Chapter 5: Midnight Recovery

Author's Note: Shorter chapter; decided to split a chapter up due to how long it was actually getting!

Time flowed and twisted as the silver eyed wolf faunus stared at her partner sleeping peacefully. Qrow was lucky to live; the doctors said to her so many times she had stopped counting. Summer bit her lip as she watched him, her lip red from the month long pain.

Professor Ozpin came in every other day or so to check in on Summer. She knew it wasn't healthy to still be at Qrow's bed side but there was nowhere else to go right now. Ozpin always brought cookies or tea to try to have talks with Summer, mostly in vain as she always trailed over to Qrow's being. It hurt everyone to see Qrow in this way; unable to wake up. For these last three years; Qrow had always been here for Summer; and she wanted to be here for him now.

"How's he doing?" came a voice into the room, breaking Summer's line of thought. Summer turned to see Raven and Taiyang standing in the doorway.

Summer smiled at the two. "Hey guys." She almost whispered, her voice being quite raspy from a month of rarely being used.

Taiyang looked at Summer, noticing her ears. "Summer?" he asked as he pointed to her wolf ears. "You never told me you were a faunus."

Summer started to feel embarrassed; this was the first time she had not worn her hood in Taiyang and Raven's presence since the day of the Fall of Mountain Glenn. "Yeah…. I just… never told you as I was told by my parents to not reveal it to anyone."

"So what happened to that now?" Raven spoke up.

"Well… a group or someone bullied me at Beacon by revealing it the same day as the event of Mountain Glenn, and with Qrow already knowing, I figured I would let my ears actively not be taped down for him. I really hope you two aren't mad at me for keeping it a secret for almost three years, and Tai for years longer."

Taiyang and Raven just started to laugh, leaving Summer to look puzzled at the laughing. Taiyang paused to speak. "You have no idea how rough being on campus has been without you two. It feels like hell has opened up with all the gossip going around, learning you're a faunus is honestly a piece of good welcoming news, and I'm happy that you've finally let me in on this considerably a family secret Summer." he finished as Raven just nodded in agreement.

Summer looked over puzzled. "What sort of gossip?"

Taiyang looked at the now flustered Raven. "It's better if you don't know."

"Come on; I'm gonna hear it when I get back." Summer said; her eyes darting between Taiyang, Raven, and Qrow.

"It's just that; the school thinks somethings up in mine and Rae's relationship and there's even bets on when we're gonna break up." Taiyang finally answered.

Raven only scoffed at Summer. "And remind me, why are you the one skipping classes to watch my brother, shouldn't it be my job?"

Summer blushed. "I want to be the first one to thank him for saving me, plus he's my partner, I need to be there for him, as you two can still do your partner training stuff at Beacon." She quickly answered.

Raven's crimson red eyes just looked down towards the now bright red Summer, as if burning into Summer's silver ones. "Summer, you like him, don't you?"

Summer smiled, her mind trying to focus. "Of course I like him."

"Not like that, like… do you want to date him?" replied the normally very fiery woman in a softer tone. Summer just slightly smiled as she could barely blush any brighter. "Well then, why haven't you asked him?"

Summer looked down. "I'm not sure he would say yes."

Raven stared at the currently defenseless woman in front of her, thoughts flowing of how she and Qrow would have to deal with Summer if she ever got in their way. "I'm sure he'll say yes, Summer. He's my twin, and if anybody knows him best, it's me." Raven paused, as Summer just hugged her and Taiyang.

"You two are some of the best team mates a girl could have." Summer said, as tears fell down.

Taiyang smiled before starting to talk. "Look, me and Rae have to return to campus now due to how the bus schedules are, please Summer, call us when Qrow wakes up."

Summer nodded. "I will." Summer waived to Taiyang and Raven as they left.

Qrow slowly opened his eyes, he was staring up at a ceiling. He slowly turned over to see Summer asleep at his bedside. 'Why's Summer here? Hold on…' Qrow paused thinking to look around the room, realizing he was in a medical bed in one of those gowns; and that Strawberry Solstice, Apple Slice, and Harbinger resting at the door. He smiled as he moved to look over at Summer. The moonlight shone onto Summer's face as the bed moaned, waking the sleeping Rose to open her eyes.

Summer stared into the pale red eyes in front of her, and just started to grin excitedly. "Qrow! You're awake!" Summer yelled, almost startling Qrow, causing him to flinch back and start screaming in pain. "Oh Qrow, I'm so sorry!"

Qrow smiled weakly as he got into a comfortable position. "Heya Summer, did you miss me or something? What am I doing in this gown?"

Summer just looked at him, her eyes just full with tears. "Qrow…. You've been basically asleep for almost a whole month…" Summer paused as she just smiled as she wiped her tears away. "You took a very nasty blow for me, why wouldn't I be worried?!"

Qrow listened to Summer, 'I've been asleep for over a week, let alone almost a month?' he asked himself, until he looked down to see Summer had a bandaged leg, with another bandage around one of her ears. "You look like you've had a bad month yourself, you alright, Summer?"

"No!" The frustration in Summer's voice was not what Qrow was expecting; causing him to flinch as Summer kept talking to him. "I've been worried sick for you, Qrow… there's something, I've been wanting to ask you for a while now, and right now, it's better late, while we're talking."

Qrow tensed up, and sat up, looking at Summer. "This sounds serious, is it about your faunus traits? I promise I won't tell the others."

Summer just shook her head. "No, Tai and Raven already know, they found out a few hours ago…" Summer took a long breath, it was time to ask. "Qrow?"

"Hmm?" replied Qrow, now completely amused yet puzzled by Summer's actions.

"Would you…. Would you…" Summer stopped mumbling and took another breath, her face flustered a bright red. "Would you go out with me after you've recovered?"

Qrow looked at her, with interest. "Did you just ask me out?" he finally asked, as Summer immediately nodded. Qrow just grinned. "I believe you've got yourself a date."

"Really?!" she perked up, she was slightly caught off guard by this, even though Raven had told her that he would say yes.

Qrow just looked at the red and black haired woman in front of him, smiling, he slowly nodded as Summer hugged him in a calm manner.

A few more weeks in the hospital came and went, until Qrow was cleared, and allowed to leave. Summer guided him out, holding his hand the whole way while Taiyang and Raven just followed behind, carrying Qrow's stuff. The group soon arrived at the local shooting range that they normally go to, having not that long until the next Vytal Festival to practice as a team, through it wasn't long until one of them got a bit too cocky with their chances.

Raven smirked as she tapped on Summer's shoulder. "Hey Taiyang, think you could make that shot?" Raven pointed to a wooden cut out of a beowulf with a target on its head.

Taiyang laughed. "That one is easy. Sure." Taiyang paused and turned to Summer. "Hey Summer, can I borrow your sniper rifle?!" he yelled.

Summer handed Taiyang the rifle, as Qrow looked over from shooting three beowolves in a row. "Tai's shooting?" he asked, knowing that Tai had not really trained with a gun.

"I'm trying my luck…" Taiyang started to say. "Now..where's the zoom?"

Summer silently giggled as she whispered in Qrow's ear. "Shall we take a bet?" asked Summer innocently.

Qrow chuckled. "What? Uh… maybe 10 lien if he can make it?"

"25 lien he doesn't." smirked Summer as a long bang echoed around them as Taiyang pulled the trigger.

"Oh my god! How did I miss?!" shouted Tai, having missed the whole grimm, causing Qrow, Summer and Raven just to explode with laughter.

"Fine Short-stack, you won. Looks like I'm buying us dinner on that date." Qrow muttered as Summer just clung to his arm as Raven just laughed at Taiyang's expense.

The group didn't last that much longer at the range, as they had to catch the bus back to Beacon. However, on the bus ride; Qrow looked out of the window for most of the trip to Beacon, watching the gold and red trees move in the wind as the bus entered the tunnel to the campus, never being able to let go of Summer's hand. The whole world had changed little in his absence, but the things he did notice most was how people noticed him. He couldn't put it.. Maybe he was finally wanted here?

The bus arrived at the campus, there was a large crowd waiting. It seemed that a few students had spotted the group and the news spread like wildfire. As the bus driver opened the door; Summer said thank you, as Taiyang got off first to clear a path for Summer and Qrow following suit, with Raven on the rear carrying all of Summer's and Qrow's items.

As they walked back to the main building, they were stopped by a figure they were not expecting. There waiting for them at the bottom of the CCT tower, was Headmaster Ozpin. "Good afternoon, Team STRQ, and welcome back Mr. Branwen and Ms. Rose." he said in a calm cheerly voice.

"Hello Professor Ozpin." said Qrow muttering. "Thank you."

"Ms. Rose, and Mr. Branwen, how are you recovering?" Ozpin asked, Summer caught onto his voice; it clearly seemed he had another motive to ask of their recovery that he was not mentioning yet..

Summer smiled under her hood. "You want us to be in the festival, don't you?" she asked excitedly.

The headmaster nodded before speaking. "It would be a big shame if last festival's champions didn't return for their hopeful encore."

Qrow opened his mouth before Summer could. "Don't worry Headmaster, the doctor's said I should be fine for the tournament, I just need to train a lot."

"Then I would advise you to start planning to pack up your bags." The Headmaster looked over the four adults in front of him, all smiling. "The tournament's in Atlas this year, and you all need to get up there soon to start training and getting used to the climate. Ms. Rose?"

"Yes Professor?" Summer asked, beaming.

"Can you come to me when you've all decided on this matter?"

Summer just smiled. "Sure Sir." she said as the others nodded in agreement, as they headed for their dorm. As soon as they were in the room, Summer pulled out her scroll, and dialed a number. Within seconds the other side picked up.

"How's my little Summer doing?" asked the voice on the other end.

Summer smiled. "Hey Mum?"

"Yes sweetie; you know I'm busy, is something wrong?" Summer's mother said calmly, though annoyed.

"Our Headmaster told me and my team that we're accepted already into the Vytal Festival this year. I was wondering if we could bunk at home while we're there."

The voice over the line cheered up. "Oh my! How wonderful! Yes of course you can come to the house! They'll have to sleep in the living room though."

Summer just grinned. "I'm sure we can find room, alright; I'll call you again when we arrive in Atlas Mum, I'll let you get back to your work!"

"Bye Summer." Summer's mother said as they hung up on each other.

"Summer?" asked Raven, "What was that all about?"

Summer smiled. "Well, I just got us a place to rest outside of the academy." Summer trailed up as she started to mumble about all the plans she had to make.

Taiyang and Raven were stunned, Taiyang tried to speak. "Who did you call to get set up already?"

"Well, I asked my mum!" Summer said beaming. "Now I need to go tell Headmaster Ozpin." Summer said, as she bolted out of the dorm room. It wasn't long until she had returned, beaming from enjoyment. "Ozpin's allowing us to do it! I told him to give us a week to get tickets to Atlas; and to tell our teachers but otherwise; we're all set to go!"

The others looked at Summer before all just smiling at her. "Then let's do this!" shouted Taiyang as he punched his fists together. As Qrow just looked down at his partner, a little nervous but still excited for what was about to come ahead for them.