you dummy. You're a great guy, you know that don't you?" Nora asks softly.

"I'm a great guy am I? After what happened with Pyrrha? The way I was blind to her affections until it was too late?" His eyes have narrowed and his voice has a dangerous sharp tone to it.

"Jaune." Nora warns.

"What? You wanna tell me how stupid I was to miss all the signs? You wanna tell me I'm just using Ruby as a replacement for Pyrrha?" His voice is gradually increasing in volume. "Jaune, no, of course not." Nora starts gently. "Stop beating yourself up like this. You deserve happiness too." Seeing him like this was heartbreaking.

Jaune stands. "What would you know? She stuffed me in that stupid locker and ran off to her death and I'm just supposed to sit here getting a second chance at love when she didn't get a first?" He was seething mad. The knight hadn't realized he had stalked across the room until Ren filled his field of vison. The dark haired boy serving as a protective buffer between Jaune and Nora. Jaune blinks and his face falls. "I'm sorry Nora." He speaks gently.

"It's alright, are you okay now?" She pokes her head around Ren so she can look him over.

"I don't know, maybe." Jaune returns to his bed and Ren settles back beside Nora. "I don't know what came over me." There is silence for a beat. "This has to be a phase." Nora laughs interrupting him.

"Jaune, I've been watching you for months." She points out Ren sighs exasperated.

"No, I'm serious, think about it. Ruby's letter came to us on the second worst day of my life. I think I latched onto her as a beacon of hope. What if I am just using her as a replacement, or like a rebound? That wouldn't be fair to her."

"You're not that kind of person Jaune, don't minimize your feelings like that. Its not fair, to either of you." Ren points out.

Jaune meets Ren's gaze and sighs. "You're right Ren, I need to face this head on. It's going to take a while. I have to be sure if this.. whatever it is.. if it's real.. you know? Let me have some time and please, please don't tell Ruby?"

Nora crosses her arms on her chest and smiles. "Only if you promise you'll put actual effort into figuring it out, deal?"

Jaune nods. "Deal. I'm going on a walk, I need to do some thinking. Ill be back in a while. Ok?" Ren and Nora nod and smile at him and he leaves the room, then the building. He walks for a while mulling everything over. He finds a secluded little park and plops down at the base of a tree. His knees are to his chest and his head is leaned back on the tree. He sighs looking up at the darkening sky through the leaves of the tree. " I'll just be a disappointment to her in the end." He speaks out loud to the tree.

"Something on your mind kid?" A deep voice floats over from the other side of the tree.

He doesn't know why he decides to answer, but he does. "Girl problems." He states simply.

The voice gives a short gruff laugh. "I know how that is, got plenty myself. What's the damage?"

"I think I like this girl, she's pretty, and smart, strong, selfless and kind." Jaune pauses.

"So what's the problem? Afraid she doesn't like you back?" The voice questions.

"I… actually hadn't thought of that until just now.. but no, that's not the problem." The blonde answers.

"Then, what is it? In general I find talking these things through helps. Not that my advice is the best mind you." The voice challenges.

"There was someone before. I she liked me, maybe even loved me. I didn't know until it was too late. I lost her and now I'm worried I might be using Ruby as a replacement." Jaune almost swears he hears the voice sputter. He doesn't turn to check. There seems to be a mutual unspoken pact between them to stay on their own side of the tree.

"Kid, I know a thing or two about how you're feelin' more than you know. That line of thinking you're on? I'm not gonna say I don't understand, because I do, more than you can imagine. The places you're taking your mind? It's a sure way to end up like me. A drunk loaner regretting all his missed chances and cursing his own bad luck."

"Sounds like you know from experience." Jaune sighs.

The voice returns a sigh of his own. "Yea, I lost my partner years ago. it's not something you really get over so much as something you learn to live with. The way I see it, liking a pretty girl, that's a pretty good way to start."

"You lost your partner.. as in" Jaune begins but the voice interrupts.

"She died, I can't say it's something I've ever forgiven myself for."

"I'm sorry, I know how that feels. Why tell me though?" Jaune is genuinely curious.

"I saw you coming a mile away, came as a bit of a shock to see the expression see every day in the mirror on a strangers face. You're young yet, maybe I just didn't want to see you end up like this old bird. "

"What am I supposed to do then? What if it turns out in the long run that I am just using her? She's probably the best friend I've ever had. I couldn't stand it if I hurt her. Not only that, I don't think I deserve a second chance at… the liking a girl thing.. I was too dense to see the signs the first go round." Jaune pauses.

"I feel like there's another and in there." The voice prods.

Jaune sighs. " I'm worried I'm not strong enough to protect her when the time comes. We're travelling, and there have already been times she's gotten hurt because of a mistake on my part."

"Now we're getting to the meat of it. To address your first point, are you the kind of person who uses others for his own gain?"

"No, not intentionally." Jaune returns

"Second question, would the girl you lost want you wallowing in your own misery like this?" The voice asks.

"No, she would probably lecture me for half a day for being so ridiculous." Jaune smiles.

"The girl you think you like, is she the kind of girl that needs protecting?" The voice tosses the idea.

Jaune chuckles. "No, not at all, she's amazing in a fight, as long as she has her weapon of course. She doesn't need protecting." Jaune thinks for a minute. "She needs an equal, not a protector."

"Now we're getting somewhere. Last question, How do you feel about her. That's not something you need to tell me. That's something you need to answer for yourself. I'm going to leave you with a bit of wisdom. Don't get so caught up in the past that you overlook what's staring you down in the present."

" I understand, thanks, for the chat." Jaune stands leaving the park. He looks around trying to catch sight of the helpful stranger, he only sees a few blackbirds in the distance.

He returns to the lodge and is greeted by Ren and Nora.

"Feeling better after your walk?" Nora asks looking up from her scroll.

"Yea, I am, can I tell you guys something? It has to stay a secret for now though." Ren and Nora nod. "Nora, you were wrong, I don't like Ruby." Nora's jaw drops and she looks crestfallen. "I think I love her." Nora's face is instantaneously split by an ear to ear grin. She launches herself at Jaune wrapping him in a hug congratulating him.

Ren smiles "It's honestly about time you figured it out." He calls out laughing . "So, now that you know, what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing, at least not yet. The mission is too important to Ruby right now. There are also some other things I need to sort through before I tell her. We have a deal though remember, no one tells her." The two nod at Jaune, the three share a smile.

There's a knock on the door followed by a familiar voice. "Hello? Is this the right room?" Jaune walks over to the door opening it with a smile.

"Hey Ruby, how's Crescent Rose?" He takes the sight of her in, she's covered in metal shavings, dirt, paint and grime and in all his life he'd never seen a prettier sight.

"Good as new!" She cheers with a smile. "Took a little longer than I thought, but my baby is back in one piece! So what'd I miss?" Nora laughs, Ren and Jaune sputter and blush. Ruby raises an eyebrow at the trio but doesn't have a chance to think on it much when her stomach growls loudly. "ugg, I forgot to eat, I'm starving!" Jaune laughs "Well then, lets all go get food together." he suggests. Nora cheers whole heartedly agreeing.

A/N: Nora, Nora, Nora you totally did that on purpose. Stalker Qrow is a cool guy. Heh.