Her Biggest Regret
A RWBY Fanfiction
From Spring into Summer
I do not own RWBY! Any similarities to real life events or similar story beats to past, present or future RWBY products are 100% completely coincidence.
Summer ran. She ran away from a child's birthday party because of a stupid old crush she couldn't get over. She hated this. She hated having to watch as Raven shoved her new perfect life in her face.
Everything Summer wanted; Raven had. Summer collapsed in an open pocket in the forest near Tai and Raven's house. Her hands cupped her face as she wept. She continued even when the grim drew near.
A small Beowolf pack closed in on Summer but just before they could attack a bright light came from the sobbing young woman. Summer took deep breaths as she wiped her eyes and slowly stood back up.
"You know you aren't supposed to use your powers like that." Qrow walked into the sunlight. Summer turned to face him, her expression filled with defiance and pain.
"I don't care." Summer said in a stern voice.
Qrow rubbed his face groaning. He hated the drama these two pulled out of each other's asses. "Why did you do that?" his voice sounded tired with not even a hint of curiosity.
"Do what?" Summer knew but wanted to hope she didn't have to answer that question.
"Hit on Tai?" Qrow looked her straight in the eyes.
'Fuck' she didn't want to answer that. "I don't know." she answered.
"Really?" Qrow didn't believe her. Why should he?
"I don't know. I just wanted some information." Summer turned crossing her arms.
"What?" Qrow was confused, "What kind of information did you need from Tai?"
Summer took a deep breath, "Ozpin wants to know Raven's current mental state. He asked me to get it." Qrow looked at her as if she grew a second head. "I don't know why he asked me. Maybe it's because everyone knows you and Raven are his little song birds. But I figured it would be easier to get the information out of Tai than Raven." Summer kicked a pebble. She raised her hood and began closing herself off.
"And what did you find out?" It was a voice both Summer and Qrow weren't expecting to hear. They both turned and watched as Ozpin and Glynda walked into the clearing.
Summer wiped her face and moved next to Qrow. "Raven is emotionally unstable to say the least. She begs Tai not to go on missions with me and cries a lot from what I gathered." Summer's voice was flat with no emotions.
Qrow looked at Summer surprised. His sister seemed like the happiest girl in the world. To know that she begs Tai to stay made his blood boil.
"And?" Ozpin asked.
Summer looked between Ozpin and Qrow. She spoke with hesitation, "She... I... She's not ready to come back yet."
"Come back!?" Qrow yelled, "Ozpin! She has a family. You can't do this." Ozpin looked unfazed while Glynda broke eye contact.
"And what about you?" Ozpin started, "Are you going to double your work load even more?"
"If I have to." Qrow stood defiant.
Ozpin stepped closer, "Don't be so rash. You'll burn out and put your life and everyone else's in jeopardy." Qrow stood his ground but Ozpin could see a crack in his armor.
"Salem hasn't moved in a year but if Raven is a ball of negative energy. It won't be too long before the creatures of grimm attack her house." Qrow looked stunned as Ozpin continued, "Beowolfs, so close to her house. She's clearly stressed and over her head. She needs a babysitter and return to what she's good at."
"What? You're little song bird?" Qrow spat.
"A Huntress." Ozpin countered. Qrow sucked his teeth; he couldn't deny that a little vacation was needed for the stressed mother but being a Huntress is not what Qrow would call a vacation.
Ozpin saw his opportunity and placed a hand on Qrow's shoulder, "Don't worry, friend. Raven will go on a light mission with no chance of danger and then she'll come home to her baby with newfound purpose."
It was a half-truth. Raven would miss Yang dearly while she was away. Ozpin had to make sure something did happen; something that would motivate the young girl to fight for him.
"Is there anything else, Summer?" Ozpin retracted from Qrow and looked at the smaller woman.
Summer grimaced, "It was during one of our missions; after you asked me to watch over Tai and Raven. Tai had been gone for a full week and Raven began calling him. This was earlier last month. Raven told Tai that she was afraid of not being a good mother. Tai tried reassuring her but... All I could hear was crying."
Everyone was lost in thought, each with a surge of emotions. Qrow was angry and shocked; he didn't know his sister could sink that low. Glynda felt pity; Raven was a strong Huntress, but even the strongest of fighters have cracks in their armor. Summer was envious; all this attention to one woman who doesn't even believe in herself.
Ozpin was thinking. This wasn't the first time one of his followers were emotionally unstable. But this information was good. He could plan. He knew exactly what to do. "Let's take our leave. We look suspicious enough talking in the middle of the woods." He gave everyone a weary smile.
Everyone nodded. Ozpin and Glynda left first back to where their private airship was. Summer turned heading for her favorite spot in Patch.
Qrow stood still. A million and one thoughts raced in his head. Torn by what he wanted to do and what he knew would improve the situation. Reason won out. He would wait until he knew, without a shadow of a doubt. Raven was in trouble. He took off within a blink of an eye leaving behind only a single crows feather.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Yang's little hands banged against the bedroom door. Raven held up a good facade. Made everyone at the party think she was happy. That she was a good mother.
Tai was gone again; didn't even say goodbye this time. Raven felt her heartbreaking while making breakfast for herself and Yang. She turned on the TV to VBS and locked herself in her bedroom.
Now Yang needed something and her new ability to walk and speak made everything so much worse. Yang can't say anything more than 'mommy' but that's all she needed to learn.
Raven sobbed trying to calm herself down. Yang needed her. She couldn't keep doing this. This was her ticket to happiness. She needed to be a good mother; one that can protect her child and not leave her and her twin brother out in the woods to find their way back into camp.
She remembered how terrified they were when the tribe left them. That's how initiation went for the Branwen twins. They survived together.
Now she was alone and couldn't call to anyone for help. If Tai left without even saying goodbye, then who would even look at her. 'He must hate me. I must have pushed him away. I was too clingy; too needy. I was too weak.' Raven started sobbing.
With her head in her knees she noticed something. The banging had stopped and was replaced by her and Yang's sobbing. 'Why can't I do anything right?' Raven shuffled away from the door. She opened the door to see Yang bundled up next to it crying.
'I'm the worst mother in existence.' Raven picked Yang up and rocked back and for apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I'm so sorry. Understand this is none of your fault." Raven repeated these words until Yang was fast asleep.
She didn't move until Yang woke up 3 hours later. She checked Yang's diaper, got up and started her routine.
Nurse Bell smiled as she stood up making sure to give Yang the piece of candy she promised. She looked at Raven who had her head resting in her hands, "Mrs. Xiao Long."
Raven jumped looking up at the nurse through tired eyes. Nurse Bell gave her a practiced soft smile which Raven returned. It was clear through Raven's disheveled appearance that motherhood wasn't exactly treating her as well as she'd hope when she left the hospital more than a year ago.
"Yang is in perfect health, besides her diaper rash." Nurse Bell said. Raven's expression changed in a way that pulled on Nurse Bell's heartstrings. She sat down next to Raven and placed a hand on her back.
Raven felt shocked; here she was getting the attention she needed but not from the person she wanted it from the most. She looked at Nurse Bell as the nurse continued. "I want you to know diaper rashes are very common and happen quite a lot to first time mothers; even some veteran moms. Things happen and you shouldn't be so hard on yourself." Nurse Bell rubbed Raven's back calming her down.
"In saying that I'm really glad you came. A lot of first time mothers panic when they see a diaper rash for the first time." Nurse Bell smiled at Raven.
Raven broke eye contact, "Y-yeah."
[Earlier That Day...]
Raven whimpered as she searched her scroll for answers. Boogle only said that Yang was going to die and Sling was completely useless. Raven refused to let Yang go so one hand typing made it harder to search 'deadly baby diseases'.
It was at this moment, pants less and gitty, that baby Yang decided she needed to pee; and that's what she did, on Raven's favorite tee shirt. Raven felt a warmth in her side and soon her whimpers turned into hysterical sobbing as she not only had to clean Yang but also search on Boogle 'how to clean a t-shirt with baby pee'.
[Present...]
"Coming here was one of the first things I thought up of." Raven fidgeted, 'Right after running away and living in a remote part of Remnant and become a hermit'. "Dr. Nevorlin checked everything, right?" Raven asked.
Nurse Bell nodded, "He checked everything and everything showed up negative. I just finished a routine check-up and she's growing strong and healthy. You're doing a good job, Mrs. Xiao Long."
Nurse Bell gave Raven a more genuine smile. Raven's hands balled into fists as she started to sniffle. "T-thank you." was all Raven could manage to say. She had fumbled. If she didn't decide to throw herself a pity party none of this would've happened, and yet someone saw her mistake and reassured her that everything was normal and that Raven was doing a good job.
Raven quickly got up and moved to pick up Yang. She tossed her baby bag over her shoulder and felt a tap on her arm. Raven, hiding her eyes, turned to see the Nurse with a look of worry.
"Raven, are you okay?" Nurse Bell asked.
'Please don't pry.' Raven hoped as she nodded.
Nurse Bell wasn't convinced, "Raven, you need to watch your own health. Don't overdo it." Raven simply nodded. "Go to the front desk before you leave. We have some paperwork for you to sign but also make sure to make an appointment for yourself."
Raven nodded again and turned to leave with tears staining her face. 'Not here. I can't break down here.' Raven quickly moved through the hospital towards the front. It was only when she made it that she noticed Tai standing right at the receptionist desk; where she needed to sign the paperwork.
"Raven! Is Yang okay?" Tai quickly jogged up to her.
But Raven pulled back holding Yang tighter. Tai a bit surprised tried to say something but was interrupted by Raven, "Dr. Nevorlin and Nurse Bell checked everything. They said she was healthy, besides the diaper rash." Raven caved in on herself when she admitted she made a mistake.
"A diaper rash? Is there anything we can do to help?" Tai asked.
Raven thought to herself. Out of all the things Nurse Bell said she never mentioned on what to do next.
[Somewhere in the Hospital]
Nurse Bell was very proud of herself. She read the file on Yang again and noticed a note.
Remember to inform Raven Xiao Long about treatment and instructions on how to use it.
'Shit.' the front desk will have a heyday knowing she fibbed on the details... Again. Oh she was going to have to deal with Nurse Oceans and her constant over the top speeches.
She loathed the thought of Nurse Starlight getting wind of this. She always kisses Dr. Nevorlin's ass. 'Maybe I should call the front desk to see who's there'.
[Back to Tai and Raven]
"Then everything is fine. We can go home?" Tai wrapped his arms around Raven.
"I still need to check the front desk. Plus..." Raven pushed Tai off of her and Yang, "You have to explain why you left without telling me anything."
"What? I-" Tai started but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"I just parked the car. Did I miss anything?" Summer jogged over to the couple as she shook her umbrella.
Raven blinked; she wasn't expecting Summer of all people to be here. "Wait. Did she just say she parked the car?" Raven turned her attention to Tai.
Tai held up his hands, "Hey, I can explain."
"Yes, explain why you didn't tell me you were out with Summer. ALONE." Raven shouted.
"Raven he wasn't alone with me. Qrow was there too." Summer said trying to calm Raven down.
"Did I ask you, bitch?!" Everyone was quite. They all stared at them. But Raven didn't care.
"Raven! I left a note on the fridge. I'm sorry I didn't wake you up but I thought you needed the sleep." Tai stepped in from of Raven's view of Summer who was glaring back at Raven.
"I didn't see a note!" Raven glared at Tai.
"That's not my fault!" Tai raised his voice.
"Yes, it is!" Raven shouted back.
"NO IT ISN'T YOU STUPID FUCKING PUSSY!"
Raven didn't see Tai's mouth move. 'This bitch'. Raven broke eye contact with Tai. She pushed him to the side. "Hold Yang." she gently gave Yang to Tai before shifting her attention to Summer.
Summer was staring her down from across the lobby. Raven took a step toward her. Summer followed. They met at the middle. Raven was at least 2 heads taller than Summer, but that didn't stop the smaller woman from glaring at Raven.
"You want to repeat that." Raven stated.
"It's not his fault. You. Stupid. Fucking. Pussy." Summer stood her ground.
Raven held back the urge to slam her fist into Summer square in her face. She was smarter than that and knew how to handle Summer when she grew a pair. "Maybe it isn't his fault. Maybe it's the little slut he hangs around." Raven said.
"Maybe he wouldn't go on pointless mission with me if his little crybaby bitch would just suck it up and take care of the baby like she was supposed to." Summer spat; her words filled with venom.
"Take that back."
"No."
"You don't know what it's like. So take it fucking back."
"No."
"You don't know what it's like to raise a child with barely any help!" Raven pushed Summer; who kept her balance. "You don't know what it's like to stay awake for three days straight trying not to screw up because the baby won't let you sleep!" Raven pushed Summer harder. "You don't know what it's like to see the person love spend his time with a little twink like you." Raven went to push Summer but Summer pushed back.
"Maybe he wouldn't want to leave you if you weren't such a terrible mother!" Summer shoved Raven as hard as she can. Raven fell flat on the floor like a rock. She groaned pulling herself up to look at Summer who was standing over her. Summer looked down on Raven unblinking, "Yang deserves better."
Raven just stared at Summer. 'She's right', tears started to fall.
Summer stood there a moment; not exactly believing what she was seeing. Raven; a Huntress known as the strongest in our class. Graduated Beacon with top marks. Is crying because of something she said. Summer took a step back as Raven laid there crying. Even the strongest fighters have cracks in their armor; and Summer could see Raven's.
'She can't be right,' Raven tried not to cry. Not in front of her. Not in front of all of these people. But she couldn't stop herself. She is weak. Summer knew it; they all knew it. Raven could hear the bated whispers. They were all judging her. All judging her because they knew; she was a terrible mother.
"SHUT UP!" Raven shouted. "SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Raven pulled herself up. Summer, she stood there all high and mighty. She was wrong, 'She has to be wrong!' Raven wiped her eyes, the tears still falling. "I'm a good mother! I care about Yang! I love her with all of my heart! You don't get to Sit There and CALL ME a TERRIBLE MOTHER!" Raven took a swing at Summer.
Summer saw it from a mile away. This wasn't Raven. She was too slow, put all of her energy into her attacks. Summer dodged with ease; in a flash she punched Raven in the gut. Usually a single punch would knock the wind out of a normal citizen, but Raven was no normal citizen.
Summer watched as Raven began having trouble breathing. "Raven STOP!" it was Tai. Summer looked at him for a moment only to find Raven's fist near her face. Summer staggered and dropped to one knee; the impact hurt like hell, she felt like she had just been hit by a truck. She could feel her aura suddenly vanish, 'From one hit?'
Summer knew something was wrong. Her attention went back to Raven, her expression changed from pissed to somber. This wasn't Raven. She was too slow and put all of her energy into her attacks. But she was much stronger than she remembered.
Raven stared at Summer; watching her aura break. It was risky but she managed to draw enough of her power to break Summer's aura. Now she could shut her up for real. "Mommy!" Raven stopped. She spun around to see Yang running towards her.
On instinct Raven rushed to Yang falling to the floor to hold her; Yang, the only good thing to come out of any of this. Raven held onto her daughter tight. Tai started walking towards her with his hands out. She wasn't having any of his excuses today. She quickly got up and walked passed him.
"Raven, please." Tai whined.
"I'm not listening to your dumbass excuses. You can cuddle up to her fucking little girlfriend tonight." Raven picked up her baby bag and turned to Tai.
"We can talk about this." Tai continued to try and reach out to Raven. But she did something both of them didn't expect. She pulled the silver wedding ring off of her finger. She held it in her left hand ready to throw it. She stared at the shocked Tai; ready to break him forever.
But she couldn't. She slowly put the ring back on as she started crying again.
"Raven!" Tai stepped closer to her with his arms outstretched. "Please, we can talk about this. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving. I'm sorry I'm away for so long."
Raven felt her resolve begin to break. "I can't." she shook her head violently. "I can't... Just leave me alone!" with that Raven pulled out a combat knife and opened a portal.
"Raven!" was the last thing she heard from Tai before jumping through.
Raven could feel rain soak her body. Bright lights blurred her vision and a car horn blared in her ear. She went to protect Yang but the car swerved and nearly missed her. Raven tucked Yang under her shirt as she tried to see through the storm, "WHAT THE FUCK RAVEN!"
'At least the portal worked', Raven watched as Qrow left his car with an umbrella and walked toward her and Yang.
"Open the car!" Raven yelled started to run toward him
"What!?" Qrow clearly confused.
"Open the FUCKING door!" Raven shouted making her way to the car.
Qrow quickly sped past Raven and opened the back door for her. Raven quickly sat inside and pulled Yang out of her shirt. Yang was giggling innocently; even after everything that happened. Raven felt tears fall from her eyes, as she searched the baby bag for a towel. Quickly pulling it out she began drying Yang who started laughing as a response.
"Would you mind explaining to me why the fuck you appeared out of nowhere?" Qrow asked from the front driver seat.
"Me and Tai had a fight. You're the only one I could think of who will help me." Raven explained as she kept drying Yang off.
"Why couldn't you have gone to Summer?" Qrow asked as he started driving again.
"That's what we were fighting about. Fucking asshole can have little miss prodigy. I don't fucking care. I have Yang. She's all I need." Raven sniffled. She stopped; Raven saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to see that Qrow wasn't alone. Her face felt like it was on fire.
"Ummm Qrow." the woman said. "You can take me back to my place. I'm not feeling to well."
Qrow nodded and did a u-turn. Raven couldn't help but stifle a laugh, which was enough to make Yang laugh. "Hey! No laughing in this car!" Qrow joked. This only made Raven and Yang laugh even more. Even the mystery woman giggled. 'Nice save little brother.' Raven smiled as she kissed Yang all over her adorable face.
Qrow opened his front door to his apartment. Well it used to be his and Raven's before she moved in with Tai and his family's estate. It looked, worse than she remembered it. "You were planning to bring her here?" Raven looked at Qrow confused.
Qrow shrugged, "It's not that bad." Qrow glanced at the floor, "Oh lucky me!" He instinctively picked up a slice of pizza from the floor and started eating it. Raven tried not to gag as she turned away from her supposed twin.
Qrow laughed, "You know you used to do this too." Raven can admit her place wasn't always sparkling clean but this; this was beyond how they used to live together. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" Qrow moved past Raven and walked into the open kitchen.
"Maybe after a warm bath." Raven started walking to the bathroom.
Qrow stood still for a moment, "Three. Two. One."
"HOW MANY TIMES TO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO PICK UP YOUR PUBIC HAIRS FROM THE BATHTUB DRAIN!" Raven shouted from the bathroom.
Qrow chuckled, "It's good to have you back, sis."
Raven walked back into the living room with Yang. Qrow was sitting on the couch watching TV; it was a popular game show called 'Rage Quit' where the contestants try to finish a challenge without rage quitting. They mostly fail but it's so funny to watch them get more pissed with time.
"They still air this?" Raven asked before sitting down next to Qrow with Yang in her arms. She felt a crunch beneath her and groaned. She fished under her dreading what she would find. To her credit she found a bag of chips, "Oh nice!" She began eating it almost as fast as Qrow would have. She glanced at Qrow who raised his eyebrows at her. "What? The couch is cleaner than the floor." she kept eating until she felt something in her mouth that weren't chips.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Qrow started chuckling. Raven stuck her hand in her mouth and pulled out a wad of hair. She started gagging almost immediately. She threw Yang on Qrow and ran to the bathroom.
"Whoa what?!" was all Qrow could say before he started to hear Raven throw up. He raised the volume of the TV to block out the noise. "You like comedy?" he asked Yang. Yang just looked at him confused and then started grabbing at his face.
Raven slowly walked out into the living room, "I want to go back home."
"Already?" Qrow laughed at Raven from the couch.
She didn't react how he thought she would though. She pulled her hair out of her face and sighed one of those sighs you saw regulars at the local bars when they stare at their first drink wondering if they should walk back home and forget about the place. Qrow stopped laughing and put Yang down. He moved to his sister and hugged her tight.
Raven didn't know what to do. The twins rarely talked about their feelings. So she did the only thing she knew that could help her. She squeezed Qrow tight and began crying. This would be the first time in years Qrow ever saw Raven cry the way she did that night. Not since they were kids.
He was going to have a talk with Tai.
Ozpin unfolded a piece of paper. It was addressed to Raven from Tai. "Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" He looked up from his desk to see Glynda watching over him.
"Yes." he slowly got up and walked to his fireplace. He threw the paper inside and watched it turn to ash. "With this she'll crawl back here wanting a break from her little game of house; and she'll continue her training as the Spring Maiden."
Author's notes: DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNN! This chapter was very dramatic; lots of highs and lows. I hope these last two chapters make up for the scramble of time skipping in the first two.
I feel horrible since this is supposed to be what happened before Raven left. We aren't quite at the end yet but we're pretty close I would say. It's just the journey is very dramatic and angsty. I'm not usually a fan of angsty stuff since 99% of fanfiction is literally teenage angst but you didn't hear that from me LMAO.