A/N: Hey, it's time for another chapter.

Speaking of which, I am doing a re-work of the first chapters so that they are up to par with the quality of the story as of late; which means new details and (possibly, maybe) new plot points and backstory characters that I will draw on later in the story. The plot will for the most part, other than perspectives and details, will otherwise remain the same.

Also, 1,500K+ views! OH SHIT!

Wow; it's humbling to think that a silly idea, that I thought to write down, has been viewed by so many people. Wow. Just, wow. You guys are amazing.

Next chapter!

Chapter 24: true intentions are

That night, after I got back from my trip to Vaccuo with Sam, Drake, and Crimson, I went up to the roof to think and to sit and admire nature's beauty.

Once I was on the roof, I sent Ozpin a message about the possibility of forming a late starting team.

"It all depends. Send me the candidates' names and I'll let you know after I've done my research on them.
~Ozpin"

"Dusk Rogue, Umbra Tenebris, Shade Tenebris, and Crimson Zarex." I thought for a moment and added one last bit before I hit send, "Now that I think about it, the name DUSC seams appropriate for a team name. Also, let me know what you find on Dusk and Shade; I have a particular interest in their backgrounds. ~Soap"

A minute later, I got a reply:

"Will do. Bring them by my office in two days and I'll have your answer by then.
~Ozpin"

I sighed as I put my scroll away and laid back against the wall behind me and stared at the stars.

I don't really know how long I was up there; eventually though, Sarah joined me on the roof.

Sarah, in her usual fashion, tried to be as sneaky as possible; but I heard her anyways.

"Sarah, I know that's you trying to sneak up on me." I said, not bothering to look at her.

"Aww." I heard her say, disappointed that she wasn't able to sneak up on me.

I smiled as I heard her footsteps nearing me, "That hasn't worked since the first week we met."

"I know." She replied, sitting down next to me. I put my arm around her.

"Then why do you continue to try?" I asked.

"In hopes that I might catch you off guard one day." She replied as she laid her head on my shoulder and snuggled up against me.

I chuckled softly, "You know, I think the definition of insanity goes something like: continuing to do same thing expecting a different result."

"Oh quiet you." She replied softly.

"Hey Sarah?" I said after a long time of silence.

"Hmm?"

"You know the four that we picked up over the past couple of days?" I asked.

"Dusk, Umbra, Shade, and Crimson right?"

"Yep."

"What about them?"

"What do you think about them?"

"As a possible team or what?"

"Just in general." I said.

"Hmm. I'm not too sure what to think about Shade and Crimson yet; but I've had a chance to talk to Dusk and Umbra. It seems like Dusk has had a rough past; but you know more about that than I do, so I can't say too much. As a person though, he seems like a bit of a loner." She let out a soft chuckle, "Maybe he'll hook up with one of the girls from RWBY."

"Now that would be interesting to see. You know that he's a faunas right?"

She looked at me incredulously, "He's a faunas?"

"Yeah, actually; He's a wolf faunas."

"Then how come I didn't see any wolf ears?" Sarah asked.

"He cut them off." I said nonchalantly.

"He cut them off? Why?" She said, suddenly concerned.

"From what I can tell, he cut them off in a last ditch attempt to try and fit in with society; if I remember correctly, you gave me a similar reasoning for hiding that you were a faunas when I first met you."

Sarah appeared to think about this for a second before responding, "Yeah. I did didn't I?"

"Have you seen his weapons?" I asked.

"No. Why? What are they?"

"He has two double edged, black and grey daggers that are covered in red runic lettering."

"That's a really close range weapon; I take it he's rather agile and fast to be able to use those."

"Yep." I said, taking a deep breath. "You said that you also got to talk to Umbra?"

"Yeah."

"What'ch ya think about her?" I asked.

"I like her, plus it's about time we get another female winged faunas."

"Why is that?"

"Now Sam has someone that she can compete with, flying-wise. You and I are too fast for her."

I laughed at that, "Yeah, I guess she does. How about Umbra's personality?"

"Hmm. She seems to rather shy or maybe self-conscious about herself, and it sounds like she blames herself for the disappearance of her and her brothers' parents. She thinks that bad things happen to the people around her. Quite honestly, I don't think that's the case; but only time will tell. Anytime that she was talking to me, and I looked in her violet eyes, I saw a sort of intelligence burning behind them; kinda of like when I first met you. From that, and the way that she spoke, I could tell that she is really, really smart. Possibly even rivaling you and me."

"That's pretty much what I got from her too." I said as she laid her head back on my shoulder.

"Hey Sarah, I have something I want to ask you." I said, sitting up.

She sat up and looked at me, "Ask away."

I silently pulled a small box out of my jacket pocket as I spoke, "How long have we been together now?"

"Next week will be three years; why?"

"Just wondering." I said, laying my head back against the wall behind us.

"Where do you think we'll be three years from now? Relationship-wise?" I asked her, bringing my head back up.

Sarah appeared to think about this, "I don't know." She said shrugging her shoulders. "Married or engaged at least; still together though, that's for sure. Why?"

I stood then offered her a hand to help her up. Once we were eye to eye, I answered, "You'll see."

I got down on one knee and held the box in my hand behind me while I held both of her's with my other. "The day I first met you, as you laid asleep in my arms, I silently asked myself a question as my own mind drifted to sleep. I asked myself 'What Could Be Better?'. Well...over the years of being with you, I found my answer. Spending the rest of my worldly existence...with you. I...I" I started to say.

"What are you trying to say Soap?" Sarah asked me.

I sighed and smiled before I spoke, "I guess what I'm trying to say is this," I pulled out the box from behind me and held it up for her to see. "Sarah 'Hearts' Kirtsov, will you marry me?"

As I opened the box, I heard Sarah gasp. "It's beautiful."

Inside the box was a ring with a black body; the outside of the ring was mostly black. Halfway to the main jewel on either side, inlaid into the side, were red and white square diamonds that alternated until they reached the crowned, giant, white diamond in the center. On each side of the crown were three smaller, light pink diamonds; underneath that, on both sides, was a single small black diamond. Etched onto the main jewel was my sigil, a tribal cross, standing straight in the dead center of the jewel; wrapped around the top of the cross was Sarah's sigil, two hearts intertwined.

"A perfect ring for a perfect woman." I said, placing the ring on her finger.

She examined the ring under the light that was being given off the shattered moon in the starlight night for a few moments before I spoke again. "So how about it Sarah? Are you willing to stand by my side on this crazy journey of life I'm on?"

Sarah dropped to my level, took my hands in her's and looked me in the eyes with her own soft pink and white colored gems, "Chris 'Soap' Gunnel;" I nodded as Sarah began reciting an old poem that I knew well, "Forevermore, till the end of our days..."

She paused as if she was waiting for me. After a second, I got the hint, "We shall protect the Innocent..."

"Defend the weak,"

"And ensure that those whom we love the most,"

"Are safe from the monstrosities of this world."

I continued, "From the Grimm,"

"To the common day thief,"

"We will watch over them for as long as we are able."

Sarah began the next sentence, "Even though we have both pledged to play our parts,"

"We will still make time for each other,"

"And keep the love between us,"

"Good and well."

"Together," We both said together.

I continued on, "You,"

"and I."

"We shall stand together, till the end of time."

Sarah continued, "For till death do us part, I will love you Chris,"

"As I shall love you Sarah."

Together we finished the poem, "Come now, let us stand side by side and prove to the world that - even amidst the chaos of this crazy ride we call life - life can be beautiful and that fairy tale endings DO happen."

"Till death do us part?" She asked with a wide smile spreading across her lips.

"Till death do us part." I confirmed.

I leaned forward until my lips met her own soft, sweet lips.

I don't remember much about what happened next that night; at the time though, I really don't think I cared.

A/N: There you have it, Soap's proposal packed into another, somewhat, short chapter. I really do have to apologize for both, how long it's taking between updates, and how short the chapters are; but life's a bitch. Hopefully it won't be as long until the next chapter.

See you guys next time.

Link to image for ring is: i01,i,aliimg,com /wsphoto /v0 / 32287235995_1/ White-and-Red-Cubic-Zirconia-Emerald-Cut-Women-s-font-b-Black-b-font-font-b,jpg