Her Biggest Regret
A RWBY Fanfiction
Chapter 6: Slice of Life
Raven woke up to the sound of crying. The rest of the mission was uneventful. She than returned to Qrow's apartment and gathered the things she brought with her. It didn't take her and Tai long to make up. What Raven had said to him before leaving seemed to have a positive effect on him. Raven would catch him reading or playing with Yang early in the morning. She barely heard a peep from Yang for the past week.
Raven got up from the bed and followed the sound of her daughter crying. She was surprised to find Taiyang already up and working on calming Yang down. It still felt like a dream as the past year Raven had been the only one to take care of Yang. Tai promised to stop going on long missions that made him stay away from home for more than a day. The past week Raven hadn't heard a single thing about a mission or anything about their Huntsmen work.
It had been a pleasant surprise; one Raven wouldn't dream of interrupting. For now they were just a normal family. She even considered having another child with her loving husband. If this was going to be her new life she at least wanted to have the picture perfect family. "How is my baby girl?" Raven cooed as she out stretched her arms to take Yang from Tai.
"I don't know. She just won't stop. I've tried everything!" her husband whined.
But just like magic Yang stopped crying in Raven's arms. The little sun dragon clung to her mother like her life depended on it. Raven shot her man a look only for him to shake his head and chuckle. "My little firecracker did the bad man scare you?" she joked hearing Tai whine even more as she paced the room.
Tai let out a content sigh, "She just missed the most beautiful woman in the world."
Raven blushed; his compliments never failing to make her heart flutter. "Oh? Who would that be?" she said in a joking manner. Walking closer to him; giving a sign to give her a loving kiss. He took the sign and gave her a kiss or two, or five. This is what she was promised. This would be the rest of her life.
Raven prepped breakfast. She noticed the time was still pretty early and asked Tai if he ate breakfast to which he replied a quick 'no' in response. She took it upon herself to make breakfast. She was using natural ingredients from the surrounding forest she picked earlier in the month. She thanked her earlier days of living in the forests of Vale as the Branwen Tribe tore through town after town. She peered at her husband who was in the middle of watching Yang's favorite show.
It had colorful puppets that lived in a metropolitan area called 'Maiden Ave'; a fictional place where birds were the size of a grown man and people lived in trash cans. Watching Tai closely she could see a hint of enjoyment. If it wasn't for Yang's benefit watching the show would make Raven want to jump off the nearby cliff. She would live in Maiden Ave if Yang could gain something from it. But Tai looked just as engrossed as Yang.
She giggled gaining the attention of the man of her dreams. Though she sometimes had to guess what kind of dream she had to conjure him up. She gave him a soft smile as she let the eggs sizzle in the frying pan. She quickly finished up breakfast for her family. Sitting down next to her husband she serves the plates on top of the coffee table and takes Yang into her arms. She holds Yang gently as she feeds her; rocking her side to side.
Taiyang relaxes into the couch and stares at her. "What?" she asks but he doesn't answer. "Don't stare at me like that!" she laughs giving him a playful shove with her shoulder.
"What I can't look at my beautiful wife?" he teases her as he wraps his arms around her. She giggles in response as he pulls her closer and kisses the side of her temple. She moves into his embrace. Raven felt so much at home. They sat there together eating breakfast and watching Maiden Ave.
Tai pulled into the local super market. Raven got out of their mini van Tai insisted on buying when they found out she was pregnant. At first she thought it was an eyesore; big, bulky, and every time she got out of it she felt like a soccer mom. It even gave her nightmare at one point; she had a ridiculous haircut and was yelling at a fast food employee.
Now she appreciates it. Four wheel drive, rear view camera, and the smoothest ride she's ever driven. It helps Yang nap when she had tried everything and the little sun dragon was still crying her eyes out. Raven unbuckled Yang and lifted her into her arms. "So what's the plan?" Tai says pulling out the stroller.
"We're getting more diapers, a potty training seat, more baby food and formula, and food for us because we can't take care of Yang on an empty stomach." Raven closed the door. She looked at herself for a moment; she was wearing a simple black sun dress with red roses at the bottom. She smiled at herself and walked over to Tai who seemed to be having trouble getting the stroller open. She did want to offer to help but the strong survive and the weak don't get the strollers open.
Tai glaces at Raven. "It's harder than you think." he said making an excuse. After a good minute or two he finally got it to open. He looked back at Raven. "You could have helped." he mused.
Raven stared back at him. She tried to keep a straight face but she could feel her lips curl into a small smile. He was wearing an orange and white striped shirt with jean shorts. 'God, you were born to be a dad.' Raven chuckled to herself.
"I could have but you know my motto." Raven bent over and placed Yang in the stroller making sure all the buckled were secure and that her baby was comfortable.
"What does that have to do with helping me with a stroller." Tai defended himself watching his wife take great care for their child.
"The strong survive and the weak whine about taking ten minutes to open a stroller." Raven looked up at Taiyang with a smug smile before getting up. Yang reached for her the moment Raven stood up. The two parents looked down at their child doing a secret count down.
'One' Yang kept grasping for Raven. 'Two' Yang started to make the face but she held. 'Three' Raven knew giving into Yang would spoil her but the face she's making is making it really hard for her to keep her resolve. 'Four' Yang sniffled, Raven looked at Tai; he gave her a look of defeat 'Traitor'. 'Five' Yang went into a full cry and Raven bent over. "Come here." Yang grabbed at Raven's face as she unbuckled her. Giving her daughter a light kiss on the cheek she stood up to see Tai give her a shit eating grin. "Shut up." she turned around and lead the small family into the supermarket.
Once inside they quickly passed the assortment of items to the back of the store where all of the baby items were. Raven took a bag of diapers and turned to face Tai with their stroller in her hands. "We're idiots." she mumbled just staring at the stroller.
"What do you m-" Tai looked down and just stared at the stroller. Yang giggled pulling Raven's hair for her own amusement. It was a good thing Raven had thick hair and she could only feel it a little which was bearable. She sighed and with a huff fell into the stroller seat. "What are you doing!?" Tai yelped as she watched Raven play with Yang.
"Come on. We don't talk about this and continue our day like normal." Raven smiled at Yang while her little girl giggled.
"Do you expect me to push you in a stroller out of the very public supermarket." Tai asked his eyes never leaving the top of Raven's head.
She looked up at him, "Ye-"
"Get out" Tai said dryly.
"Fine." Raven huffed.
The two parents walked back outside and put away the stroller. They slowly walked back inside hoping no one would notice them. They remembered the cart before continuing shopping.
Yang giggled as Raven lifted her into the air. It was hard to see her daughters face with the sun directly behind her; her hair shinning like like sun. Raven brought Yang back down and assulted her with kisses on her cheeks. Tai chuckled next to her. Raven hugged Yang tightly while smiling at her husband.
"You two are cute." Tai grinned. Tai had a plain white short sleeve button up and cargo pants with sandals. While Raven just wore a simple white dress with flip flops.
"Yeah." Raven propped herself up to see Summer and her brother Qrow. Summer was wearing a similar white dress but she had her signature white cloak. Qrow was wearing his normal combat suit; he held up a picnic basket as planned.
"So you tell us that we're going to have a picnic only to show up late?" Raven teased her team leader.
"Hey! You two better be glad I gave you my time willingly." Summer crossed her arms giving Raven a cocky smile.
"Ah yes the ever allusive famous Huntress of Vale." Qrow walked passed the silver eyed huntress. He placed the basket near the end the picnic kneeling down in front of Raven and Yang. "Now can I get a hug from my adorable niece." Qrow spread his arms out wide expectantly looking at Raven with his signature shit eating grin.
Raven rolled her eyes and gently put Yang on the blanket in front of her. Yang looked up at her mother a bit confused at the action. Raven smiled down at her "Look Yang!" she whispered excitedly pointing at her brother, "It's your Uncle Qrow!" Raven giggles as Yang looks towards her uncle with her hand in her mouth.
"Come on, Firecracker!" Qrow beckoned Yang over. Yang looked back at her mother who nodded than back at her uncle and giggled shuffling over to her uncle. Qrow picked her up only making Yang giggle even harder, "Ah-ta girl!"
Raven felt an arm around her neck; she looked up to see Tai looking down at her. Raven snuggled into Tai watching her brother be surprisingly good with kids. She noticed Summer watching over the scene with a sad smile.
After the group ate they decided to walk around the park. Raven decided to have a one on one with Qrow. It seemed Tai was more preoccupied by Yang so she figured a moment to themselves weren't too bad.
"So you were with Summer before you arrived." Raven looked at her brother.
Qrow looked back at her, "It's not what you think." He brushed his hands through his hair. "We simply met up before we got here." Qrow avoided eye contact with his sister.
"Dude you've had the biggest crush on her since you two met." Raven turned to look at the scenery in front of her. "I know I said some shitty things. I was so caught up in my own bullshit that I didn't care enough for my little brother." she turned back to Qrow who was looking at her suspiciously.
"Who are you and what did you do to my sister?" Qrow kept up his serious face.
Raven laughed, "I finally understand what you meant." They looked into each others eyes. "Back when we stood up to the tribe. To our father. You told me that we made the right choice. You said that we no longer had to watch our backs because we are part of a team. People I could trust." Raven smiled. "It might have taken me a while Qrow but you were right. After what happened at the hospital, and talking with Tai. I finally believe I can trust the people around me. Around us."
Raven felt a hand on her head as Qrow kissed the top of her head, "It took you long enough."
Raven looked up at him, "That's the only time I'm going to let you do that." They both laughed. "Now don't mention to anyone I said you were right. I have a reputation to uphold." Raven softly jabbed Qrow.
Qrow laughed fining being lost in thought. "I'll think about it." Qrow glanced at Raven who was playfully glaring at him. "I mean when I accept best huntsman award it'd be a nice addition to my speech." Raven bust out laughing with the image of Qrow in a tux.
They walked for a while after that. They decided to look for Summer and Tai. After a while of being lost and wondering the park the twins found Summer wrapped in a side hug with Tai. Raven bit her tongue trying to calm her nerves. There had to be a reasonable explanation. That's when she noticed Summer was crying.
"Hey! What's wrong?" Raven blurted out as her and Qrow jogged toward the pair. Summer and Tai looked surprised. Raven arrived first just as Summer took a step back Raven placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong?" Raven repeated. Summer looked surprised as the two partners stared into each others eyes.
Summer's expression fell as she tried to say something but fresh tears fell from her eyes. Raven pulled her close in a tight hug. "Hey. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Raven said but she felt a pang of paranoia. She ignored the instinct to distrust, to always make things about her and assume the worst of the people around her. She was trying to trust her teammates. After everything they've been through there was no reason to doubt them.
Raven glanced towards Tai and Qrow who looked at her in disbelief. "Hey I have a heart." she scowled and they both looked away.
It took Summer a while to calm down but it was still hard for her to speak. She didn't even look Raven in the eyes. Raven felt anxiety build up in her but she did her best to push it down. "I... I uhhh." Summer stumbled on her words.
"Ember broke up with her." Raven turned to Tai who was rubbing the back of his neck.
She turned back to Summer who seemed hurt by what Tai said. Summer turned back to Raven. The mother searching her partner's eyes for answers. "Yeah." Summer nodded. "We were talking and Tai mentioned Ember. I told him that we broke up. It wasn't a particularly good break up." Summer looked down.
"But I thought you told me things were fine." Qrow blurted out.
Raven was confused; she looked between Qrow and Summer. "Sorry. I didn't want anyone to know." Summer took a deep breath. Looking Raven in the eyes she said, "I'm sorry."
Raven walked into her bedroom tired, Tai was already there reading a book. She slipped into bed night to her husband cuddling up to him. He looked down at her and smiled. "It's too bad Summer's relationship with Ember ended. They looked like such a cute couple." Raven commented trying to spy what her husband was reading.
"Yep." he popped the 'p'.
Raven stayed silent waiting for him to say more. After a few minutes she started to feel uneasy. She shifted turning away from her husband scared to press the issue. "Ummm don't stay up late okay." Raven reached over and turned off the lap on her side of the bed.
"Night, sweetie." Tai said but she felt like his words were flat.
"Good night. I love you." Raven replied.
"I love you too." Tai answered.
Raven didn't feel at ease like she should have. There was something wrong. But she was leaving soon and the last thing she wanted to do was fight. She forced her eyes close as the uneasiness grew.
Summer took shallow breaths. She walked slowly from the door hearing glass breaking as she took her steps slow. It wasn't a particularly good break up. Ember had lived up to her name and destroyed half of Summer's things. Summer let her. Ember didn't deserve to be put in the middle of all of this mess.
Summer could feel fresh hot tears. She hated herself. She tried to be a better person. She resolved to pursue a relationship with a woman she found interest in. Only to be forced to break it off too soon. Summer wiped her nose with Tai's handkerchief. The one he gave her during their conversation after Raven left with Qrow.
She groaned as she fell into her couch. She looked at the picture before her. An ultra sound she took earlier in the week. Ember was actually happy for her. But life had other plans for Summer. She sighed and closed her eyes and hoped that the nightmare would end.
Author's Notes: It has been a LONG fucking time hasn't it? I'm sorry. A lot of things came up. Life fucked me over big time. At the moment I'm not even working. I'm not even sure what I'm going to do. I've been focusing on my mental health. I got into an accident and I'm having nightmares and flashbacks. It makes it hard for me to enjoy things like I should.
But it has given me a lot of free time. I started working on animation. I'm trying to work on things I like so I don't have to pay attention to the things that haunt me now. It took a particularly long time to write this chapter. I didn't know what to write actually. But I have a feeling the next two will be easier to write.
Thank you for your patience and continued support of my fics. Remember to leave a review. It's nice to see what you guys think of my work.