Here's chapter 35, everyone.

Raven shook her head in disgust. "I told you that moron needs to be dealt with, Summer." She kept her voice down, since both women were waiting outside of the teacher's bathroom, wanting to give Willow her privacy she was clearly still crying about her call with Jacques. "Willow isn't going to budge."

Summer's saddened expression agreed with Raven. "You know how hard this is for her when the risk is so huge."

"She's got places to go, and enough money to give her son food on the table every day." Raven stated. "And yeah, it's her family's company, but who the hell cares when its image has been tainted this much?"

"Willow does, and that's what matters here." Summer said in a serious tone. "I hate him, okay… I really, really hate that man, and if I could, I'd go up and break his back." She sighed. "But I can't."

Raven ran her hand through her black hair, shaking her head again. "Look, you told me she already said to him that they should have split up years ago, right?" When Summer nodded, Raven continued. "Okay, well now he knows a hundred percent that she hates his guts."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean she wants to lose her family legacy, and possibly her son to him in a legal custody battle. You know how much pain she'd be in if that happened." Summer spoke softly.

"This right here is messing her up already." Raven pointed out.

"I know that, okay." Summer slightly raised her voice, hating how she couldn't do a damn thing at the moment. "I'm trying to think about how we can help her, so just… Stop trying the whole I told you so shtick and help me think."

The black haired huntress shrugged. "You're asking the wrong person, seeing as I divorced Tai…" She sighed, knowing Summer would try to make a big deal out of it. "Willow just needs to get her son and leave. That's all I can say."

"And if she can't take her son? What then?" Summer questioned.

"I don't know." Raven answered honestly. "I barely know much about her business, and all I really am to her is just her aura and semblance trainer."

"You're also her friend." Summer reminded.

Raven rolled her eyes. "I don't see where you got that impression. That woman and I argue more than I try talking to Qrow. And besides, I can't stand her."

Summer let out a chuckle. "Uh huh. Is that why you agreed to train her, and why she busted her butt working so hard to get a second glyph going so you would come here?" When Raven said nothing, Summer continued. "Stop being so dark and mysterious and accept that you two are friends, and that you know deep down you want to help."

"There's a difference between helping and having a reason to kick a moron off his high horse." Raven retorted, but Summer knew she really just wanted to help. "Besides, I told you what she needs to do already."

"I-I know." Summer looked to the bathroom door and took a breath. "This isn't going to be so easy."

Raven scoffed. "Really? Because it should be. Take the kid, leave the moron. Simple enough in my book."

"Lose her-." Summer tried to fire back, but Raven stopped her.

"Yeah, yeah, family legacy and all that crap." Raven groaned and walked over to the exit of the teacher's lounge. "I'm not sure what else you want me to do, Summer."

"Where are you going?" Summer asked, wishing she'd stay to support Willow.

Raven opened the door as she glanced over her shoulder. "I've got some things I need to do. Tell me what this one says later." With that, she walked out, knowing Summer would be upset about it, but she wanted to find something out.

Summer sat down on one of the chairs, keeping an eye on the restroom door. "Willow…" A few moments passed and the white haired woman walked out of the restroom, sniffling a bit as it was clear she had washed her face of the tears she had shed. "Hey." Willow walked over to sit next to Summer, not saying a word as she rested her head on the blacksmith's shoulder. "We're gonna fix this. I promise."

"I hope so…" Willow gently spoke, thinking about her kids. "I should have… I should have left when I was pregnant with Whitley. At least then-."

"Hey, don't do that to yourself." Summer pleaded when she straightened Willow up in her seat. She got in front of her friend and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Raven was telling me that… Maybe if you can, get Whitley out of that place and just… Leave."

Willow was debating that option many times in the past, but it always ended up with her thinking about how she'd abandon her family legacy. "My father… He started the company, Summer."

Summer could hear the pain in her voice, so she cupped her cheek and nodded. "I know, but at this point, your father would rather you be happy."

Sniffling, Willow just lowered her head. "I don't… I don't wish that I met another man, since… If I wasn't with Jacques, Winter," She had to keep up the lie about Weiss' true parents. "Weiss and Whitley wouldn't be here."

"And you should be happy how you raised three kids on your own, because you know damn well that man is not a father." Summer didn't like to use words like that often, but she would in situations like that.

"I am happy… But I'm scared that the consequences will be much greater." Willow said, and Summer understood why.

"Well, do you at least feel like you could get Whitley out of there? I mean, that would be a good start, right?" Summer continued to suggest.

Willow shrugged. "His father keeps him busy most of the day, and honestly, if I tried to explain to him that I wanted to leave his father and take him with me… I doubt he'd want to come with me."

"You don't know that," Summer helped Willow stand up, surprising her. "You had two weeks of aura and semblance training with Raven Branwen. You can handle talking to your son about this if you can handle that woman." She smiled.

"D-Don't say such things… She could be listening." Willow lightly chuckled with Summer, but it didn't last as she held her right arm and rubbed it a bit. "Do you… Could you maybe come with me to Atlas on Monday?"

"Like you have to ask." Summer responded with an assuring grin. "I'll hold your purse for you if you need to lay the smack down on that man."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Please. I wouldn't resort to that… At least not immediately."

"Hehe." Summer pulled her into a hug, making Willow yelp. "I'll be there. I promise. And when you speak with your son, don't just tell him what you think is best for him… Ask him what HE wants, and don't accept the answer Jacques would normally make him give. He's your son too and he's allowed to be his own person."

"S-Summer…" Willow bit her lip, realizing that she too was a bit at fault, trying to pull her son away from things when she only thought it was best for him. "You're right, you're absolutely. Thank you for reminding me of that."

"What are best friends for, right?" Summer pulled away and gave her a cheeky grin, and Willow wiped a stray tear away, feeling a bit more confident about her return to Atlas.

"And what are YOU doing back here?" Glynda asked when she opened the door for Raven. "I was hoping Mrs. Rose would keep you away from my office."

Raven rolled her eyes and pushed passed the professor, who scowled at her in return. "Stop being so bitchy and hear me out for a second." Glynda growled at the comment, but Raven continued. "I have a few questions for you, and I'd rather you not be huffing and puffing while I ask them."

Glynda shook her head in annoyance and walked over to her desk. "And why should I give you the time of day? You're clearly not deserving of my time."

"Man, you are seriously worse than I thought." Raven remarked as she walked over to the picture she noticed the last time she was in Glynda's office. "How long do I have to wait to ask you some questions?"

The blonde professor noticed the black haired huntress was looking at the picture, so she sighed and sat on her chair. "Just make it quick."

Raven looked closely at the picture. "This is a nice picture… Though I don't think I've ever seen this person before, and I'm sure I would have at one point if-."

"Enough." Glynda cut her off. "You wouldn't know her because she died years ago."

The black haired huntress turned, noticing how Glynda was looking down at her desk. "Didn't mean to bring up something like that… But she just looked familiar is all." Even though the blonde professor looked hurt, Raven was going to continue questioning her. "What was her name?"

Glynda raised her head up and gave her a quizzical look. "Why do you want to know?"

"Humor me." Raven responded, not moving away from the picture.

"Her name was Lazuria Okami." The confirmation was all Raven needed. "And she was… A very talented huntress in training. Well, she was a huntress. That was our graduation picture, but… Not too long after, I was informed that she was killed in action…" Glynda's voice was filled with pain, and Raven sighed a bit.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Raven offered, stepping away from the picture. "A lot of people in the world can look the same, so I guess it was just a coincidence. I'll get out of your hair."

Glynda got out of her chair. "Hold on." The raven haired huntress turned back around as Glynda stepped around her desk. "Are you implying that you saw someone who looks like her?"

"Yes, but it's not her if she was killed in action. Again, sorry for bringing it up." Raven said, noticing Glynda wasn't going back to her desk. "What?"

"I… Nothing. Forget it." The blonde professor walked back to her desk and opened her scroll. "Go on now. You got to ask your questions."

Raven said nothing and left the office, closing the door behind her as she thought about Lazuria. "Willow… Now Goodwitch, and why was she said to be K.I.A? Clearly she's alive, and this Marked business… Ugh, great. I'm already dug into this. Might as well keep going."

"Was there any real reason you wanted to go out for a walk?" Blake asked her blonde partner as the two were strolling down the halls.

"Eh, you didn't seem too into wanting to eat lunch, so I feel like a good walk could lift your spirits, y'know." Yang explained as she held stretched her arms a bit. "So, anything on your mind?"

That was a question that Blake felt she had way too many answers for. "A lot, but… One comes to mind. Your mother, not Summer, but your birth mother." Yang was ready for anything on that topic. "Is she the reason you and Ruby have different last names?"

Yang chuckled a bit. "That's your first question about that? Ha, well, not exactly. I took our dad's last name and she took her mom's last name because… I don't know, it rolls off the tongue better?"

"Is that really all?" Blake inquired.

"Yup." Yang nonchalantly answered. "Not everything needs to be complicated."

"I guess not." Blake sighed a bit and decided to stop the blonde by grabbing her arm. "Um, could we… Talk?"

The tone she was using was enough to get Yang to get serious, so she nodded. "Yeah, but let's find a private place. I doubt you'd want any of these people listening in." She pointed out to the other students who were down the hall. Blake followed her partner back to their dorm, finding that no one was there at the moment, so they walked in and closed the door behind them. "Alright, let's talk then."

Blake took a breath. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me? Anything at all? I'll… Try to answer."

"Ask you? Huh… I mean, what's your favorite color?" Yang asked, confusing the cat Faunus. "What? You said I can ask you anything, sooooo, what's your favorite color?"

"Y-Yang, you know what I meant." When her partner said nothing, Blake groaned. "Purple."

"Neat. Well, anything you wanna ask me? We can go back and forth on-."

"Yang! I'm being serious!" Blake yelled, making her partner sighed as she crossed her arms and looked away, thinking about what Blake asked of her. "Are you going to say anything or no-?"

"What's up with your leg?" Yang instantly asked, knowing it was time to finally get an answer.

Blake's eyes widened and she figure that was one of the possible questions. "I… Just… Hold on." She sat on her bed and removed her right boot, Yang feeling her heart racing as she had suspicions about it. Blake lifted her stocking up, Yang's eyes closed when she saw it. "How did you know…"

Yang opened her eyes, seeing the multiple scars on her partner's right leg. "I've… Seen you rubbing that leg a lot… And some of the things you've said." She bit her lip and wanted to punch the wall. "Damn it, Blake." Hearing that surprised the cat Faunus. "Why did you hide this from me? I get we haven't known each other for long, but still…"

"This… Isn't what I like to talk about." Blake said in reference to her scars.

"Yeah, no shit." Yang looked down at an angle. "Not a lot of people like talking about their scars, but hell, I still hate how you're hiding this kind of pain from me. I'm your partner!"

"Well the last partner I had was the reason I have these scars!" Blake shouted, tears forming on the corners of her eyes as Yang was shocked by what she had just admitted. "That word… Partner! It means nothing to me!"

Yang punched the wall, more so out of anger at herself. "Damn it… I…" She couldn't form words and ran over, hugging her black haired partner. "I'm sorry… I didn't know."

Blake pushed her off, making the blonde frown a bit. "Don't touch me."

"Please, Blake." Yang begged as she lowered her arms. "I'm not like that person… Whoever they are. I'm not like them and I swear that I never will be. You can-."

"Trust you? Is that what you were about to say?" Blake's tears began to show, falling on their dorm room floor. "He… Said the same thing."

Yang was given a bit more confirmation on some things, and she took a step back, feeling terrible for her partner. "That bastard isn't here, Blake. Whoever he is, he's not here to hurt you, and no one else is here to hurt you either."

Blake visibly shook, her thoughts about the last couple of weeks filled her head. But even then, she could picture Yang. Her smile, her hand being offered to her, and just the feeling she had whenever the blonde spoke to her. When more tears fell, she walked towards Yang and buried her face into the blonde's shoulder.

Feeling that, Yang refused to let her cry alone and wrapped her arms around her partner. The scars on her leg filled Yang's mind, and her lilac eyes became red. All she wanted to do was comfort her partner, and then find the guy who hurt her so she could break him down, piece by piece.

Sorry for the sad Blake, but now you all know why she's against people laying a hand on her, and why it's hard for her to connect with people. This is just a small, or a big step for her to be able to really trust someone again. Also, now Raven knows that Glynda is even somewhat connected with Lazuria. So, more on Glynda and what she will go through in this story.

To JJ- Willow at least told him how she really feels, and with that, we'll see the journey for her start on how to deal with Jacques. Maybe a certain bird will help her. And yeah, Ruby needed to know at least a bit, since she is the leader. And Weiss will always make her study. Haha.

To Lotus-one- We'll see what Jacques will do in this story, and if Willow can really deal with him. Death is not exactly something he deserves, but definitely paying for his crimes is. As for Willow and Raven, if the story writes itself into it, I might, since they do spend time together.

I hoped you all enjoyed chapter 35. Remember, reviews are welcomed, but not required. See you all in chapter 36.