A/N: I'm so late I'm back to my original release date….I can only apologize that my professors are assholes and life has been literally miserable.

Also I fucked up writing this chapter and spent days fixing my mistake.

So yeah…

But hey, I am here now with a chapter I consider to be one of my best in it's entirety.

Anyway, Volume 2 has begun! Things will be happening, a lot more plot (and anime plot) will take place.

Announcements at the end guys. Pay attention.

Enjoy the chapter!

I don't own anything but a sword I bought today. Unfortunately it's not also a gun.

I'll get to work on that.

Guilty Rose Chapter 25

Raven sighed, it had been quite the day. With the emotional reunion her girlfriend and youngest daughter. The explanation of how Raven was in fact Ruby's father. Then, of course, the inevitable confrontation with the dear headmaster.

If all that wasn't enough. After her tea and entertainment with Glynda, Summer decided she needed to fill out the proper forms to have legal rights to both Yang and Ruby. Luckily, no one ever actually confirmed Raven committed any crimes, so she wouldn't be fighting any court battles. But there was still so much red tape she would have to get past and the last few hours were only a taste.

Raven made her way to her daughters' dorm room, she desperately needed a nap. Hopefully, she would run into Summer or one of her daughters and they'd want one too.

Upon reaching the dorm, she opened the door slowly to find what honestly had to be the most heartwarming sight ever.

Summer and Ruby were passed out on the latter's bed whilst facing each other and holding hands.

Raven couldn't help but coo at the two, and snap a few pictures.

She made sure to send some to Yang before she debated on which side to snuggle in on. She knew it would be nearly uncomfortable to fit on there with them. But if Tai taught her anything with his activities, three could fit on these bed with relative ease.

A shiver down her spine as she once again cursed fate for not letting her find that technique sooner. Though she'd never regret having Yang.

Raven finally decided to squeeze in on her daughter's side. She knew it was a risk, but she knew there might also be a high reward

She stepped around the bed and reached to move Rose over a few more inches. One of Rose's eyes popped open and she looked right at Raven. Raven, not knowing what else to do, slowed her movements, but did not stop.

"Shhh, I just want to lay down with you."

Rose's eye became critical, but then she moved forward on her own. Raven pleased with this development, crawled into bed behind her and draped an arm over the other two women.

A small smile decorated all three faces as they slept the rest of the day away.

….

Qrow awoke to the feeling of his scroll buzzing. Or was that the angry bees in his skull from his hangover.

A flashing screen and blinding amount of pain proved the answer to be both.

It was from Ozpin. It could wait until after he had his morning coffee and whiskey.

He let the call go to voicemail as he rolled out of bed in the sleazy motel he found last night. He did a quick check to make sure he didn't bring company with him again.

"No tanned barmaids, good. That last one was clingy."

A shiver ran down his spine, she literally had their children named by breakfast. All twelve of them.

Qrow poured himself out of bed and walked to the cheap single serve coffee maker in the room. He threw the decaffeinated blends into the trash and stacked two dark blends into the machine.

He willed the machine to work faster as his head throbbed again.

Finally, the coffee finished brewing and he poured a shot of cheap whiskey in from his flask.

Then his scroll buzzed again.

"Ozpin, you know to wait ten minutes after I ignore you."

He fished out the device and his blood ran cold. It was Raven.

His sister never called him directly, not since she met Summer. Well, fell in love with Summer. His sister couldn't hide her feeling for shit.

He hit the accept key, he wouldn't ignore this if she was willing to actually call him.

"Hey sis, to what do I owe this prestigious honor."

It was never too early to get a rise out of her.

"We found her, Qrow."

"No retort? Wait found her?"

"Who, Rae? Who did you find?"

"Ruby."

Qrow nearly dropped his mug. He set it on the nightstand instead and sat down on the bed.

"Does Tai know?"

"No."

"Raven, it's his daughter, him and Summer should have been told immediately."

"Summer already knows. Also, she's not his daughter."

"Rae, I know you've always been pissed that he gave-"

"Qrow, she's never been his daughter."

Qrow froze. He knew that tone. It was the tone Raven used when she did something she actually felt guilty for doing.

"What. Did. You. Do."

"I found a technique in the tribe sixteen years ago...for ensuring that that the heir to the tribe has the absolute best genes despite any barriers."

"Ruby's yours?"

"Yes."

"For fuck's sake, Raven. We talk about this later. How's Ruby? Where'd you find her?"

"It's bad...the people that took her...forced her to be the Guilty Rose."

Qrow felt the powerful urge to vomit, at no fault of his hangover.

"Where did you find her?"

"With Ozpin. The bastard has had her for eight months."

"WHAT?"

"He said she was in such a delicate state that he couldn't call us."

"BULLSHIT."

"My thoughts exactly, which is why I let Summer feed him his mug."

"I want pictures."

"I got the video."

"Even better."

"Can you make it to Vale soon?"

"I need a few weeks, I got a lead from Lionheart to investigate."

"Okay, see you then."

"Yeah…give the tykes a hug and kiss for me Rae."

"Yeah."

The call was ended.

His coffee need an extra shot.

….

"Ruby? Is everything okay?"

Rose stood stock still at the threshold of her mother's apartment.

The last month at Beacon had been interesting to say the least.

Her mother visited three times a week, bringing cookies each and every time just to see her smile. Which worked for the most part. The time it didn't work was when Summer tried to Brush Rose's hair out while she was distracted with several dozen cookies. She had been warned that Rose kept a knife on her at all times. It took a week and countless cookies for Rose to completely trust her mother to be behind her.

Rose was eventually convinced to let her mother groom her tail, which she found very enjoyable. Though she could have done without the flowers being braided in. She didn't notice what had been done that day until Ozpin made a remark between sips of his cold brew coffee.

Another change that had been made in dorm RWBY was sleeping situations. Since Rose didn't feel safe unless she was sleeping next to another person anymore, they had decided that they needed a rotating schedule and Friday nights were officially RWBY wolf pile nights so no heiress got favored.

Cin and Weiss had been monopolizing the seats next to Rose at meals. Though Neo and Emerald seemed to be bothered by this, but Rose could never pull them aside to talk about it.

Finally, winter break had come, and Rose decided to spend it with her mothers, though she found herself thinking of Weiss, Cin, and Cin's team. They had no home's to go back to, either metaphorically or literally, so they remained at Beacon Academy. Yang and Blake were also remaining back at Beacon for the time being.

Rose blinked herself back to reality and stared down at the threshold she was hesitating to cross.

She was about to step foot in her actual home for the first time in twelve years. No, it wasn't the small cottage in patch, but it was to be her home, where she would be surrounded by family that loved her unconditionally.

The idea terrified and excited her.

"Love."

That had been a foreign concept to her for years. A fantasy that never be anything but.

But now it was a reality.

Rose brought her hand to the charms around her neck. Feeling every detail. Drawing the courage she needed to take the next step.

"I'm fine...I just need a second."

Summer and Raven looked at each other before looking at their youngest daughter. Now, they were worried they had pushed her too far, too fast.

Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breathe before taking the step. It was all in slow motion for her. But once her foot fell, it was as if the whole world lit up.

"I'm...home."

Her tail swayed as she stood there. Then she looked at her mother, a smile growing on her face and tears brimming.

The women weren't prepared for what she did next.

Rose activated her semblance in full and crashed into her mothers, pulling them into a hug.

"I'm home."

the voice was so small and shaky that it would have been missed by anyone else.

But they heard it.

Once again, the words that needed to say appeared on their tongues.

"Welcome home, Ruby."

Rose was so caught up in the moment, she didn't mind being called her real name. She was just so happy.

Summer smiled up at Raven, so happy that their daughter could still act like this even with everything she's been through. They held this position for a few minutes.

Finally Raven sighed to break the comfortable silence.

"As I would love to stay like this, how about we cook some dinner? I'm starving."

Rose's stomach agreed with Raven's suggestion and Summer laughed.

"What's this we business? You and I both know you can't cook."

Raven responded with an indignant snort and crossed her arms.

"I can cut the ingredients."

"Sure. How about you Ruby? Can you cook?"

Rose looked at her mother wide eyed before looking at the carpet.

"I've cooked on a small game on a campfire before, but that's it."

Summer's smile faltered, she could see the bad memories on her daughter's face. She pulled the small faunus into another embrace.

"That's a fine place to start and critical knowledge for a huntress. So let's see how you do with a griddle, okay?"

Rose nodded uncertainly.

"Okay."

….

Cinder and her team sat with the remaining members of their little group for dinner. It was uncomfortably quiet, and not just because only a third of the student body was staying at the school for the holidays.

Cinder had noticed Neo had been holding back from making her usual exuberant advances on Rose. She had tried to confront the multicolored girl, but she never expected it would be so hard to get a mute to talk.

There was a similar situation with Emerald at the moment too. The green haired girl had begun acting differently since the night Rose came to their dorm.

She needed a long talk with both girls. Neo wasn't getting out of it because of her intervention and Emerald needed it for the same reason Cinder had needed it.

But that would be for later.

"Why are you still here? You should go home and visit your families."

WBY made one coordinate wince at Cinder's words. Cinder kicked herself for obvious doing the tango in a minefield.

Yang spoke up first though.

"I still feel bad for calling my mom."

"I thought Rose already told you it was okay."

"I know...but I want to give her some alone time with them, besides, these two are here and I didn't want them to be here all alone."

Yang's words normally would have made her think Yang was being her normal insinuating self, but her soft lilac eyes showed she truly meant what she said.

Blake and Weiss looked at each other before sighing.

"The Schnee Manor is not a place I relish being at… So I decided that I'd rather remain in Vale. I've excused myself citing that Professor Greene was giving extracurricular classes over the break."

"How did you get her to agree to that?"

"Rose ran off after asking why I wasn't pleased about the break in classes."

"Ah."

Eyes turned to Blake, who fidgeted under the combined scrutiny.

"I haven't seen my parents in years, and the last time I did, we had a huge fight."

"That sounds like a reason to go see them more."

"Miss Rose said the same thing. She also threatened to force me to meet them if I didn't see them soon. Rose stood up for me though."

A slight blush painted Blake's features.

"I have until next break to call them."

Cinder made note of the look in Blake's eyes, but she'd leave this one to Weiss.

"What about you guys, don't you have family back in Mistral?"

Cinder's team cringed. They were all orphans, one was even a self-made orphan.

WBY immediately realized their mistake, but before they could take back their words, Cinder decided to repay their honesty with some of our own.

"We are all orphans and our orphanage is a less than pleasant place. So we thought it would be best to stay here."

Yang gave a nod of gratitude and understanding and the meal was finished in silence.

….

Rose sat at the table silently eating the supper that her and her family made together. It was an interesting experience to say the least, but they managed to prepare a decent meal by the end of it.

Rose took another bite of her grilled pork chop when Summer cleared her throat.

"So Ruby, I noticed that none of your friends decided to go back to their homes."

Rose looked up at her mother dubiously. This was a long since established fact, and her tone voice led her to believe there was an ulterior motive to this conversation.

Summer tried to smile innocently but she had something planned for her daughter.

"Yes?"

"Well, why don't you invite them over?"

Rose stared at her mother for a time, but Raven spoke first.

"Aren't you the one that pride's herself in having a small apartment."

"My living room is more than big enough for a sleepover party."

Rose and Raven gave Summer deadpan looks.

"Oh come on, I'm just supporting my daughter."

"Supporting me in what?"

It was rose's turn for the double deadpan look.

"Ruby, I think we need a wholly different talk now."

"As much as I don't want have this kind of talk with you, I have to agree."

Rose looked doe eyed at her mothers.

"Rose you do know most of those girls are in love with you, right?"

"I know Cin and Weiss are…and I've talked about it..."

"So you know...do you not feel the same?"

Rose looked down at the table.

"I do..."

"But you're not ready to accept your feelings."

Rose fidgeted before shaking her head.

"I've spent years killing people and I can't even stop now...I don't deserve to their feelings."

"Oh honey, that's not true."

Summer looked to Raven for support.

"Ruby, why makes you feel like you can't stop killing?"

"My weapon...I made it to kill people."

Both women cringed and then an idea struck Summer.

"Rose, what if you had a new weapon?"

Rose looked up at this, eyes full of hope and uncertainty.

"All weapons are meant to kill though."

"Not true. How about I give you an old weapon of mine and we work on it together? That way we can modify it so it won't kill people."

Rose's brow furrowed as she considered the proposal.

After a few minutes she nodded her agreement.

"Great, will start after lunch tomorrow."

….

Ruby laid on the couch in faunus friendly panties and a tanktop, as she had to agree to wear when not sleeping in her dorm, staring at the ceiling.

She was on the couch by choice because she had long since realized that sleeping like she had been no longer feels safe.

Thankfully Weiss and her team helped her.

It had been the third night in a row that Rose tried sleeping to no success. It had also been the third night since she reunited with her mother.

She tried sleeping in the corner like she normally did, but she felt exposed and unsafe. Tonight she had tried to sleep in her designated bed on the off chance it that she would get comfortable enough to finally pass out.

But she had no so luck.

Tonight she had just feebly tossed and turned, unable to feel safe enough to sleep.

Finally, she let out a sigh, giving up on sleep once again.

Something possessed her to luck to the bed next to her. Of course, what she found there was the sleeping face of Weiss.

She looked so peaceful that Rose couldn't help but feel envious.

Then an idea hit her.

The last time she felt safe enough to sleep, she was with her mother.

Thus a plan formulated in her head and she got up to in act it.

She crept over to Weiss' bed and prodded her gently. After a few prods, she opened her eyes to find Rose and immediately averted her eyes.

"Yes?"

"I can't sleep."

This got Weiss' undivided attention.

"Rose, what's wrong?"

"I don't feel safe."

Weiss looked in her eyes, likely seeing what she had planned.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Can I sleep with you?"

Weiss' eyes widened and she audibly swallowed.

"Absolutely."

Weiss lifted the covers so Rose could crawl under them with her. Which Rose happily did. She laid with her back to Weiss, who then draped an arm over her in such a way that her hand was on her lower ribs. The hand flexed as if it wanted to do something else, but was resisting.

Weiss decided to pull her closer, which Rose didn't mind, instead she relished the warmth that was easily felt through the single layer of clothing that separated them. A layer which she suddenly wished wasn't there.

Rose felt odd about the memory. It was a very peaceful night's sleep that was promptly made bittersweet when Yang found out and it took an entire afternoon to sort out the current arrangement.

Rose sighed, she was ready to give up on sleep. She didn't want to bother her mothers like she did her team.

But then again, they constantly reminded her that it wasn't a bother. Her mother also told her not to hesitate to ask for anything.

With great reluctance, she got up and crept to her mothers' bedroom. After getting in silently, she repeated the process she did to Weiss, only with results on the first prod.

"Huh...how did you get in here without making a single sound? The floor and doors literally creak with the force of the air turning on."

Rose winced and Summer sucked in a sharp breath.

"I didn't mean it like that! Anyway, what do you need honey?"

Rose bit her lip, but then mustered her courage.

"Can I sleep with you?"

"Absolutely nothing would make me happier."

Her mother's immediate response made her smile and she crawled into the bed with her mother.

"Oof, I need a bigger bed."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize, I want a bigger bed so we can do this easier."

"Okay."

Rose snuggled into her mother's chest and closed her eyes.

Sleep took her instantly as she never felt safer.

A/N: Sooo….yeah….I had fun writing all of that.

Too much fun.

I've got no recap for this chapter, no point. Well, besides Qrow is now in the story!

Yes Druncle Qrow is on his way, and him and his flask will cause so many shenanigans.

*Evil smile*

Announcements time!

So for those who are following me and my first story Grimm Hound, I am rewriting that story completely. I will be uploading it as a new story rather than changing the already uploaded story. It'll be a while, but I hope you check it out.

Next, I'm still alive and I'm going to have the next chapter out in a week.

Well that's it!

I hope you liked the chapter!

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