Failure was all that she had known. She hadfailed to hide the child and was forced to give it up. She had failed to make humanity whole. And now she was doomed to carry the curse of being the Winter Maiden. The curse that was her life now. She had to defend those under her protection. Periwinkle didn't have a choice in the matter. There was no other option. And possibly worst of all, she couldn't even remember the child's name. But she remembered the pain, the pain of having him in secret. It was a little boy, right?
She couldn't even recall who the child's father was. Ever since she had been reincarnated she felt...empty. Almost as if there was something missing. Today she was to meet the newly appointed Headmaster of Atlas Academy, James Ironwood. Winnie grabbed her keys and stood from her desk; she had to go make the guest bedroom. The lynx Faunus' shoes made slight clicks on the tile flooring, the smell of old smoke and perfume wafted around her as she went. It seemed awfully familiar, however, she couldn't quite place why. Winnie unlocked the door to the room and opened the nearby closet. Carefully, she brought down sheets and pillowcases and laid them on a nearby stool.
As she concentrated on her work, Winnie couldn't help but hear the sound of someone approaching. Who could that be? She thought as she fluffed the pillows to Lionheart's liking.
The footsteps came to a stop at the edge of the hall.
"Leonardo, you know what happened to the last Winter Maiden, I cannot afford to lose another prospect," an unfamiliar voice spoke Winnie noticed how tense and robotic it was. But it had a twinge of sadness to it.
"James," Leonardo replied anxiously. "I don't think the last Maiden's powers ever moved on. And now I believe she may be setting up your room."
Periwinkle set the blanket over the made bed and fluffed the pillows again, she stepped outside with her keys in hand.
"Ah, Periwinkle. What perfect timing," Professor Lionheart spoke heartily.
Ironwood visibly stiffened up and looked at the Faunus in front of him Winnie looked at him in confusion. He had watched her be torn apart by Grimm and he couldn't protect her. Everything had happened so quickly, one second she was there and the next she was dead.
"P-Periwinkle?" James stuttered as he stared wide-eyed.
"Yes, you must be the General?" Periwinkle replied and looked up at him.
"I-Is it really you?" Ironwood stepped back " I...I have to go." He nearly tripped over Lionheart as he saw what had to be a ghost of Periwinkle. Leaving a stunned and confused Winnie behind.
"O-Okay then," Winnie stared down the hall for a moment before crossing it to her own room's door to retrieve something.
Lionheart caught up to James as he was pacing the library wall to wall.
"James, what happened to you? This is so out of character," Lionheart asked.
"I sent her to her death!" Ironwood looked down at the ground, "Leo, she's the mother of my child and she's here?"
"She doesn't remember. Periwinkle is doomed to reincarnate and it's the same of Ozpin, they need to defeat Salem," Lionheart explained, "If you need, take her to Atlas. She'll be safer there."
Ironwood nodded slowly and tried to calm himself down. The mother of his child was alive! But, she had no recollection of the love they had shared and little Aster had been without her for so long. Despite only being a month old, he had kept the child a secret from anyone other then Ozpin's circle. When he was born, Periwinkle was so weak.
Aster was so small, Ironwood remembered how his heart melted when he saw his son. Aster was around 5 pounds at birth. He was only about a month old and Periwinkle had died 3 days after returning to her service. When Ironwood made the announcement that Winnie had been killed, the first person he told was Ozpin. The Headmaster at Beacon comforted the General as best he could, but the child. The child had absolutely no idea. She had been reincarnated with no memories of her past lives, not even him.
He finally managed to calm down and looked to his friend, Lionheart was waiting quietly. Eyes nonjudgemental, then he spoke.
"Would you like to bring her to Atlas?" Lionheart asked, "I think It'd be better for the both of you, and she should still be in the back."
"I-I can, though I'm afraid of how our son will react," James replied, "Could you go get her?"
Lionheart nodded and went back down the hall, Periwinkle was busily organizing her room.
"Periwinkle, pack your bags. You shall be going to Atlas," Lionheart said.
The silver-haired girl nodded and retrieved her suitcase from the closet. Packing what little belongings she had, she stepped out into the hall and handed the keys over. Ironwood looked at her then towards the door.
"Shall we be going?" He asked flatly
Periwinkle nodded and gave a hug to her former boss before heading out into the light. The girl handed her suitcase over to one of the workers and stepped aboard with Ironwood.
"How long have you been at Haven?" Ironwood asked.
"Only a few weeks sir, Lionheart found me hiding in a bathhouse," Periwinkle said, "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine," James replied, "I assume you don't remember anything?"
Periwinkle shook her head and looked out the window.
"No, but there was a baby, a little boy?" She asked, "I remember the pain."
Ironwood tensed up and looked down at the ground. He returned his gaze to her eyes with a smile.
"Our, I mean your son is still in Atlas," James nodded, "His name is Aster."
"Our, you said our son," Periwinkle said, "What happened to me?"
James took a heavy breath and looked out the window. How was he going to tell her?
"Before your current life, you were my wife. They found your wedding band and engagement ring, but not you," James started, "When you told me that you were pregnant. I kept it hidden as I didn't want you coming under threats. We were married in a private ceremony, only attended by Ozpin's closest circle."
"I'm sorry," Periwinkle apologized.