Do You Believe in Fairy Tales?

Chapter 6: Taiyang Xiao Long

A RWBY Fanfic

Taiyang Xiao Long, a loving man, huntsman, husband of two loving wives (not at the same time) and father of two of the most lovable daughters in all of the known universe. He grew up hearing all the fairy tales and believed in the good that was the focus of most of the stories. They gave him his drive to always do the best that he could. Gave him the drive to always do what was needed to help everyone around him. Gave him the drive to become a huntsman.

These drives got him through the training schools and into Beacon Academy. Here he met the people that would help him become the man and hunter he desired to become. He also met the team that became the most important people in his life. He met his first wife and his best friend and the woman that would become the second love of his life. These people were the twins Raven and Qrow Branwean and of course their team leader, Summer Rose.

As Tai and his team went through their time at Beacon they learned many things and got closer together as friends, and more. They went on many different missions that most of their classmates didn't even get an inkling about. They got into and out of more trouble than the average hunter and huntresses should have during their time at the academy. Team STRQ (pronounces Stark) was watched very closely by the headmaster of Beacon, Professor Ozpin. The headmaster took intense interest in them because they were so good, at least that was what they hoped. Then when things seemed too good to be true the professor came and told them something almost too incredible to believe. But, even though it may have seemed that what they were told seemed impossible Tai was able to see the possibilities and he believed all the stories he was ever told even more.

As time went on he and Raven got together and soon she was pregnant. This was hard on Raven as she was not one that could really sit still. Soon Yang was born and Raven abandoned them to live the way she felt she needed to. This was hard on Tai and took a toll on him as he now had to take care of his daughter. So he took to teaching at the local fighter's school. But, things were still hard and he was getting depressed. Soon though the rest of his team rallied around him and started to help him.

"Tai. We have always been here for you when you have needed us." Summer Rose would tell him. "All you have ever needed to say was that you were having troubles of any sort and we would be at your side. No matter what we were doing you have been more important to us."

"You know Tai, Summer is right." Qrow would chime in. "But then again she's always been right."

"I know you guys are right and I should have let you know that I was having a hard time getting along." Tai would respond silently. "But. I loved Raven so much I cannot figure why she would just up and leave us? Didn't I do something right or did I focus on the wrong thing?"

"Tai." Qrow started, "You know how Raven was in school. And you knew where she and I came from. Being in one place for too long makes us nervous and fidgety."

"But…" Tai would try to say something. But it just got stuck in his throat every time he tried to voice it.

"She left behind you and her daughter." Summer would finish for him every time.

"Right. I just don't understand why."

To which Qrow would always respond, "Raven is Raven. She does her own thing for herself."

As what was left of his team rallied around and helped him raise Yang, Tai started to feel better about things. He watched Yang grow and saw how Qrow and Summer took care of her and told her stories and how she loved to hear the stories and how she loved the people that shared the stories with her. Tai started to share the stories with her as well. He knew the specialness of the stories as did Qrow and Summer, and he wanted Yang to understand and believe the stories. And as time went on he would tell her stories about her mother as well. He told her the stories of the Raven that he knew and fell in love with. And Summer and Qrow also took the same path and told Yang about the Raven that they all knew, small faults and all.

Soon though there were changes that came. Little changes that over time became big feelings. Tai and Summer had started to fall in love with each other. Tai approached Summer about things and just had to find out how she really felt and had to ask a very important question.

"Um….huh….hey Summer?" He stuttered as he tried to figure out how to start.

"Yes Tai," Summer responded a little confused as to why he was stammering.

"I really appreciate you helping me to raise Yang."

"She is a wonderful little girl Tai. You should be really proud of yourself for how well she is coming along.

"I am Summer, but I couldn't have done it without your help." Tai looked at the ground as a blush came across him face.

Summer noticed this. "Tai are you alright? Is there something else on your mind? You know you can tell me anything."

"Well…..," Tai stuttered again. "There is something that has been on my mind for a while. And I just don't know how to approach it."

"Why don't you just spit it out? You are in love with me and you want to know if I have the same feeling for you." She stated so matter of factly that Tai's jaw dropped to the ground.

Summer walked over to Tai and closed his mouth only for Tai's jaw to drop again. And this time Summer shut his jaw and gave him a heartfelt kiss on his lips to cement his jaw shut. And it seemed to work until Qrow showed up.

"It's about damn time." Qrow chuckled as the two love bids just grew red. "What took you so long dragon?"

The two were soon married and lived a life full of happiness. Not soon after they were married another joy of their lives came along and she was named Ruby Rose. Everyone on the family was happy including Yang. Tai kept teaching and took missions every now and then. Summer stayed at home raising Yang and ruby, she took on a mission every once in a while. Happiness was the rule of the house and Qrow was there as often as he could and even he was happy.

But, as happens in many stories that the adults share with their children, something was bound to change. And so it did with the story of Tai and Summer. Summer had taken a mission for Professor Ozpin and she was gone for some time, this wasn't unusual as a rule. But when it went too long Tai was starting to get nervous and both Ruby and Yang could read it in the way he was that something wasn't right. Tai was becoming so uptight that Qrow took it upon himself to find out what was going on.

When he came back Tai could read it in the way Qrow came in. He wasn't smiling as he would when he arrived other times. He carried his whole body in a different manner, and wore there was the smell of alcohol on him. Tai could tell at that point that the news was not good.

Qrow tried to be as gentle as he could with the news, but damn it how can you be gentle with kind of news. "Tai," he started to say. But he couldn't start to say it and he started to tear up as he looked at the ground. "I…. don't…know how….."

"She's not coming back this time." Tai answered as Qrow just shook his head as tears fell down his face.

Tai was so overcome by grief that he just crumpled to the ground and sobbed. The love of his life the woman who had filled the void and made his life complete and happy again was now gone for good and there would never be a chance to see her face, hear her voice or the chance to ever tell her how much he loved her again. His world had now been completely torn to shreds and he fell apart.

Qrow and other friends tried to help Tai as much as they could. But, Tai just was so far gone in despair and self-loathing. There was no bringing him back quickly for the girls. Yang and Ruby saw how their dad was and they tried to cheer him up. They would ask him to tell them stories about their mother and the adventures that they went on. Or to tell them the fairy tales that he had so readily believed from his childhood. But all Tai could seem to do was tell them some other time. And that time never came.

Qrow saw how this affecting the girls, and he remembered how they would always tell the girl's stories and how they always were so bright and cheery when they heard the stories. So Qrow took up and told them all the stories that Summer used to tell them. It was hard and they all shed a few tears as they shared them. But through it all they got stronger. Yang became more like the mother of the house and was taking care of Ruby and Tai to the best of her abilities and Qrow was there to help as well.

But as things move forward things happen and there was an incident with a few beowolves. Luckily Qrow was there, but that was the last straw. After Qrow settled Yang down and was able to get Ruby and Yang to sleep, he went to get Tai out of his room.

"Taiyang Xiao Long!" Qrow yelled as he dragged Tai out to the shed so that they could get some things taken care of without disturbing the girls. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"I can't do it anymore. I have lost everything that means anything to me!" Tai responded drunkenly. "It doesn't matter if all the stories in the universe are true. I don't have any reason to move forward!"

"Do you realize what almost happened to Yang and Ruby?" He yelled as he recounted the entire incident to Tai. "You have two of the most wonderful kids in the universe and I'll be damned if I am going to let them have a loser of a father! You have to pull yourself together for them! What would Summer tell you?"

"She would tell me some story to make the point about what she wanted me to learn." Tai said despondently.

"So tell me Tai. How is the story of Tai Xiao Long and Summer Rose going to end?" Qrow asked defiantly. Trying to push all of Tai's buttons. "Is Summer going to be remembered for the loser that she fell for and who wasn't able to handle being a huntsman? Couldn't handle a huntsman's life or be there to finish loving the children that she loved with you?"

"NO! Summer Rose was the love of my life!" He yelled at Qrow. Realizing he was right and that he was a failure and not the man Summer deserved to have her memory attached to.

"She deserves better." Tai said as he sobbed and looked at the ground. "Help me, I don't know how to be better for her. I need to give our story a better ending if not for her sake or for my sake, but the sake of Yang and Ruby. They should not have to be the girl's whose father failed everyone and everything they have ever believed."

After that moment Qrow helped his brother his friend up and swore to him that he would be there to help him and the girls every step of the way. Tai started to pull out of his depression and started to see the joy of life that Summer had always told him about. He could see it in Yang and Ruby. Ruby really reminded Tai of Summer from her joyfulness and love for everyone right down to her eyes, her silver eyes, just like her mom.

As they grew up they all shared the old fairy tales and stories about their lives. Stories of Joy and stories of sadness. But all along the way Tai started to believe the stories from the very beginning, again, with one big difference. He saw them through the eyes of the love of his life in the loves in his life. And he would whisper to the air, for now he was complete.

"Thank you Summer. And thank you Yang and Ruby."

A/N I am sorry this one may be a bit longer. But it was also a bit harder to write. I still hope that everyone enjoyed it and stay tuned for more as I can get them done.

If you have a character you might want to see that I might not have planned for please let me know.