"Neela, come on, how much longer are you going to keep on like this?" Ilia asked knocking on the door of the bathroom in the dorm as she could hear her team's leader retching and dry heaving over the toilet. "Ever since that cookout you've been acting like this. If we had any fights left this year you'd be totally screwed." Ilia sighed as she glanced across the room to Titus. "Can I get a little help here?" Titus groaned as he stood, trudging over to the bathroom before planting his feet and preparing to run his shoulder through the door.

"Neela!" He yelled. "Eliana's gone!" He took a step back and Neela opened the door, the color returning to her face as she looked around the room to make sure it was true.

"Thanks, Titus," she sighed, noting how badly her hands were shaking and her half-finished homework on her desk.

"Need a break?" Titus asked.

"I'm surprised that Eliana hasn't noticed that Neela's been acting differently," Ilia noted as she sat down on her bed, Titus and Neela glared at her.

"Are you?" Titus asked. Titus looked at Neela and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We can help you tell her, it's just kind of rough to see you like this."

"I can do it," Neela insisted without looking up at them. "I have to." Ilia nodded.

"I get it, I really do, but at the very least then, take a break," Ilia instructed her. Titus smirked at Ilia before ushering Neela out the door, though it was more like he was dragging her out.

"Go have dinner with your family," Titus insisted.

"But…" Neela tried protesting.

"But nothing," Ilia replied for him as Titus slammed the door.

"My homework?" Neela called back in.

"Don't worry about it," Titus demanded. Neela contemplated protesting again before just leaving, taking a deep breath and slumping down the hall towards the stairs. She'd committed, she convinced herself finally that this was the time, she had no excuses, she just needed to tell Eliana and hope that she felt the same. But when Eliana was there with her, whether they were alone or not, Neela started sweating profusely. She couldn't find the words, her throat would close up, she'd feel dizzy, an unexpected nausea would run rampant through her body. She could face Grimm with confidence, take criminals in stride, but the idea of rejection from Eliana drove her to madness.

She made it outside, the air refreshing as she took a deep breath in and tried to collect herself. Her mind wandered, not really able to focus on anything more than the infinite possible outcomes that might come from telling Eliana how she really feels. Neela slammed into the door on the front of the apartment building, shaking out of it as the sudden jolt broke her free from her thoughtlessness.

"Kid, I've only seen that look on one other person before, and she had it nearly as bad as you do," Qrow told Neela as he reached out from behind her and opened the door.

"Sorry," Neela apologized. She turned back to greet Qrow and note that Ruby was with him, offering each other a smile before Ruby hugged her tightly.

"It's been a while Neela! How's life?! I was so proud of you during that tournament, but you know how professional I have to be when I'm in public," Ruby squealed before releasing Neela who gasped.

"It's fine," Neela told her.

"She's lying," Qrow corrected with a smirk. Qrow walked in past her and Ruby winked at Neela before they followed him in.

"Are you?" Ruby asked.

"Eliana," Qrow replied. Ruby nodded and patted Neela's head.

"Did something happen?" Ruby inquired.

"I haven't told her yet," Neela admired dejected.

"Waiting for that perfect moment, huh?" Ruby wondered.

"I guess that's one way you could put it," Neela sheepishly responded as Qrow called the elevator.

"Nerves?" Ruby chuckled. "I know the feeling, I can still remember it, just thinking about it makes me miss it."

"You miss feeling like this?" Neela questioned, mouth agape.

"The adrenaline pumping through your body, your heart pounding too loudly for you to hear what you really mean, the rush that's screaming at you to just do it already," Ruby listed off. "It sucks now, but you'll look back on it fondly. Killing Grimm has never scared me, but the last time that I confessed my feeling to Weiss before she finally said yes was the most terrified I've ever felt. I had already decided that if she said no again that I would give up altogether."

"It's not like you to give up," Qrow laughed as they entered the elevator.

"It was the third or fourth time. Each time I asked it just seemed to hurt Weiss more and more. Her obligation to the company always came first, but she came to the same realization that if she didn't say yes, maybe I wouldn't be there anymore. And maybe that's coming out the wrong way, she didn't realize that she loved me as much as she does until it dawned on her how badly she wanted me to stay in her life," Ruby explained.

"Elli thinks that I'll always be there," Neela told her aunt. "And I'll stay with her as long as I can, but I want more!"

"Sounds like you need to tell that to Elli," Ruby said with a smile. "We all know how you feel, but until you leap off of the boat, you won't know how dangerous the swim back to shore is." Qrow looked at the floor for a moment before glancing at Ruby.

"I don't think that was the best analogy," Qrow replied.

"How would you put it then?" Ruby asked.

"You can't have your happily ever after if you're stuck at once upon a time," Qrow offered staring at the door. Ruby slumped.

"That was better than mine?" Ruby groaned. Neela chuckled.

"I get what you're saying," Neela assured them. The door opened and Yang met them at the elevator, shocked but pleased to see Neela with her sister and uncle.

"Hey, Little Bird, what brings you home tonight?" Yang asked while Qrow and Ruby filed past her.

"Is Raven here?" Ruby asked Yang. The question caught her off guard, eyes flickering for a moment without her realizing it before she could come up with an answer.

"Ye… Yeah," Yang stuttered, shaking her head before her smile returned. "In the apartment."

"Thanks," Qrow told her before they entered.

"Titus and Ilia threw me out of the dorm room," Neela confessed.

"Seems a bit harsh," Yang noted looking for Eliana. "Where's Elli?"

"Don't know, probably training or something. Maybe she went into town," Neela offered. Yang cracked a grin.

"Don't want to know, do you?" Yang asked. "You shouldn't keep putting it off…"

"Like I haven't heard that a dozen times today," Neela said with an eye roll.

"I'm just trying to help," Yang scolded, putting Neela in a headlock and rubbing her knuckles into the girl's head. "You're gonna hear it at least one more time too."

"I know," Neela grunted breaking free. She tried throttling Yang and the two of them shuffled for a long moment in the hallway before Blake stepped out with her arms folded.

"Ahem," Blake cleared her throat causing them to both look.

"Sorry mom," Neela responded with remorse as Yang quickly leapt to Blake, grabbing her ass and pulling her in for a kiss.

"I'm not," Yang replied after breaking it off.

"You look a bit under the weather," Blake noted as Neela entered the apartment.

"Eliana," Yang whispered slowly into Blake's ear. "Don't ask."

"Did she say no?" Blake asked. Yang grabbed Blake's cat ears, pulling her head down before whispering into them.

"Did I have the wrong ears the first time?" Yang questioned.

"Yang!" Blake scolded.

"Haven't told her yet," Neela droned. Blake looked at Yang with concern as her wife waved her off and they headed in, closing the door behind them.

"Neela! Nice of you to join us!" Tai exclaimed as Shadow leapt into action from Raven's side and attacked her older sister, wrapping her arms around her legs.

"Sissy!" Shadow exclaimed. "You fight any cool Grimm lately?"

"I fought some beowulves out in Forever Fall last weekend," Neela told her.

"Were you scared?" Shadow asked with wide eyes. Neela smirked and folded her arms.

"I'm too tough to be scared of a few Grimm, I kicked their butts so they'd never come back," Neela reassured her little sister who leapt up and down.

"Awesome!" Shadow yelled. "When I get as old as you, I'm gonna defeat all the Grimm to keep you and Mommy Yang, and Mommy Blake safe!"

"Inside voice," Blake insisted. Shadow giggled and put a finger to her own lips.

"Sorry," she said hoarsely.

"She sure knows what she wants," Raven noted.

"At least she's got direction in her life," Qrow said sitting at the table across from her. She scowled as he kicked his feet up and enjoyed a drink from his flask.

"Can I have a sip?" Shadow asked. Qrow glanced up at Blake before shrugging and handing it off to the girl who took a large swig.

"Qrow!" Blake yelled.

"Wha?" He fired back.

"It's just water, mommy!" Shadow told her running up with it. Blake took it away, smelling the contents before taking a drink.

"You should have seen the look on your face," Qrow laughed.

"Hilarious," Blake replied handing it back to Shadow who returned it to its rightful owner as she gave him a high five.

"So, how did the two of you know that you were right for each other?" Neela asked Raven who nearly spit out her drink.

"Neela, I don't know if that's something they'll want to talk about," Blake insisted.

"No," Yang cut her off from saying any more. "I want to hear this."

"Where to start…" Tai said rubbing the back of his neck.

"There are qualities about Tai that are redeeming," Raven offered.

"Thanks," Tai replied hurt. Qrow cleared his throat before sitting properly in his chair and leaning forward.

"Alright, listen up, since the two of you are never going to give us the story straight," Qrow began.

"This is a stupid idea," Raven insisted as Summer yanked a brush through her hair in an attempt to brush it all out before Tai arrived. "I'm not even sure why I agreed to dating Tai in the first place now that I think about it."

"Sis, shut up," Qrow insisted as he leaned back against the support of the bunk bed and finished off the beer that he was white-knuckling for fear that Summer would take it from him. "You know that as soon as Tai gets here and you see him you'll get all starry-eyed for him like you always do."

"This actually feels sickening when you put it that way," Raven replied. "Thanks."

"I can see why you like him so much," Summer said humming happily as she worked tirelessly on her friend's hair. "He's strong, good looking, and the only guy that isn't intimidated by you."

"He's too stupid to be scared of her," Qrow noted.

"Qrow!" Summer snapped.

"Come on," Qrow insisted. "I'm more aware of the things around me when I'm drunk then when Tai's having a good day."

"You're being a bit harsh," Summer waved him off. She turned Raven around and looked her over. "You look good, Rae."

"Thanks," Raven sighed, her mind swimming slowly to the surface. Was she really going on another date with Tai? Was it for Summer's sake, or did she really like him? As long as it kept her father away what difference did it make, maybe one day he'd help her stand up to her father, now that's a man that she could truly love. The door swung open, revealing a blushing Tai who was mostly averting his eyes towards the floor, peeking up at her for a moment as his hands shook nervously to reach out and take one of hers in his own.

"Qrow and I will be there with you guys!" Summer announced with a smile. Qrow shot her a double-take.

"I don't think that's necessary," Qrow refused.

"Oh come on, a double date would be fun, wouldn't it?" She begged, giving him puppy dog eyes. Qrow rubbed his face and nodded.

"Yeah, sure, why not?" Qrow agreed begrudgingly.

"Yes!" Summer declared.

Raven sat across from Tai, her mind processing what Summer had suggested. She felt more strongly about Taiyang than that, didn't she? He was more than just strong, good looking, and unfearful of her. He cared about the person she was, he listened to her when she talked about what she wanted to do with her life, all of that nonsense. There was something that she could see deep in his eyes that made her feel like she had every right and reason to want to stay with him, even if she couldn't explain it. She hated the feeling… and yet… she needed it.

"Would you like to go see a movie after this?" Tai asked her as they finished their dinner and they left the restaurant.

"That depends…" Raven stated with her arms crossed. "What are we seeing?"

"I thought maybe we'd go see a Spruce Willis movie," Tai suggested. "That new action one that just came out looks like it might be his best one yet." Raven chuckled as she walked past him to stop in front of him.

"Is that so?" Raven asked. She looked him over, a handsome, wholesome man that she had no business falling in love with, but it was at that moment that she realized Summer was right all along. Love works in strange ways. It doesn't always make sense, it's a feeling that's just there and it drives you to want to stay with that person and protect them. "I have a better idea."

"Are you wanting to leave me," Tai asked.

"You need to be a little more confident in yourself," Raven replied rolling her eyes. "I think I can help with that though."

"How so?" Tai asked.

"Let's plan that movie for tomorrow and go back to the dorm for tonight, I'll see if Summer can keep Qrow busy," Raven said.

"Okay, but…" Tai began to ask. "Wait, did you just ask me on a third date?" She smirked as she took him by the hand.

"I guess I did," she replied. They took off together, leaving Summer and Qrow to watch on as they exited the restaurant.

"She's going to eat him alive," Qrow noted.

"Don't say that I think it's nice that they have each other," Summer insisted. Qrow watched her for a long moment, her eyes reflecting the moon.

"You have anyone in mind for yourself?" Qrow asked her. Summer blushed and shoved him.

"It's like I told Rae, love just kind of happens, and you can't help it," Summer said as she took off towards the docks. "Come on! You're going to be late for a ride back up to the school!"

"It was the first time that Tai had sex," Qrow chuckled.

"It was not!" Tai insisted.

"Was too," Qrow replied.

"Too much info," Yang said.

"He cried," Raven laughed.

"Excuse me!" Tai blurted out. "That's personal information."

"Oh come on, your granddaughter here isn't the first person I've told," Raven replied.

"Our granddaughter," Tai corrected.

"Mommy Yang, what's sex," Shadow asked.

"Now I might kill you," Blake declared walking quickly to Shadow.

"It's a thing for adults, Shadow," Qrow quickly explained. "Like Uncle Qrow's special drink."

"Will I get to try it when I'm older?" Shadow asked as Blake scooped her up.

"Much, much older," Blake informed her. "When you're older than me and Mommy Yang." Blake set her down in the hall and pointed towards Shadow's room. "Why don't you head down there and play for a bit?"

"Okay!" Shadow bounded away happily. Blake glared back at them, her eyes shining down the hall.

"And you always thought that I was intense," Raven told Qrow.

"So that was it?" Neela asked. Raven sighed and nodded.

"There was no huge revelation," Raven explained to her. "Summer set us up and it wasn't until that date that I knew I might like him…" She looked at Tai who looked hurt. "Or loved him at the time, whatever."

"Whatever," Tai parroted back. Raven groaned.

"I left him because he was soft," Raven chuckled.

"You left him to protect him and Yang from dad," Qrow admitted for her. She glared at him. "Hurt your pride? We can take this outside." Yang stared at Raven for a long moment.

"Is that really why you left?" Yang asked. Raven refused to look at Yang for a minute or so before meeting Tai's eyes, motioning for her to look at her daughter. Raven swallowed the words that had formed on her tongue, looking deeply into Yang's eyes and seeing the pain she'd caused for the first time instead of meeting Yang on the surface.

"Yes," Raven stated solemnly. Yang bit her lip, shaking her head before leaving the room.

"Maybe you should have apologized," Tai suggested.

"No," Blake said. "It wouldn't make things any better." Blake looked at Raven. "But I know exactly why you ran, what you felt as you did. It's the same exact reason that I ran from Yang." Raven gave a single nod before standing up at the sound of the egg timer going off in the kitchen.

"Let me help you," Raven insisted. Blake smiled.

"Thanks," Blake replied. Neela took her seat and put her feet against Qrow's on the table.

"I'd put your feet down before Blake yells at you," Qrow mentioned.

"What about you?" Neela asked. Qrow scoffed with a smirk.

"I'm not scared of her," Qrow replied. Neela grinned back.

"I'm not either," Neela explained.

"Qrow! Neela! Feet down!" Blake shouted at them. They both put their feet down instantly, hands folding on the table.

"Yes ma'am," they spat out in unison.

"Why not just have Ilia or Titus set you up on a double date?" Tai asked Neela.

"I've been on 'dates' with Eliana before, she just doesn't realize that I'm being serious," Neela assured him.

"Have you told her explicitly?" Tai questioned her. "That might be the only way to get it through to her, and I know it's not easy, and that everyone keeps telling you the same thing, but it's true, and it's the only thing that's going to work with Elli." Ruby stood, moving into the kitchen with Raven and Blake before grabbing Raven by the arm.

"Can I borrow you for a moment?" Ruby asked. Blake nodded as Ruby led Raven out into the hallway and shut the door after them. Ruby looked Raven over for a long moment before finally speaking. "Raven…"

"Finally taking me in?" Raven asked. "I knew that this would come, you have your duties."

"No," Ruby stated. "As much as you might not want to hear it, and as much as I'm still doubtful over it, Blake says that you've made a change, and I'm not about to strip Shadow of her grandmother at the very least." Ruby rubbed her face. "I do need to know where Benjamin Taurus is." Ruby saw the change in Raven's eyes as she turned away, she was offended and disgusted.

"So that's the real reason you're keeping me around, huh?" Raven noted. She turned back to Ruby. "Ben is a long friend of mine, and I'm not about to sell him out if you're thinking of making some kind of ultimatum."

"This has nothing to do with you," Ruby stated. Raven glared hard at her. "Benjamin is the only one at this point that might know what his daughter is doing and might talk." Ruby grabbed Raven by the shoulder. "If you really care about the people in that room behind you, you'll tell me where he is, it's our last shot at stopping the Fang before they do something crazy." Raven's mind tore itself apart, remembering Yang's hatred when she'd been reunited with her in Mistral all those years ago. She couldn't be a coward anymore. Athena would know where the information came from and Raven would have another target on her back, adding to an endless list of people that wanted her dead.

"Tell me that you won't kill him," Raven told Ruby. "Tell me that you won't kill Benjamin and I'll tell you where he is."

"You have my word," Ruby swore with her right fist placed over her heart. Raven nodded as she removed something from the inside of her top, a note that she handed over before swallowing hard, the gravity of her choice sinking in. Ruby nodded in thanks before moving to head back into the apartment, but Raven gripped her arm quickly.

"If he asks you to kill him, I can forgive you," Raven stated. Ruby looked at her with concern.

"Is that something he might ask?" Ruby questioned.

"I fear what Athena would do if she gets whatever it is she's after and then returns to her father. It'll be her breaking point. The only reason she's letting him live right now is so that he can see how wrong he was about her being unfit to lead the Fang," Raven detailed. Ruby nodded again before opening the door, almost knocking Yang over who stood on the other side. Raven and Yang met eyes before Raven looked away.

"Heading out?" Ruby asked. Yang averted her glare from Raven and her sister.

"Was going to come out and check on you," Yang lied through gritted teeth.

"Just girl talk, right Raven?" Ruby asked with a smile.

"Yeah…" Raven replied rubbing her neck.

"Alright everybody, dinner's ready!" Blake announced. As the three women by the door headed for the kitchen, there was a knocking behind them. "Can you get that?"

"Sure!" Neela exclaimed. She rushed through the living room, opening the door to find Eliana who smirked at her, sending an electric shock through Neela before a chill replaced it, forcing her to take a few steps back. "El… Elli, what's up?"

"Ilia and Titus told me you came here to have dinner," Eliana told her with folded arms. "You didn't even message me to tell me."

"I was busy," Neela managed through her dry throat.

Eliana, I love you!

Elli, I love you… like… I really love you…

Elli, do you want to go on a date this Friday?!

I have something crazy to tell you, but promise me that you'll hear me out… and that you won't leave me…

"Can I come in then?" Eliana asked with that damned smile on her face. Neela bit her lip and nodded.

"Of course," Neela replied, showing Eliana in. Neela closed the door, ready to follow Eliana back to the kitchen when there was another knock. Blake glanced towards Neela who shrugged, turning around and opening it again to reveal Weiss and Winter. "Uh… hi?"

"Are we late?" Weiss asked. "I kept telling Winter that this whole thing was supposed to start half an hour ago but she insisted that her schedule said otherwise."

"I'm sorry… what are we talking about?" Neela questioned.

"Blake sent a mass text to everyone saying that she wanted to retake the family photo for Shadow," Winter clarified. Neela blinked a few times before looking back into the apartment.

"Mom!" Neela called out.

"Yes?" Yang replied.

"Other one!" Neela replied.

"What is it, sweetie?" Blake asked coming over.

"Aunt Winter said something about us doing the old family photo again for Shadow," Neela informed her. Blake glanced between the two of them.

"What?" Blake inquired. Weiss removed her scroll, showing it to Blake. "That is my number, but I didn't…"

"Aunt Weiss! Aunt Winter! You made it!" Shadow exclaimed. Blake shot her a look.

"Shadow, honey. Did you know they were coming?" Blake asked. Shadow smiled and giggled.

"I sent out the message using the taking app thing since I can't spell well," Shadow explained. "And it worked!"

"Who all did you invite?" Blake asked. Shadow shrugged and counted her fingers.

"Aunt Winter, Aunt Weiss, Aunt Ruby, Uncle Qrow, Coco, Velvet, Grandpa Ghira, Grandma Kali… and I told them to bring the kids!" Shadow excitedly declared. Blake stared at her, unsure of how to process the information.

"Should we leave?" Weiss asked. Blake rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"No, it's fine. We'll take pictures I guess," Blake sighed. She let Winter and Weiss in, grabbing Shadow's arm on the way through. "Sweetie… please don't ever do this again."

"Okay!" Shadow happily agreed, skipping into the house.

Seems that Shadow is a crafty one. Next week, Chapter 116 - Benjamin vs Ruby!

A big thank you to Helihi, Cadhla182, Carlomontie, Nliast, Y8ay8a, Sa-Dui, Diyaru4500, Demize00Zero, TheCipherNine, SketchHungry, Ookaminoki, Lightning-in-my-Hand, and Dishwasher1910. All of their artwork can be found at Deviantart, you can search Silent-Celica and under my favorites tab, I have a collection for NITE.

Until next week, stay classy!