A/N: Hey guys, I'm late again, but I'm less late than I have been, which is a plus.

As for why, I got a late start on the chapter after finals, and then I had to start moving to a new house.

Hope fully I can get back on track soon.

Now for the chapter.

So this one took a lot to finish because I had a big decision to make. It's pretty early in the chapter and I'll talk more about it at the end.

Besides that, I got nothing else to warn you about.

Please enjoy the chapter!

I don't own RT or RWBY.

Guilty Rose Chapter 28

"What the fuck is wrong with you!"

Raven had been whisper yelling and throttling her brother since Rose finally passed out in a sugar and alcohol induced coma.

"How could you say something like that to her and not expect this to happen?"

"I didn't know she'd do that!"

"You told her that people drink to forget. You know what she's done, how the hell do you think she wouldn't want to forget all of it."

Qrow glanced over at his niece, who was snuggled into Summer's lap while nibbling on a cookie in her sleep. A pang of guilt bit into his heart knowing that when she woke up, things would only be worse. He would know.

"Look, I know I fucked up three hundred cookies in, so rather than throttle me, how about we figure out what we're going to do about her."

Raven stopped at that and growled. She hated when her brother was right.

"Of course, I won't have my daughter turn into you, especially not because of you."

"I'd like to take offense at that."

"Are you going to?"

"Nope."

"Good. Now everyone we need ideas for what we're going to say when Rose wakes up."

"Besides that she's the most adorable thing ever."

Everyone gave Weiss a deadpan look while she continued to take picture with another cookie redy for when she finished her current one.

"Should we be worried about her?"

"She's already too far gone after that kiss."

"At least she's still somewhat functional."

The group grimaced as they looked at the prone forms of Cinder and Neo who both had matching stupid grins.

"Getting a little jealous there, Blake?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm sure."

"We're getting off track guys, we need useful ideas."

"Don't worry, when she wakes up she'll realize this did absolutely nothing. We'll only need to reinforce that."

"And how do you know that?"

"Why do you think I start every day by drinking?"

Qrow's words hung heavy in the air. He let out a tired sigh after a while.

"How about you guys let me clean up the mess I made, seeing as I am the only one with experience with this."

"Really? After all the shit you cause, now you decide to be responsible?"

"Eh, this time it's actually important."

"Raven, would you be a dear and slap him for me?"

SMACK

"Thank you."

"What was that for?"

"Every time we've had to clean up after you."

"Okay, that's fair."

"So, you know how to stop this from happening again?"

"Yeah...and I'm gonna have to sober up to make it work."

"What?"

"Look, the only way this will work is if I convince her that she needs to face her demons, and if I continue to drink then nothing I say will work. Nothing anyone says will work."

Raven, Summer, and Yang stared at the man, knowing this was probably the hardest decision he's ever made.

Suddenly, he gave them all a toothy grin.

"'Sides, I can still be fun sober. I mean no one can forget what I did at our Vytal festival."

"Raven."

"On it."

SMACK

….

Marron found herself in what she now considered her worst nightmare.

She has spent weeks discreetly looking for allies and undermining Adam's influence, and her only notable success was Roman Torchwick. All the members in Vale were either too loyal to or afraid of Adam.

She had even approached White Fang cells in other kingdoms only to find them either completely under Adam's influence or thought that Adam's success outweighed his means.

Finally, Marron tried to get a message back to Sienna Khan, seeing as her proclamations as the leader of the White Fang didn't wholly support what it was doing, only to be stonewalled by Corsac and Fennec.

"How far does Adam's corruption go!"

Marron slammed her fist into a shipping container as tears slowly made their way out of her eyes despite her best efforts to hold them back.

The White Fang she loved was too corrupted now.

So now she was pushing a new plan. She would go to Sienna Khan directly, and then the one person that saw this happening before it did, Ghira Belladonna. She had all the information and funds to do so, courtesy of Adam. At least her position handling the record books allowed her to do something productive.

Marron took a deep breathe and continued her way to the docks so she could meet Roman. She paid him to smuggle her to Menagerie. There she would talk to Ghira and see if he could summon Sienna directly. Maybe they would see the truth that Adam and his White Fang needed to be stopped.

A girl could hope.

Finally, she saw the flamboyant man she was looking for.

"Ah, finally made it. Were you followed?"

"Of course not."

"How do you know?"

"I told Adam that we had a report of the Guilty Rose on the other side of town."

"Nice."

Marron looked at the small cargo she'd be taking to Menagerie.

"So, this is your new plan?"

Marron sighed and shook her head.

"Do you have any better ideas, because I will listen."

"I'm the means to the end dear, but if it makes you feel better, I like this plan more."

"That's because you're getting paid."

"True, but this also makes more sense than 'talk to brainwashed grunts'."

"Ugh, you're an ass."

"Yes, but I'm the ass that wants you to succeed."

"Lucky me."

"Though I'd really like to continue our banter, there is a schedule."

"Right."

Roman tipped his hat and disappeared behind some shipping containers. Marron sighed and climbed the gangplank.

….

Rose could only feel her head throb when she woke up. Her eyes fluttered open but snapped shut as the light in the room felt like branding irons on her eyes.

She tried to remember what could have made her head hurt so much, but she could quite remember anything.

"She's awake."

Rose winced as the voice made her headache worse.

"Looks like a hangover, everyone lower your voices."

Rose couldn't place who's boice that was yet because of her headache, but she was grateful nonetheless.

"Hey there squirt, your head must be pounding huh?"

Rose nodded meekly towards the gravelly voice.

"I got you a glass of water, think you can sit up to drink some? It'll help, I promise."

Rose nodded again and tried to sit up, only to find herself too weak.

"Let me help."

It was her mother's voice this time. She felt the gentle hands brace her back and slowly lift her up. Then a glass was put to her lips and slowly she drank. Relief, though not a great deal, came immediately.

"See, told you it would help."

This time Rose managed to open er eyes before nodding. She found herself laying on her mother's lap with her uncle kneeling in front of her with the glass in hand and a warm smile.

"What happened?"

Rose found her voice to be raspy and weak, which made her even more curious as to what had happened to her.

"Well, you downed most of what was in my flask. Powerful stuff, wasn't it?"

Rose stared at her uncle in confusion until a slow trickle of memories came back to her.

"I-I thought it w-would help m-me forget."

"Oh it did, you acted like the hyper girl you should be. But what about now?"

Rose frowned softly, not only did she still remember everything, but now she was in pain too.

"Sucks doesn't, alcohol only gives you the little bit of peace and takes a steep price."

"But you said people drink to forget."

"I know I did, but I should have told you the reality. Drinking to forget does nothing, worse than nothing honestly."

Rose's lips quivered in a mix of pain and disappointment.

"Hey, none of that, you didn't know."

Tears began brimming in the small faunus' eyes.

"But it hurts. The memories hurt."

Qrow gently put his hand on Rose's head and rubbed a circle on her forehead with his thumb.

"I know they do, but alcohol helps nothing. So how about instead of going for a bottle, come to us."

Rose leveled the look at him that he fully expected. The one that questioned if this was sound advice, given who it was coming from.

"Don't worry squirt, I'm going to do the same thing from now on. Think of it as you helping me listen to my own advice."

Rose's eyes widened a bit, incredulous that she helped anyone in her state. Qrow smiled at her when he saw the look on her face before standing up and walking to the kitchen.

After a few minutes and another glass of water, Raven cleared her throat.

"Rose dear, It's getting rather late so your friends are about to leave. Do you feel up to seeing them off?"

Rose looked around to find her friends finishing packing up. Though it was obvious they had been waiting for her.

"You're all are leaving?"

"Rose, this was a one night sleepover, besides if we don't get Blake and Emerald away from you, they're gonna demand kisses too."

Emerald scoffed, but had a prominent blush on her face.

"I would never."

Blake turned away to hide her face.

"Wait, 'too'?"

"Oh right, you probably don't remember, but you liplocked with Weiss. Cinder and Neo looked so devastated that you gave them the same treatment."

All three girls squeaked and made sure not to look at Rose. Rose noticed this and couldn't help but whimper.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Cinder, Neo, and Weiss immediately straightened up and turned to look at Rose.

"You did nothing wrong, Rose. We're just still on a bit of a high from it."

Rose cocked her head to the side.

"How did a kiss give you a high?"

Everyone else cringed, know the talk that this conversation would lead to.

"How about mom explains everything after we leave."

"Explain what?"

"What you need to know about being in an adult relationship. Now we need to go, or we will mis the last bullhead."

"Oh. Okay."

"Don't be like that, we're not staying away, we just can't stay here any longer."

Rose stared at her sister, not realizing she was actually pouting at her.

"Rose, we'll come by tomorrow for a bit, I promise."

Rose smiled softly when she heard this.

"Okay."

Yang sighed and shook her head.

"I swear your pout is the most devastating weapon you have. Well, we're heading out now. Love you guys."

Yang slung her backpack on her shoulder and headed to the door with the others following suit, giving their farewells as they went. Though Weiss stopped short and turned to Rose and Summer. Her eyes were full of several emotions before she finally forced a smile.

"Until tomorrow."

Weiss turned and caught up with others, and the room remained silent for a while.

"They really like you, you know that?"

Rose frowned a bit before grabbing the charms around her neck.

"You-"

"I like them too."

Qrow chuckled and shook his head again.

"Well, guess I get to put the fear of Oum into the poor girls. Don't worry squirt, I'm not going to scare them off or too badly, just make sure your well taken care of."

Rose gave her uncle a hard look which he put his hands up at.

"Hey, it's me or my sister, and with me there won't be any drawn blades."

Rose pursed her lips before sighing in resignation. Then she remembered what Yang said before.

"Mom, what did Yang mean by what I need to know for an adult relationship?"

"And this where I take my leave, Because I'm not staying for this and remaining sober."

"Traitor."

"Love you too, sis."

….

"Specialist Schnee, is something wrong?"

Winter stopped rubbing her temples and looked at her assistant and sighed.

"Yes, I've had absolutely no response from Ozpin after forwarding him the files regarding that team. And after contacting my sister, she said the team was still there."

"You disclosed classified military intelligence to your sister?"

"Of course I didn't, I simply asked her team if Team CMEN was still attending Beacon."

"Oh, what did she say?"

Winter took a long breathe as she mentally went over that particular conversation again.

"She informed me that they were still there, and that her and her team actually have a majority of their meals with them."

"Oh my, that is troubling."

"Yes, she genuinely believes them to be good people."

"Then maybe you should warn her."

Winter shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I'm not sure it's that simple, the stories she's told me about them either point to nigh impeccable acting, or that they are genuinely good people. And I can't tell which is actually worse."

Winter chewed on her lip trying to decide what to do in this situation, but then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I know this will breach normal etiquette, but friend Winter, you need to trust your instincts in this situation. What do they tell you to do?"

Winter searched her feelings for a moment before understanding what she needed to do.

"My instincts say to meet them and judge them for myself."

"That's an excellent, once father gets back to Atlas, he will then head to Beacon to deliver his findings to headmaster Ozpin. It should take little effort to convince him to allow us to accompany him there."

Winter smiled at the young girl.

"That's quite the clever plan, no wonder you are top of your class."

"Thank you friend Winter."

"Now let's complete today's work so we can leave for the night."

"Yes, ma'am."

….

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T FIND HER?"

"Just that sir, we checked with all our sources, and searched that part of the city thoroughly, there's no evidence she was ever there."

"Are you kidding me? Marron said we received three reports of the Guilty Rose being in that part of the city."

"Then speak with Marron, maybe she'll know who gave us those obviously fake reports."

"Yes, and once we find them, I'll show them what happens to those that betray the White Fang. Now, someone bring me Marron."

"Sir, Marron left hours ago."

"Then go to her home, I don't care if you have to drag her here. GET HER!"

"Yes, sir!"

….

Amber stared athe files along with Glynda before looking at Ozpin.

"And we're not going to act on this evidence?"

"That is why I called you here tonight, I have had these files for some time now. However, I do not know if these are accurate enough to act on."

The women both narrowed their eyes at the man, making it known that weren't going to accept any of his schemes in the matter. Ozpin only held his hands up.

"I asked you to be here for a second opinion, because, as long as they have been here, the only time I've caught any of them doing something suspicious is when I walked in on Miss Rose and Miss Fall kissing in the CCT tower."

"They were doing what? Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"

"The romantic lives of our students is their own personal affairs, it was not my place to divulge the information to you."

"That's not why we're upset Ozpin, we're upset because we didn't get to congratulate Rose on finding someone that she cares about."

Ozpin pursed his lips for a moment, which Amber and Glynda immediately caught.

"You know more, don't you?"

"Someones. If my observations are correct, Miss Rose is in a relationship with several girls."

"Rose is cheating on several girls at once?"

"Oum no, they all seem to share her."

Ozpin's office went silent for a moment, even the cogs didn't seem to make a noise.

"I'm not sure if I should be horrified or impressed."

"I think I'm both."

"Anyway, now that we have Miss Rose's relationship status out of the way, back to the matter at hand. Is there any indication either of you have seen to that validates this evidence?"

Both women gave it some thought, and eventually looked at each other before looking at Ozpin.

"They are excellent students and I've seen nothing to the contrary."

"Same here."

Ozpin sighed and took a sip of his coffee.

"In that case we will not act on these files, or speak of them, unless we find evidence to support their claims."

Both women nodded in unison. Ozpin took another sip of his coffee.

"This really has been quite the interesting year."

A/N: Yeah, all that happened.

Qrow is sobering up to keep Rose from picking up his habit! I know a lot of want the intervention, but how many of you expected that? Anyway, that was a huge decision, but I stand by it.

Marron got screen time again! Yep, her plan A has failed, Adam has corrupted too much of the White Fang for her to undermine him by taking away his support. She's now going straight to the top of faunus society for help. What will happen there?

Not much to say about the second scene, but poor Raven and Summer, their gonna have to have the talk with Rose.

Winter has given up on waiting for a response, how will this bode for Beacon? Stay tuned to find out.

Adam is throwing more tantrums, what else is new. That bit was mostly for fun, but also to give you guys a heads up on future events.

Finally, Ozpin not acting on evidence that legitimately proves a possible conspiracy in his own academies. Wow, that's new *cough* not at all *cough*. Anyway, for once, he is actually in the clear on this. No one has seen Cinder or her team act suspicious, in fact, quite the opposite. They've been so genuinely caught up with Rose that they are now even planning to betray Salem. So, I can't wait to further develop this storyline. It's a personal favorite.

Well, that's everything.

Hope you enjoyed it!

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