Significant Changes: Pacing adjustments. Longer scenes. As mentioned last chapter, one of chapter 6's scenes was moved up to be placed in this one. Some Faunus speech sprinkled in.
Original chapter length: 1,772
Revisited chapter length: 2,920
"Regular dialogue" [Faunus speech only]

Chapter 7

"Pyrrha said what…?"

"She told Nora that you two would go out and enjoy the evening while we all stayed in and played cards."

"Uh, why'd she do that for?"

"Because Weiss asked her to do it."

"Again… Why?"

"Because Yang, it's a good idea, and Nora's a good friend." To Blake, the answer seemed obvious enough.

It just wasn't enough for Yang. "Maybe I'll just stay in…"

"Why, are you sick?"

"No…" Yang told her. "It's not like that…"

The reluctance that Yang exhibited was troubling. It lingered in her disposition as she looked down at the bed, and what Blake had placed there. The Faunus wasn't sure how to tackle such a complex issue. Still, something had to be done, even if it meant kicking Yang out of the house by force. It was an unpleasant thought. The dark haired woman had to hope that a little coaxing would work instead.

"We've all been busy with missions lately, and it about time we all take a breather." Blake said, putting a positive spin on the ploy. "I think it'll be good for you to do the same. Take your mind off of things for a little while."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea." Yang said reluctantly as she sat on the bed in her room. Blake had set out one of Yang's favorite things to wear when going bar hopping. It rested on the bed, a card of lien sitting neatly in plain sight across the low cut top. "I probably shouldn't go…"

"Why not?" Amber eyes lifted from the assortment of books Blake had been sorting in the nearby shelf.

"I don't know." Yang said, refusing to look Blake in the eyes. "I just don't think it's a good idea..."

"Yang, look at me." Blake ordered calmly.

To the blonde's credit, she did. It took effort, though. A great deal of it. "What?"

"Things are going to change around here a lot because of the circumstances." Blake began after a breath. "There's no way around that, but one expects you to change who you are as a person on top of it."

"I'm askin' a lot already. I don't have any right to go off and hit the town." Yang said. "I need to stay here."

"Hmm, noble, if not stupid." Blake told her, returning to her book collection. Placing a few thicker tomes on the shelf, and rearranging others that were out of alphabetical order. Ruby's bad habit of putting things in the wrong place had struck again. "There's four of us, and there's only one of her. We can pull this off, and we can do it without becoming hermits."

"Yeah, but-"

"No buts, don't argue with me on this." Blake cut her off, putting the rest of her books down on the bedside table none too gently. "Go to the bar, have a good time." She sighed at length, coming to sit down beside Yang. It hurt to see her friend so torn. "I'm not telling you to go out and get trashed. I'm telling you to go order your favorite pizza, shoot some pool, and enjoy some time with a friend. If you get a beer, no big deal."

"Are you joking? I've got a new little sis. She needs me to be a good influence for her, Blake." Yang protested. "Going to the tavern is being a terrible influence. I don't want to be a total screw-up."

"She needs you to be you, Yang."

"I'm no good as me." Yang shot back. "Have you seen me? I'm a total and complete wreck as me."

"Ruby seemed to survive you just fine." Blake deadpanned. "Not to mention your uncle for that matter. The man practically sends his liver swimming every day, but he's always been there for you."

"That's completely different…"

"No, it's not."

"How do you figure?"

"Because I know what you're thinking. You aren't Raven, Yang. You're not like Qrow, or even your dad for that matter." Blake told her. "You will be here when she needs you to be. I don't doubt that for a second. Right now she's taking a nap, and doesn't need any of us anymore than Vale needs Grimm."

Yang let out a small laugh at that. "She's not going to be sleeping that long."

"True, but you have three willing babysitters."

"You shouldn't have to babysit."

"This isn't just about you, it's about our friends too." Blake sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Pyrrha's coming by to play cards. Ren and Ruby are going off to do some sort of meditative training. Jaune's going to go visit one of his sisters. We all have plans. Everyone expect for you two. Nora's going to be bored if she's alone all by herself. I know you think that this baby is entirely your responsibility, but I've told you before. We will help you. It's not a burden to keep her with us for an evening."

"Yeah…" Yang took a breath. "Yeah, okay. A pizza in Vale sounds good, and haven't had the chance to hang out with Nora in weeks. I'd like to."

"Then get dressed and go. Nora's going to be bouncing off the walls." Blake said with a smirk. "You know she hates waiting."

Bearing gifts of wine and accompanying snacks to enhance the flavor, Pyrrha entered the household just as Yang was leaving. It was a good thing, too, because Nora was truly restless. The three card sharks gathered around, pouring the deep red zinfandel and plating the snacks. They spent a short while just chatting, catching up on conversation that never did interest the others.

Things like politics, and ethical advancement. The three of them were intellectuals that craved those deeper topics of stimuli far more often than their other teammates. Before a friendly game of cards seemed like the perfect time.

Soon enough, the conversation changed to something more relaxed. The three of them began to settle in for a few hours of playing. Blake's ears flattened back as she shuffled the cards, the loud flapping of the cardboard was always just a little too loud for her liking. They popped right back up into the natural position as she began to deal.

"So, anyway, after we put the fire out, they told us they'd send the results in the priority mail." Blake explained, sending cards around the table. "We paid a little extra for it, but I figured that's money well spent."

"Really, she knew they were going to pull a hair follicle for a sample." Weiss said with a roll of her eyes. "A full work-up means a full work-up."

"And did you really think that would stop her from flaring up?" Blake laughed.

"Honestly? No, but one can only hope." Weiss took another long, slow sip of her wine, twirling the red liquid within her glass thoughtfully. "Priority mail, that's two days at most…"

Pyrrha hummed softly. "Sounds pretty standard."

"I'd like to think so, but Yang can be a complete basket case." Weiss admitted. "That's a long time for her to be edgy."

"That's why we paid the extra handling." Blake told her. "Could you imagine having to wait weeks?"

Weiss only scoffed at that, giving friend a dark look. "What makes you think the building would still be standing?"

Pyrrha could only chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm sure Nora's having a good long talk with her." In fact, if Pyrrha was sure of anything, it was Nora's ability to ramble about all the right things at the right time. "For all of her bubbliness, she's insightful. I wouldn't put it passed her to charge headlong into the issue. Nora's very good about that."

"A shared trait among them." Weiss observed. "I suppose it's what makes those two such good friends."

"We all practically pushed her out of the door today to get these tests done." Blake agreed, feeling a little guilty. "I don't know if any of this will provide catharsis for her."

"Even if it doesn't, it was the right thing to do." Weiss shrugged. "Once we know the truth for sure, we can start figuring out how best to handle the situation. With any luck, if we can find the birth records, we can find out her name. I'm sick of calling her 'the baby' all the time."

"Agreed." Blake nodded as she picked up her hand. "Your call Weiss."

"Twenty-two on the kitty." Weiss said simply, adjusting the cards she was holding into a proper order. "Ruby seems pretty sure about the familial relation."

"Pass." Pyrrha sighed after a glance. Her hand was absolute garbage, she wasn't about to get into a bidding war. "Do they all look alike? I haven't any idea what Yang's mother looks like."

"Twenty-three." Blake said. "And I'm not entirely sure. Either way, I hope the baby's hair doesn't get as easily knotted as Yang's as it grows out. That's going to be a nightmare with her ears."

"I'm more worried they'll share the same explosive temper." Weiss returned, still considering her hand. "Twenty four."

"Pass." Blake said, pushing the three card lying face down on the table into Weiss's general direction.

"Bupkis." Weiss said, arranging her cards as they began the hand. "I've said it before, I'll say it again. You are a terrible dealer."

"The cards just don't like you." Blake said with a laugh as a mew sounded from the bassinet at her feet. Blake looked down at the sleepy red eyes that were now looking up at her expectantly, just watching her.

[Kin? Hungry.] Another mew just like it followed.

Blake's ears flattened back. She gave a soft growl. [Not kin.] It wasn't particularly friendly sounding, but wasn't quite anger, either.

If Pyrrha had to guess, she'd claim it was something of an admonishment, but even she couldn't be sure. "Is everything alright, Blake?" Pyrrha asked, as she watched Blake continue to vocalize to the child.

Finally, Blake's expression slackened once more. "For now, but if we don't want screeching, someone better make a bottle."

"She didn't like it the last time I made it, remember?" Weiss reminded her. "You had to do it. I'll feed her, if you make it though."

"Actually, may I?" Pyrrha asked.

Weiss and Blake readily agreed.

"In fairness to Weiss, it wasn't the formula she didn't like. It was the nipple on the bottle." Blake said in passing before once again issuing the same growl when the baby mewed. "I just came into the kitchen and switched it out. Worked like a charm." Sluggishly, she got up to prepare the liquid meal.

"Why are you growling like that, if you don't mind my asking?" Pyrrha had been wondering about it though.

By the way Weiss looked, she was curious too.

"She's addressing me directly, and I don't want her doing that." Blake explained offhandedly.

"Oh…" Pyrrha trailed off, picking up the youngster. Red eyes immediately affixed on Blake. So as a test, Pyrrha switched positions, causing the little Faunus to fuss around. It was amazing that such a small child had made such an attachment so soon. "Shh, you're alright."

"See?" Blake replied, ear twitching in slight aggravation. "If I encourage her mewing at me like that, she might start to think I'm her mother. I don't want her to affix me into that role."

"Aren't you though, in a way?" Two glares of perplexity met her, and Pyrrha shrugged. "Well, I mean bluntly speaking. We're implying a twenty-five year difference between the three of you and her. In Ruby's case, twenty-three years."

"Now I just feel old." Weiss said with a roll of her eyes.

"Far from it." Pyrrha told her. "However, my point still stands. It might be inevitable that she comes to see you all as her parents. The way you all interact with her will need to steer more in that direction as she gets older. I doubt you can avoid it."

"Now that is a horrifying thought." Weiss began, plucking a piece of cheese from the platter in front of them. "I don't even know if I'm entirely comfortable keeping a baby around the house."

Blake was on the offensive. "Don't say that like she's some sort of pet, Weiss."

"Don't twist my words. You know I don't mean it like that." Weiss gave Blake a withering look. "It's just that this is not the sort of community one chooses to raise a child. Furthermore, we have a reputation to maintain. Besides, you said it yourself. You have no intention of parenting her. I certainly don't either, and you can't expect me to."

"No one expects you to. With any luck, she'll attach to Yang and Ruby properly." Blake replied then. "Honestly, if we're going to go through with this, I'd rather only be treated as an aunt or something." She said slowly as she came around the counter, passed Pyrrha the bottle, and then sat back down. "That's not to say I won't look out for her, but I'm not her mother…and it's not my place to try to be."

At the nearby tavern, Yang and Nora were having a similar conversation about the newest resident of the RWBY household.

"Trust me, Yang, it's not that I don't like babies, because really, I do. I love them. They're so cute, and she especially looked so cuddly." Nora went on to say, mouth full of pizza as she gulped it down. "It's just that she's really small, and I'm not exactly dainty. I'm kind of afraid I'll hurt her. When they're that small, they're just so little, and helpless…and I feel like I do better with older ones…"

"I hear that." Yang said, twiddling the straw in her soda. She reached for another breadstick, dipping it in pizza sauce idly. "I'm used to handling little kids and all, but the last little baby I held? That was Ruby... That tells you how long it's been, and how out of practice I am."

"Nah, you're fine."

"Yeah, well I don't think I'm fine."

"You're not letting all of that 'brute' talk from Weiss finally get to you, are you?" Nora asked then, head cocking to the side. "She's kidding! You know she's kidding, Yang."

"Maybe…"

"Weiss respects your skill as a huntress." Nora replied after another large bite. "That's why the two of you always team up for the really hard stuff."

"She's not wrong, though." Yang said offhandedly. "I am a brute. I'm not careful, I don't always think things through. Honestly, I don't think I would have made a good huntress without my team…"

"Why not?"

"Because Nora, I'd suck without them. I don't even think I'd last a second out in the field." Yang told her. "Weiss, Ruby, and Blake… They all think before they act when it really counts… I just get angry…"

"And?"

"And I don't want to be a bad influence."

"Ah, I get it. You think that being that way is somehow a horrible thing…" Nora accused with a knowing grin, reaching across the table to flick Yang on the nose. "But it's not."

"You sure about that?" Yang asked, rubbing the tip of her nose with a soft scowl.

"You're smart, and you do think about things a lot." Nora told her then, the woman honest as she regarded Yang with a tiny frown. "You know, I'll bet you probably think about stuff more than the others. You just do it after the heat of the moment... You just... internalize it I guess." Nora shrugged, grabbing another huge slice of pizza. "Anyway, it doesn't really matter too much. There's nothing wrong with a little reflection."

"Nothing right with blowing up first and then asking questions later..."

"Okay, you got me there..." Nora said with a little nod. "At least you know that's not a good thing all the time. So you're not perfect. So what? Nobody is." The carrot-top shrugged, elbows resting casually on the table as she licked a bit of sauce from her thumb. "You talk to your dad yet?"

Yang shook her head. "He goes missing from time to time."

"Oh, why's that?"

"Signal's missions aren't like Beacon's. School kids that age never go on missions without supervision. One adult for every two kids. Not a surprise though, they keep the training wheels on. Kind of have to with all the Grimm in the forests. Only problem is, Dad's a mission's teacher. Good luck tracking him down when he's out there."

"Ah." Nora said slowly, never having met the man. "And so your uncle's out of the question too?"

"Ruby called him, but he refused to pick up. Something about blowing his cover… All he texted was that he was doing something for Ozpin." Yang sighed at length, really wishing for one of them to come home. "I know I shouldn't be so worried. I'll figure it out somehow. I always do. I just wish this wouldn't fall on everyone else's shoulders so much."

"There's nothing wrong with asking for help."

"Still, I don't want to bog them down."

"That's what friends are for." Nora told her. "If you can't bog down your friends every now and then, who can you trust when times get hard? I know you don't like people worrying about you, but they do. If they want to help, then, let them help."

"Can it really be that easy?"

Nora blinked at the question. "I guess that's up to you."