Lily had been anxious all morning, to the point where she wondered if this was how it felt to be Luna. It was different to how she'd felt on her first day at Beacon- that kind of nervousness was more of a bitter, annoyed, pessimistic kind of version. But this was a kind of nervousness that had her pacing, sweating, and wanting to pull her hair out in impatience.
"Hey, try not to worry so much," Cobalt's calm voice interrupted her thoughts. "I'm sure it went fine."
Lily continued pacing. "But what if it didn't? Surely they would have called by now?" It didn't help that the court date for Neo's trial had already been pushed back past its original date, as if they'd been trying to put off any chance of her being pardoned. Maybe team RWBY hadn't been able to convince the jury of her innocence, or maybe it had somehow come out that Neo had been the Ghost. If that had happened, there'd be no chance. Neo would go to prison for life, and Emerald would be left alone again.
Cobalt tugged her down to sit beside him on the bed. "I think you're overthinking this."
"Team RWBY managed fine with your mother when it was her time, and that wasn't especially long after everything had happened," Luna pointed out from the other bed, where she sat with Astra. "I'm sure it'll be much easier for them to convince a jury to pardon someone whose only criminal activity on-record was over twenty years ago."
Lily sighed. "I know," She replied, "There's just…a lot riding on this."
Cobalt glanced at her sympathetically. "You like her a lot, huh?"
"It's not just that," Lily started, 'I mean, I do like her. She's a lot of fun, and she has a gentle side. But she's also exactly what my mother needed right now," She explained. "An old friend to keep her company while I'm not around, who also keeps her active and challenged." In the past, Emerald had always seemed older than she actually was; always tired and beaten-down. But Neo's presence had brought an extra spring to her step; she seemed decades younger, and more confident.
"I don't want that to be taken away from her," Lily finished. "It'd destroy her."
Astra nodded. "It also wouldn't really be fair," She pointed out. "She hasn't actually done anything wrong since she was a teenager. It'd be stupid to hold her completely accountable for that now."
But what if they do? Lily's heart sunk.
Catching the look on her teammate's face, Astra quickly amended. "They won't, though. They definitely won't."
Lily sighed again. "Thanks." She wasn't entirely convinced, but distracted herself by moving to the end of the bed and fixing up any of the blemishes on the plants that lay in a row along the foot.
They couldn't convict Neo, they just couldn't. Not when anything she'd done had been done over twenty years ago, not when she'd contributed to helping end the war, not when it would break Emerald's heart. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be fair. She'd march down to the courthouse herself to convince them of the fact if she had to.
Focused on her work, she jumped when her scroll started vibrating, accidentally growing a shoot out to twice the length of the rest of the plant. Fumbling with her scroll, she managed to answer it, greeted by the face of her mother, with Neo and team RWBY in the background. Luna, Astra, and Cobalt rushed over to listen.
Lily surveyed the group's faces, trying to figure out how they were feeling. Each of them were smiling, relief and joy plain in their expressions. Her heart leaped. "Is it good news?" Please say it's good news.
"She's been pardoned," Emerald told her, grinning. "So long as she's in the company of at least one other person when in public for the next six months, she's free to live as a citizen of Vale."
Lily's heart soared. Thank goodness. "That's great!" She replied, beaming. "Does that mean you'll both be able to take the adults' huntsman exam soon?"
"As soon as we can," Emerald replied, "We're hoping to do it within the next two weeks."
"And we're going to kick ass." Neo signed from behind her, smiling widely. Lily could only imagine how great it must feel for her to know she could show her face in public again. No more house arrest, no more living in the shadows. Now, she could fight villains and get paid while doing it, so long as she passed the exam. Which she would, Lily assured herself, knowing how skilled a fighter she was. Any doubts she'd felt had vanished.
Before Lily could respond, the scroll was snatched from her hands by a beaming Astra, who waved enthusiastically at the camera.
"Hi, Miss Sustrai! Congratulations on the stuff! You should totally throw a party to celebrate!"
"Astra." Lily hissed, trying to swipe her scroll back, to no avail.
"That's a lovely thought, but it's not really best for us to make a scene over it," Emerald replied gently. "And I'm afraid I'm not the partying type."
Astra deflated. "Aww, I really wanted to meet you guys."
Lily snatched the scroll back. "Okaayy, that's enough," She interjected, before Astra could continue talking her mother's ear off. "I'm taking the rest of this call in private." She swept into the bathroom, hearing Luna gently scold Astra as she closed the door behind her.
"I'm sorry about her," Lily sighed once she was alone. "She can get rude when she's especially enthusiastic."
Emerald chuckled slightly. "It's fine, don't worry. It's nice to know that there are people out there who hold me in just as high regard as anyone else involved in stopped Salem." The camera shook as she stood up and moved to a different room, for more privacy, Lily was guessing. "I would like to meet her and the rest of your team someday, just under different circumstances."
Lily smiled. "I think you'd like them. Astra's not always that over-the-top." Just most of the time. "You get used to her."
"She seems like a sweet kid," Emerald affirmed. "They all do, from what you've told me."
Lily's smiled deepened. "Yeah," She chuckled softly, "Probably sweeter than I deserve, considering how I treated them to begin with." Before Emerald could reply with a protest, she shook her head firmly. "I know that's all behind us," She assured her, "I just wish I'd treated them better back then."
It was kind of funny, Lily thought, to have come to think so fondly of her team after less than a year. Back then, she'd have scoffed at the idea of ever getting so mushy over them. She liked things better the way they were now, for sure.
"What you did back then doesn't matter now," Emerald reminded her. "You've done everything you can do to make up for it, and I'm sure they understand why you acted that way."
Lily gave a half-smile. "I suppose you'd know, of all people."
Emerald nodded slowly. "As bad as I am at reminding myself, I know, deep down, that they've all forgiven me for my past mistakes, even when they didn't have to. You should remind yourself of the same thing. Especially when your mistakes are far less than mine."
Lily nodded. "Yeah, I know." She smiled fondly. "I'm lucky to have people that care so much about me. And you do too."
"On that note," Emerald replied, quickly glancing over her shoulder. "Later today, I'm going to ask Neo out for coffee."
Excitement flared inside Lily. "A date?"
Emerald shrugged, blushing slightly. "Considering how often we already flirt, I doubt she'll say no."
Lily couldn't resist a squeal, briefly sounding like Astra. "Ooohhh, you two are going to be so cute once you're actually dating!" She pictured it briefly; Neo surprising Emerald with sneaky kisses, the two of them teasing each other like an old married couple, coming home after the holidays to tell them both all about her term. Really, it wouldn't be too different to how things already were, except that Lily wouldn't have to keep getting frustrated over how they weren't dating.
Emerald studied her face carefully. "Are you sure you're okay with the idea of me dating someone?"
Lily chuckled. "You won't just be dating 'someone', you'll be dating Neo."
"I know, it's just…" Emerald looked hesitant. "It's been just the two of us for so long. I don't want you feeling like you're being left behind."
Lily softened. "Hey, you know that I'm okay with this. I'm the one who's been encouraging you," She pointed out, "I know things will be different, but it'll be in a good way." She thought for a moment. "In the past, I don't think I would've liked it," She admitted. "But things are different now. Things are good now. And Neo's good for you." She looked at her mother earnestly, their crimson gazes identical. "I promise I'm more than okay with this."
The worried tension in Emerald's shoulders eased. "Okay. I just wanted to be sure." A smile fluttered across her face. "I think she's good for me too."
"I'm really happy for you both," Lily assured her. "And I know both the date and the huntsman exam are going to go great."
Emerald grinned. "Thank you." She looked over her shoulder again. "You've probably got classes soon; I should let you go."
Lily nodded. "Good luck with everything!" Hanging up, she opened the bathroom door to an expectant Luna, Astra, and Cobalt, staring at her like puppies at a hotdog vendor. May as well tell them the news, she supposed.
"She's going to ask Neo out later."
Astra's squeal was louder than her own had been. "That's so cute!" She bounced where she stood. "Oooohh, it'll be like you're getting a second mother!"
Lily scoffed lightly. "Hardly. Neo's not the 'mother' type. More like a fun aunt."
Astra continued bouncing. "Still!"
"I'm happy for them," Luna said, "And you," She added to Lily, "You all deserve how well things have been going."
Lily gave her a warm look. "It's thanks to you," She reminded her, "Your parents and their team have been such a huge help. We'd be so much worse off without them."
Luna shrugged, smiling. "It's like I said, you all deserve it."
"It still means a lot to me," Lily insisted. She stepped forward and wrapped her short friend in a hug, surprising even herself, prompting 'aww's from Astra and Cobalt. "Thanks for everything. I mean it."
"Of course," Luna replied warmly. She pulled back from the hug. "I'm just happy that everything's going so well."
Astra slid in beside the two of them, green eyes hopeful. "Well enough for a party…?"
Lily sighed. "You really want a party, don't you? You can't just wait a few weeks until Luna's birthday?"
Astra clasped her hands together. "Pllleeeeeaasssee?" She begged. "It doesn't have to be big! Just the four of us!"
Lily gave in. "Fine. But you can pay."
