A/N: I'm so sorry for being a week late. I had 3 tests to study for, so I couldn't write. Plus a bit of writer's block.
I got some discussion at the end of the chapter if you're interested.
Anyways, on to the chapter.
I don't own RT or RWBY.
Guilty Rose Chapter 26
Summer woke up slowly to find herself sandwiched between Rose and Raven. It was a blissful feeling to say the least.
Even now, a month after finding her youngest daughter, she could still hardly believe she had her daughter in arm's reach. Her life felt complete in a way it hadn't in years.
She sighed and basked in the feeling for a while longer. Her content state lasted until she recalled everything she needed to do. And despite how much she wanted to ignore the to-do list a little while longer, she knew she couldn't.
"I guess I better get up, I can probably make breakfast before these two wake up."
She smiled at the idea of surprising her girls with food.
"Speaking of my girls, I need to get Yang over here...and the rest of them."
Summer silently chuckled as she maneuvered out of the bed as to not wake up the sleeping pair. Her feet finally hit the ground and she took a step.
"Mmmm...Mommy..."
Summer froze and slowly turned around, praying she hadn't woken up her daughter. To her relief, she hadn't. However, her heart sunk when she saw the look on her daughter's face.
"Mommy...where'd you go?"
Summer's heart broke at fear in Rose's voice. She was about to return to the bed when Raven suddenly reached out and grabbed Rose. Summer had to bite her lip to keep herself from cooing when Raven pulled the girl into her arms and Rose snuggled into the embrace.
Summer pulled out her scroll and snapped a picture before getting dressed and leaving the room. Thankfully Rose left the door open when she came in during the night.
Summer reached the kitchen and began setting up for breakfast.
"Let's see...I'm low on everything but bacon and pancake mix. I'm adding groceries to the list of things today."
After a few minutes of cookie she heard shuffling and loud sniffing coming from the bedroom which made her giggle.
"Few more minutes loves and it'll be ready."
"Alright, need some help?"
"No, I have everything in hand."
Summer turned her attention back to the food while Raven and Rose made their way out of the bedroom. Though, it wasn't long before the other occupants came out of the bedroom. Raven dressed in the yukata she wore around the apartment. Rose hadn't changed though, which almost made Summer frown.
Now that she was able to actually spend time with Rose, she found out about so many of the habit she learned over the years of being abused. Summer wouldn't forgive herself and still wanted to hunt the bastards down, but a combination of Rose pleading and Glynda's assurance that they would be brought to justice kept her from scouring the kingdoms.
A sigh pushed past her lips and she smiled brightly.
"Looks like you two are just in time, mind setting the table?"
Raven walked up and gave her a peck on the lips, smiling softly.
"Sure."
Rose didn't look quite as awake as Raven but still nodded meekly. Summer stacked the last of the pancakes onto the serving dish and brought it to the table along with the plate of bacon.
After everyone sat down and fixed their plates, Summer noticed that Rose hadn't taken but two strips of bacon and two pancakes.
"Honey, are sure that's enough for you? I made plenty."
Rose looked at her mother with huge eyes, brimming with uncertainty.
Summer sighed softly, patience was one of her defining points and Rose was going to need every ounce Summer could muster.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just not very hungry in the morning if I don't do my usual morning exercise."
Summer cringed internally, the infamous morning routine in dorm RWBY. Yang had informed her that it had now become something of a team activity, which didn't bother her. What did was the fact that Rose normally did it while completely naked.
Yes, Rose had a team of girls and she more or less accepted Rose's complicated relationship with Weiss. But a mother can never help worrying about her daughter.
"Ah...well, that's understandable."
Silence returned as all three began eating. Summer smiled when Rose took an extra helping of food. Finally Summer decided to restart the conversation.
"So Ruby, about that weapon, I might need to grab a few things from the weapons shop so we can modify it to suit you but is there anything specific you might have in mind?"
Rose stopped for a moment and seemed to ponder the question.
"I'm not naive enough to want an entirely non-lethal weapon, but I would like it to have the ability to disarm and take people down without hurting them too much."
Summer blinked at her daughter before giving her an empathetic look.
"She already knows that not all monster are grimm, but then again, she's probably known that since she was taken."
"Mommy?"
Summer pushed her dark thoughts aside and focused on what Rose requested for her weapon. Then an idea hit her.
"Ruby, I think that might be a simple thing to accomplish with my old weapon, have you heard of swordbreaker daggers?"
Rose looked at her mother curiously before she recalled what that specific weapon was.
"That would be perfect for me."
Summer smiled at her idea's success.
"Great, I'll order the parts we need. Oh, do you know how to use a bow?"
Rose shook her head, though that didn't make Summer falter in the least.
"I'll teach you everything then."
Summer's enthusiasm finally seemed to infect Rose as a small smile graced her lips.
Today was going to be a good day.
….
Once again, Cinder and her her team found themselves lounging about in their dorm.
"It's officially, we need hobbies that get us out of here on a daily basis."
"Considering that you three's only reason for leaving the dorm is with her mothers for the holiday, all I can say is good luck."
"Oh, shut up Merc, you're no better than us."
"Hey, I actually got plans today besides looking at pictures of Rose on her totally secret fan club."
"Both of you shut up, and Merc it is a secret, so keep your mouth shut about it."
"Yes ma'am."
"Yeah."
Cinder turned back to her scroll and checked the merchandise ideas.
"Let see T-shirts, flags, and headbands? Too unoriginal. Oh that poster design is good, I'll send it to velvet for approval."
She sent a quick message to the rabbit faunus and then pulled up the regular feed. There she found several pictures from Neo. Cinder glanced at the multicolored girl to find her pouting at a phone.
Cinder heaved a sigh, she knew that look. She saw it daily now.
"I really need to talk to her soon."
Suddenly, Neo's face contorted in thought. After a moment, Neo glanced at Cinder and their eyes met.
There was a serious nature to the look in her eyes that Cinder couldn't but feel nervous at.
Neo turned back to her scroll and typed something in. And promptly after she was done, Cinder's scroll vibrated.
"I need to tell you something, and I should have told you it weeks ago."
Cinder quirked an eyebrow at the message. She opened her mouth to respond but the mute made a motion for her not to speak. So she texted instead.
"I need to talk to you too. Wanna talk here or go somewhere private?"
Neo looked at her scroll and nodded towards the door.
"Hey you two, Neo and I are going to go for a walk."
"Alright, just remember, no cheating on the sweet little Rose."
"Emerald. I want him to have nightmares for a week, think you can accomplish that?"
"Minimum or maximum?"
Cinder smiled devilishly.
"That, I leave to you."
Mercury looked between the two, before holding up a hand.
"I'm just gonna run if it's okay with you."
Merc immediately bolted for the window. He got it open and hopped out within seconds.
Cinder looked at Emerald who was shaking her head.
"Oh, it's definitely minimum now."
"Excellent."
Emerald took off out the open window.
"Merc! Get back here and take it like a man!"
Cinder shook her head with a small smile on her lips.
"Well, seeing as we now have the room to ourselves, would you like to have our talk here?"
Neo nodded, though she looked like she wanted to assist Emerald.
"What did you want say since you asked first."
Neo looked down for a moment, then typed into scroll.
"Roman has decided to turn against Adam. He's leaving the plans to bear faunus named Marron though."
"Roman leaving planning to other people?"
Neo nodded and typed again.
"I know the girl, and she is royally pissed at Adam. Roman plans to make her plan work."
"That sounds more like him...So he really does plan to turncoat, what about you?"
Neo shrugged.
"I'm here to make sure Adam never gets his mitts on Rose."
"I think I'll help you on that end."
"What about keeping the White Fang for your plans?"
"Honestly, I think we need to turn against Salem."
Neo's eyes nearly bulged out of her skull and she immediately began typing. However, Cinder stopped her.
"Yes, I'm aware how dangerous it is."
Neo started typing frantically again, only to be cut off again.
"Yes, I also know that if anyone found out about our previous allegiances, We probably won't see the light of day again. And no, I haven't talked to Emerald or Mercury."
Neo's face scrunched up before going through multiple expressions. Finally, she stopped on an unusual cross between resignation and curiosity.
"I was thinking we talk to Ozpin and make a deal. He did let Rose into this school after all."
Neo sighed and shrugged. Then she typed into her scroll again.
"Was that what you wanted to talk to me about?"
Cinder sighed and rubbed her brow.
"It would be much easier if that was it. What I need to talk to you about is much more personal, and will require us talking to Rose and Weiss."
Neo's brow raised.
"I know you have feelings for Rose, like Weiss and I. Seeing as we already have an unorthodox relationship, why don't you join us."
Neo's jaw hung limply with her mind struggling to register everything.
"We need to talk to Weiss and Rose, as I said before. So keep that in mind."
Cinder could only watch as Neo's jaw snapped shut and her face went through a myriad of emotions. Finally, she nodded with a resolute expression
"Grand, now we just need to wait until we talk to Weiss and Rose."
….
Summer was finally walking back from picking up the parts she ordered, as well as something she promised herself that she'd give Rose when she was found.
A cloak like hers, complete with several designs like a forest green with rose vines and a crimson like the cloak she first made for Rose.
Summer continued walking down the street letting her mind wander back to the Blossoming Rose and the modifications that were about to be made.
"It'll take time for her to learn how to shoot a bow properly, but maybe I should show her my stun arrows. But then we'll have to make her a quiver and arrows. Let's put that off until she is ready."
Being satisfied that she had followed her train of thought to it's destination. She began to let her mind wander again as she neared her apartment complex.
"Oh, I forgot I need to talk to her about her attire again. I know she wears her- well Weiss and Cinder's uniform, but her walking around clothes could do with a change, that's for sure."
Summer thought about the old clothes and armor she had packed away, and made mental notes of what Rose could and would wear.
Before Summer knew it she was back at her apartment door. She noticed that it the apartment was dead silent. This terrified her as Raven wasn't known for being this quiet. Carefully, she opened the door and peered into the room.
What she found was Raven and Rose sitting at the living room playing a game of chess. Both players were concentrating on the game and paid no mind to the door opening.
As Summer quietly approached them, she noticed that Rose was barely losing. She sat next to the coffee table they were playing on and watched as the match continued.
It went back and forth for another ten minutes before Raven finally managed to put Rose in checkmate.
"Wow, I never knew chest could be so...intense."
"Neither did I. How are you so good at chess?"
Rose shrugged and fiddled with her hands.
"Glynda and Ozpin like playing chess, so I've watched and played with them. I know their strategies, but I still need to work on actually playing."
Summer remembered the bags she had gotten and presented them to her daughter.
"Here, I got the parts we need, and something else I've been wanting to give you."
Rose regarded the bags for a moment before taking them and pulling out the contents. First was the weapon parts. She inspected each piece thoroughly with a muted glimmer in her eyes. This made Summer smile, she now knew that another small part of Ruby survived.
"Do that meet your specifications?"
Rose's eyes darted up and Summer swore she saw the faintest blush.
"Yes."
"Good, now open the other bag. I got something really special for you."
Rose did as instructed and pulled out the snow white cloak. Her eyes went back and forth between it and Summer.
"Yep, it's a cloak just like mine. It has all the basic settings like mine, plus two special ones. Go on, cycle through them, the button is on the emblem. And while you do that, I'll get Blossoming Rose."
Rose immediately set about cycling through the cloaks settings, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
Summer went to her bedroom and found the case she kept her old weapon in. She popped opened the latches to find the bow in perfect condition. It was at this moment she realized that she was going to be handing down her weapon to her youngest daughter.
Her heart fluttered and happiness as she quickly retrieved the weapon and stepped out of her bedroom. She found her daughter showing off the cloak, now draped over her shoulders, on its crimson setting.
Summer nearly dropped her bow again, as the scene of Rose wearing the first cloak she had been given.
"Mommy, are you okay? You're crying."
"I'm fine, honey. Better than fine in fact. Now here's Blossoming Rose."
Summer presented the weapon to Rose who then watched intently as her mother split the weapon into shortswords. Summer swung the blades slowly before twirling and changing the blades into kamas for a last flourish.
Summer looked over at Rose who was staring wide eyed and Raven who had an almost hungry look on her face. Summer chose to deal with the former.
"Heh, I take it you approve?"
Rose didn't respond immediately, just stared for a moment longer before coming back to reality.
"Are you sure?"
"Ruby, I've never been so sure. Now come on, if we hurry, maybe we can call your friends over so they can see your new gear. And maybe they can spend the night too."
"I thought you said this place was only big enough for one person."
Summer turned to Raven who was giving her a shit eating grin.
"Hush you. Besides, they are just staying the night."
"Really?"
Both Summer and Raven turned to Rose because of the tone of her voice. It was the voice normally reserved for when Summer said she could have more cookies.
Both Summer and Raven smiled warmly at their daughter, happy that she found people she liked to be with so much. Especially after the world being so cruel.
"Alright, let's get this done then."
….
"Report."
"One of our members saw a woman who resembled the given description of the Guilty Rose."
Adam bared his teeth and loosed a vicious snarl.
"Why wasn't she brought to me?"
The grunt gulped and tried not to stutter.
"The member said the woman's hair was different ant that she appeared to be too old."
Adam rage subsided for a moment to be replaced by curiosity.
"So there is a woman out there that looks almost exactly like the bitch, but is too old. I want this woman found again."
"Yes, sir."
A wicked grin formed on Adam's lips.
"I wonder if this mystery woman actually has any connection to her. Oh well, I'll find out when she's brought here."
A/N: That's it for this week's chapter.
Yeah, it's short and probably not what you expected. I wanted to add more stuff but decided to publish what I have for now.
So, time to address some stuff.
I got concerned feedback about Rose's sleeping habits. More specifically, her sleeping with Yang. I'm sure most of you aren't overthinking this, but for those who are. It's just sisters sleeping together because one needs it to sleep. That's it.
Next, About the new weapon. There are plans for this and it serves a specific purpose.
That's it for discussion guys. I just ask that you trust me like you already have.
Now, for a quick recap.
The morning scene, don't ask me where that came from, it happened, I saw that it was good, and kept it.
Next, the scene with Cinder, that has been a long time coming. I just had to make it official. Well both of those things official. So yes, Cin has decided to betray Salem officially and Neo is now being added to the pairing. You'll get more on that next time though.
Summer coming home, that was another scene that derailed from my original plan, BUT I like how it played out so I kept it. Though I almost made Summer run into Tai, though upon thinking about it, I didn't like the idea. I don't want an evil or vindictive Tai. Just one with anger issues.
Last scene, yep, that happened. I couldn't help but add that.
Alright, that's it!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Please follow, fav, and review!