I'm baaack~!

Sorry this took so long, between 10 hour internship days, stomach bugs, and anxiety attacks, I simply could not find the time to type this up. But I will be trying to get more out this weekend, so please be patient!

(I say knowing I am very guilty as a reader of extreme impatience)

"Whoa, whoa, hang on! Did you lie to me?"

Blake gave Sun a look, "What are you talking about?"

"Just, all I've heard so far is some brat throwing a tantrum, and two people making gooey-eyes at each other. Wait a minute…" His eyes narrowed in accusation. "Is this a kissing book?"

She slammed the book shut, "Well, if you don't want to hear the rest of the story, I'll just leave now." Honestly, he could be such a child sometimes!

"No, no, I didn't say that. Just… it gets better, right? More action and stuff?"

"You'll know soon enough, if you would be quiet and let me read."

As time passed, the bond between the two only grew stronger. Whenever they had a moment to spare, they'd steal kisses from each other that always left them breathless and their clothes a little more rumpled than before. At the end of every day after dinner, Ruby would sneak out of the house to the barn loft where Qrow stayed, snuggling up against his side and basking in the warmth and safety she felt in his arms.

Some nights, no words were exchanged and the two simply enjoyed each other's company. Other nights were dedicated to sating their need for each other, their lips never parting but for the occasional gasp of air, Qrow's hands occasionally venturing from her hips to tease up the sides of her dress, while her own hands would wander under his shirt and leave marks where her nails dug in, wanting to hold on to him and never let go. But the most treasured nights in her heart were the ones where they would just lie there and talk. Telling funny stories from their childhoods and confessing their hopes and dreams, they laid their souls bare before each other, only to fall more and more in love with the one in their arms where they previously thought it was impossible.

On this night, however, something was different. The second she stood in front of his seated form, he reached up and tugged her into his lap, settling her so that his arms were wrapped around her waist and her head resting on his shoulder. Ruby was startled, but she let him do as he pleased. She could tell something was bothering him, the way he held her and burrowed his face in her hair, breathing in deeply as if he was trying to memorize the way she smelled, it was like he was afraid she would disappear at any moment.

"Qrow, what's the matter?" she asked softly, tilting her head up to look at him, but he just took one of her hands in his own and swiped his thumb back and forth across the back of her hand. "Qrow…"

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

Ruby froze. "Wh-What?"

Qrow let out a small sigh, finally looking up to meet her eyes. Those beautiful silver eyes he loved so much, how they would glow in the darkest nights like the North star guiding a lost man home, beckoning him home, and which were now beginning to fill with tears. Tears that he had caused. "Ruby – "

"Was it something I did? Did I offend you in some way? I'm so sorry if I did! I never meant to hurt you in any way and I know I might speak without thinking sometimes but I am really trying to work on it and I love you and – "

"Ruby, stop." He placed a finger over her trembling lips before reaching wipe the tears off her cheeks. "You have done nothing wrong. In fact, you have done everything so right that sometimes…" Qrow let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Sometimes I wonder just what I could have possibly done to deserve to have such a sweet, caring, loving young woman even look in my direction, and I know it is nothing less than divine intervention that has placed you in my arms. Though I'm not exactly a religious guy so I'm fairly positive that if there are any deities then most of them are actually quite pissed at me…"

"Stop it, Qrow. You are the sweetest, most selfless person that I have ever met and probably ever will. You were always so kind and patient with me, even when I was being nothing less than a brat and we both know I had some impressive moments. There is no one I would rather give my heart to than the man in front of me, because I know he will treat it with nothing less that utter love and care like he has for so long already."

"But I can't make you mine." He whispered brokenly, looking back down at their joined hands though his thumb remained still. "I talked with the local priest about possibly getting married - you know, if you wanted to, you don't have do if you don't, I mean – "

Ruby never gave him a chance to finish as she flung his arms around his neck with enough force to make Qrow lose his balance and tip backwards into the hay. He was only dimly aware of this, however; most of his attention was taken up by the pair of lips that had crashed into his own. One hand rose up to cradle the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist to keep her in place. Ruby's tongue danced with his to the rhythm of her joy and overwhelming love.

When she finally pulled away from Qrow to get some much-needed oxygen, face flush from their kiss and elation, he took a moment to bask in the feeling of elation. She had said yes! Maybe not verbally, but that didn't matter so much as the fact that she wanted to spend her life with him!

But then the elation died off and the guilt of knowing that he was about to crush her happiness swarmed in. A sad look entered his eyes as he reached up stroked the cheek of his woman as she leaned over his prone form in the hay.

"Qrow, why are you so sad? We're getting married! I'm saying yes! Isn't that a good thing?"

"Remember I also said I can't make you mine?"

"Well, yes but – "

"I talked to the priest." He cut her off, wanting to just get the news out so it quit festering inside him. "He told me the price of a wedding ceremony and – and it's a lot more than what I have. When I asked if there was anything that could be done to lower the cost, and he claimed there wasn't." Not for lack of trying on Qrow's part. He had started doing odd jobs around the community to try and bring in some coin, but none of it was ever enough.

"I'm sure my dad – "

" – Is trying to keep the farm without letting you go hungry. The entire kingdom is in a famine due to the recent drought, everyone's crops and thus income has taken a hit, he can't afford to help us."

Her tears returned in full force. It wasn't fair! She wanted this man who would talk and laugh with her, who would hold her when she cried and whisper words of his love and devotion to her and make her feel so safe and cherished.

"I – I guess we could wait. Until the famine ends at least. I know you have been doing some extra work and I want to help to. I could offer to help with some of the lighter chores, or cook them meals while they are at work…"

"And then what? We get married, and we move in with your father? Stay in the same place doing the same things for the rest of our lives? I know you want to go out there and see more of the world than this island and the trading village, and I do too. So, why can't we?" His voice had become more and more passionate with every sentence, his eyes burning with the fire of challenge, and Ruby couldn't do anything but stare at him in shocked confusion.

"But Qrow, we don't even have enough money to get married, how are we supposed to travel?" Then his words of the night popped back into her memory, and all she could do was deny.

"No. No no no, you can't go! I need you here, with me!"

Sigh, "Ruby – "

"No! We can make it work here, I know we can! After the famine, we get married, then we start saving up again to travel, and – "

He sat up and pulled her into a kiss. She immediately went quiet and he felt her body slump in resignation. When he pulled back it was only for her to pull him into a tight embrace, Ruby resting her head on his chest where he felt her tears start to soak into his shirt.

"What if I never see you again?" She whispered, her fear of the unknown world swallowing up her Qrow, not to leave a single trace of him, gripped at her heart with such strength that she worried it might stop her heart altogether.

"Ruby, look at me. Look at me." He waited until her red-rimmed eyes made contact with his own before continuing. "No matter what happens, I will be back for you." He was so sure, so confident of his words, Ruby couldn't help but believe him. At her small nod of acceptance, his face relaxed into a softer look and he gave her a small smile before leaning down to rest his head on her own. "I love you."

They spent the night just like that, holding each other and praying that the next morning would never come.

But come it did, and Qrow departed to the docks with a kiss from Ruby and a handshake from her father. As he disappeared into the forest with nothing but his clothes and a travel bag, she prayed that he would keep his promise and find his way back to her. Preferably sooner rather than later.

Yet again, it seems the gods were not on her side, as a mere three months after he left a messenger came from the trading village to give them the news. Qrow's ship had been attacked by the Dread Pirate Watts, a ruthless and slightly unstable man who never left any survivors.

For the next two years it was as if she were a ghost in the house, refusing to interact with anyone outside of her room. The only signs that she even lived there were the locked door and the dirty plates her father would find outside her room after leaving her meals earlier in the day. When she finally emerged from her room, it was as if she had undergone a transformation.

'And she had' her father thought. 'I just wish it hadn't been under these circumstances.'

Gone was the naïve young girl whose innocence and joy made her shine like a second sun, gone was any remaining baby fat that had clung to her cheeks, revealing the defined yet soft lines of a woman's face. Her eyes had dimmed from their hopeful light and instead told of a woman who had experienced and learned from the cruelty of the world, and she was still haunted by it.

"I will never love again." She stated, her voice devoid of any emotion as if she were simply stating a fact, and her father couldn't help but believe her.

And next chapter will be the engagement of Ruby and Jaune!

Guys.

Yang is coming up in two or three chapters.

I am devoid of puns.

You need to fix this.

Review me puns! (Why do I feel like I just opened a gate to hell?)