Welcome back to another chapter! I hope you all liked the last one, and hope you like this one too. Please let me know of any mistakes as well. Anyway, let's get on with the chapter!

I don't own RWBY, please support the official release.

MINOR SPOILERS FOR VOLUME 9!

"And on the wind, Alex heard one more question, What are you?" Summer Rose said as she closed the book she was reading. Looking up, she saw the forms of her daughters fast asleep, all four of them.

'I Can't believe it has been a little over five years since then.' Summer thought to herself. These past five years have been the best ones of Tai and hers life. She will always remember the day both Blake and Weiss called them their parents. It was one of the happiest days of her life after all, only being tied with the day Yang called her 'momma' for the first time and the birth of Ruby.

It was the one year anniversary of them arriving in their home. Tai and her decided to turn such a day of loss, into one of celebration and happiness. They didn't know the girls birthdays, so it seemed like a perfect day to celebrate the both of them, they had too of gotten older after all. They got Qrow to take the girls outside to play, while Tai and her were decorating and getting the party set up.

It helped that Qrow liked Blake and Weiss, and the feelings where apparently mutual. The hours they spent along with Ruby and Yang playing with him attested to that. So he didn't really mind babysitting all the girls for a few hours while they set up. So with him occupying them, they were able to decorate without a hitch. It was hours later that they came back, and then Tai and her sprung the surprise on the girls.

'I still remember the shocked looks they had, oh it was so cute! I'm so glad I got it on my scroll.' Summer indeed got a photo of their shocked faces, she even has it framed in her bedroom.

She remembers the girls both sitting down next to each other, with stupefied looks on their faces as everyone else wished them a happy birthday. She still remembers Weiss saying that it wasn't Blakes or her own birthday, she still remembers the conversation that followed after that. It was a conversation that changed everyone's lives after all.

Flashback, a little over five years ago

Summers' POV

I stared into the wonder filled eyes of Weiss and Blake, and start reminiscing about the year that has gone by. Never in my wildest dreams would I of thought that I would be taking care of so many beautiful children. If I'm honest with myself, this past year has been the best of my life. Sure, our family was extremely happy even before they came, but since arriving here, they both have became a pillar to this family. A pillar to my life. I thought that honor would only belong to Tai, Yang and Ruby, that they would be the only ones that gave me the strength to fight this war against the Grimm. I am glad to say that I was proven wrong.

As I looked them in the eyes, I say "Blake, Weiss, can you guess what anniversary is today?" I watch them adopt an adorable thinking face, and my smile can't help but stretch just a little more. It was a few more seconds, but they eventually shook their heads no.

I couldn't fault them for not knowing, after all, what six year olds would actually pay attention to a calendar? I smiled, and answered my own question for them "It has been exactly one year since the both of you came too this house. That means you had to of gotten older somewhere between then and now, right?" The look of realization on their faces was priceless.

"Now then, how about some cake for the two of you?" I say, as at that moment, Tai turned around and opened up the fridge, and pulled out two identical cakes. The two are basically twins, so it felt right to get two identical cakes. The look of shock they possessed at that moment made me want to tear up, but I thankfully held it down. Wouldn't want to spoil their day because I couldn't keep my emotions in check.

Tai put the two cakes directly in front of Weiss and Blake, who just stared down at their respective ones with wonder feeling their eyes. Tai spoke up at that moment "Happy birthday girls." He said, giving a kiss to top of their respective foreheads. He then took out two candles that were numbered six, and put one on each of the cakes. I took out a lighter, and lit Blake's while Tai took another and lit Weiss's. We all gathered around them, and I saw Tai take out his scroll to record the moment.

I turn to Ruby and Yang "Ok you two, ready to sing happy birthday to Weiss and Blake?" The excited nods was all the answer I needed.

"Ok, on three. One, two, three!"

As one we all began to sing

"Happy birthday to you"

Both Blake and Weiss just stared off into deep space, as if they couldn't believe what was happening.

"Happy birthday to you"

It seemed as if their sense's returned to them at that moment, the look of realization in their eyes says so at least. Oh damnit, I'm crying, keep it together Summer, they deserve this for all they have done for us. Don't ruin this for them.

"Happy birthday Weiss and Blake"

It was at this moment that I saw their lips quiver a little. My heart sank at that. Did we do something wrong?

"Happy birthday to you"

As we finished the song I spotted tears in their eyes, though it was hard to tell, due to the ones in my eyes at the moment. Did we really do something wrong? They don't like this? I couldn't help but start to panic, I had too know why they are crying. My maternal instincts were screaming for answers. I NEEDED to comfort my babies.

"Weiss, Blake, what's wrong babies, why are you crying? You don't like it? Where sorry if you don't, we can..."

I didn't get to finish my sentence, as at that moment, both girls sprung from their seats, and launched at Tai and myself. They clung to the both of us like their lives depended on it, and I clung right back.

"It's okay babies, don't cry, we're right here." I choke out, they haven't cried much during their time here, and any time they have it crushed my very soul. Crying doesn't look good on any of my girls, especially on a day of what was supposed to be celebration. Tai and I really messed up, I should of...

I didn't get to finish my thought, as at that time, Blake and Weiss looked up at us, with the biggest smiles i have ever seen. With tears staining their cheeks, the words that came from them made my heart skip a beat, and if I had to guess, Tais to.

"I love you mommy, I love you daddy." Blake and Weiss said at the same time.

My world stopped for a second, my tear filled eyes just staring at the faces of my daughters. It was this thought that brung me back. My daughters, MY daughters, and did they just call me mommy? At that moment, the dam in my eyes broke and tears flooded out of them in a wellspring of emotion. I was so busy crying, that I didn't even register that they had another one of their infamous "twin moments".

It was as if a weight had been lifted off my soul. I have always wanted to be their mother from the moment I realized I loved them like I love Ruby and Yang, but I was too afraid to admit it too myself. I was afraid I would take away any kind of love they had for their own mothers that they might of still had. For them to say that, for them to acknowledge me as their MOTHER, it was as if that fear was whisked away. This has been one of the best days of my life, I will cherish this moment forever.

At that moment Ruby and Yang came scurrying over and clung to us as well. At this moment, I have everything that was special to me, all right here and in my embrace.

It was at this point, I had a revelation. This is what life is worth fighting for. For moments like these, this is why I fight. Any storm that comes my way, I will take it head on if it means to protect what I have right here and now. Their lives is all that matters to me, I will NOT let anyone take this from me. Come hell or high water, I will make sure my daughters THRIVE in this world. That I promise, and I dare any bastard that would try to take them from me. I WILL protect them or I will die trying.

Summer wipes the tears from her eyes as she remembers that day. She was so hyper focused on her daughters that she didn't even notice Taiyang having a similar reaction as her back then. He was crying just as much as her, the video from his scroll can testify that.

She gets up from her seat, and heads to the bed on the left first. Tai and her still haven't built rooms for all of their daughters, but she is willing to bet that they don't care. Since the first night Blake and Weiss arrived, they have all slept together since. It was why they hadn't started on the rooms yet, they are just so in sync with one another, that Tai and her fear that it would be near impossible to split them up.

She arrives at the bed and takes notice of the sleeping forms. It seemed Yang and Weiss decided to share the bed tonight. She smiles at that, the girls have a habit of sleeping with whoever, sometimes it would be Yang and Ruby sharing, others nights it might be Blake and Weiss. It all really depended on how they felt.

She leans down and plants gentle kisses to the top of each of their foreheads. After she came up, she just observes them quietly for a moment. They looked so peaceful, so much so, that it brung tears to Summers eyes. These are her babies, the best things that have ever happened to her. She wouldn't even take the world if it meant to lose even one of her daughters, she just loves them that much.

After about five minutes of standing over Yang and Weiss, and wiping the tears from her eyes, she heads over to the other bed in the room.

Upon arriving, she leans down and kisses Blake and Ruby to. She comes up again and keeps thinking the same thing, these are her daughters, her life, her will to LIVE. She would do anything to protect them all, giving her own life included. With the mission she is about to go on, it seems that will be the case.

The tears start flowing again. Her daughters might not see her ever again. That thought nearly brung her to her knees. The thought that she couldn't be there for them, it was the worst feeling she could ever experience. It brung her so much despair, that she nearly decided to stand up Raven and just stay here, but she knew she couldn't. The Grimm Queen, known as Salem, was threatening the peace that she has fought so hard for, threatening the world that she lived in. By extension, the world included her daughters and ANYONE, that threatened them was someone who needed to die. She had a chance to take Salem down, and she was going to take it. Even if this mission will cost her life, it is all worth it to have her daughters live a happy life. A mothers love knows no bounds, after all.

She makes her way to the door and opens it to leave. Before shutting it, she looks back and takes in the forms of her daughters for possibly the last time. Again, she nearly decides to stay, but she steels herself, and closes the door.

She walks down the hallway on shaky knees and heads downstairs. Once she is down, she makes sure that Tai isn't here yet, and collapses to the floor. The flood gates open and she starts silently balling her eyes out. The realization that she may never see them again, what their reactions too that would be, for them to never see HER again. It's just soul shattering. The thought of them realizing that she wasn't coming back, that she is gone forever, and the image of what their reactions would be.

She had to stop herself from thinking of that any further, or she wouldn't be able to go through with this. So with great difficulty, she rises to her feet. It was about time for Tai to arrive home anyway.

She was right, as not even three minutes later Taiyang made his way through the back door. He had just got back from a night of drinking with Qrow. Well, more so Qrow drinking and him making sure he gets back home safe.

As he made his way to the living room, he noticed his wife standing there. He smiled, but it quickly vanished as he noticed that she had been crying. With some fear in his voice he started talking "Summer are you okay? You look like you have been crying." Summer, already knowing he would ask that question answered. "I'm fine, I was just going through videos on my scroll and got sentimental."

Taiyang smiled at her and what was about to speak, but Summer spoke again before he could.

"I have a mission, Ozpin wants me to go check on a village and make sure everything is alright." Summer actually didn't lie there, because Ozpin actually does want her to go check on a village and make sure it was alright. It was actually perfect timing, while Tai and Ozpin will think she is out on a basic reconnaissance mission, she will actually be fighting humanity's greatest threat of extinction. The best lies are the ones sprinkled with truth in them.

Taiyang adopts a look of sadness at first, but it is quickly replaced with amusement, "And when it turns out that it is just the local radio tower being down for maintenance, you know what he will say?" A look of amusement then appears on Summers face as well "It is always best to air on the side of caution." They both said, and chuckled at their little imitation of their former Headmaster.

It was awkward silence for a moment, but after a bit Summer came up to Tai and cupped his cheek and said "I will come back, I promise." Taiyang takes Summers hand and holds it while responding "I know."

Knowing that this may be the last time she will ever see him, she leans up and kisses him. They held it for a few moments, but they eventually separated. Summer looked up to Tai and with the most sincere voice she could muster she said "I love you." It wasn't much, it wasn't long, but it got its message through. Tai concurred "I love you too." They stood there for a minute, just taking each other in, but eventually Summer turned around and headed for the front door.

She took one final look back, and sent a look of love at Taiyang until finally, she closed the door and made her way out.

As she was leaving she looked to her right and saw the flowers that the girls and her planted. All roses. She smiled at the thought, she remembers when they decided what kind of flowers they wanted to plant. It was her idea to plant some. She cried a lot that day, they said that they wanted them because Ruby was getting them. Ruby doesn't know it, but shes got those three tied around her finger, she could ask for anything from them and they would more than likely relent. What a terrible power indeed. But that wasn't why she cried, she cried because of what they said next.

Flashback, two years ago

Summers POV

"We also want roses because they are like you, very pretty and nice." Yang said for all of her sisters. I was stunned silent and was left with a warm feeling all over me. They got roses because they reminded them of me. Oh, I'm gonna cry, that is just to cute!.

"Oh come here and give me a hug." I say, and they all scurry over and embrace me. I stay there, just enjoying the moment I just had, that is when I remembered they didn't say what kind they wanted.

"Say, what kind of roses do you all want?" I question them. They look at one another and then turn to me with a sheepish face. Why did I suddenly get a feeling of dread?

Apparently her feeling was correct, because that day, Summer learned that there is apparently more than two colors of roses. How did she not know that when her last name is literally Rose!

Ruby, predictably, wanted red roses, she actually guessed she would want those, and she was correct. It didn't surprise her at all that Weiss wanted the white ones. But what did surprise her was Yang and Blake's answer.

Yang wanted yellow roses, they apparently exist but are real expensive to get. That didn't deter Summer though, the joy of her daughter was worth the price if some flowers made her happy. Now while she was surprised that yellow roses existed, the utter confusion she got when Blake said she wanted black ones could not of been understated. She didn't even know flowers could even be the color black. Well, she was technically correct, as they don't occur without outside help. That help being gravity dust. Apparently, when you have some roses around a pocket of the stuff, and wait for a long time, you will eventually get black, or another surprise to Summer, silver.

Again, just like Yang, price wasn't an issue, Blake's joy was well worth it after all. She thought that would be the end of it and they would would order the seeds and plant them no problem. She was wrong there, as the girls had one more request if they were to plant the flowers. The request was the silver roses.

Because her daughters wanted to share the experience with her, they wanted her to get some silver ones. At that point she was reluctant, splurging on her daughters she could do, the problem came with doing it for herself. She had grown up always tight on money, so she had a habit of not treating herself that much. So, she at first turned down the offer, but with a lot of pleading and absolutely adorable puppy dog eyes, she finally relented and bought some herself.

She was glad she did so, as just sitting around and planting with her daughters was one of the most fun experiences Summer had ever done. Just laughing and goofing off and not having a care in the world. It was all refreshing for Summer, to see all the good that there was in the world through her daughters, it gave her a reassurance that what she was fighting for was well worth it. What she was doing wasn't useless, that there is hope, and it all stemmed from just four little girls. It was why she is here now, to make sure that the light she sees in them never goes out, even if it means that hers will.

She kneeled down and proceeded to pick a flower of each color, and then pockets them. She holds her position there for a moment, just thinking. Thinking of what the future now holds with this decision she made. Summer then gets out of her kneeling position and takes off towards the designated place Raven and her agreed upon. Tonight she either dies or comes home to her daughters again. Though something is telling her the later wasn't going to happen.

Time skip, about an hour later

Summers POV

I arrive at the spot that was agreed upon, and take off the hood I had on. It was at this moment I heard the tell tell signs of a raven cawing, and out of the brush came my former teammate and sister to Qrow, Raven Branwen.

She has pretty much kept the same look since I could remember, just a little bit more mature looking. Same long messy and wild black hair and same outfit. She might of physically not changed much but her psyche, now that is a different story. She was always distant back at Beacon, but after a while she did start coming around. She even got to the point that she started to reciprocate Tais feelings back then, and they started dating. That had always hurt me a little, I always had a crush on Tai back then but he had eyes for Raven. I couldn't blame him either, Raven is absolutely stunning and I could see why Tai had a thing for her. She just had that kind of air and aura around her that made you want too get to know her more.

But any positive feelings I had towards her vanished when she abandoned Tai. Abandoned Yang. Before my thoughts had anymore of a chance to turn more dark, Raven spoke.

"Do they suspect anything?"

Being brung back to reality I responded "No, they think it is just another mission." The words that spewed from my mouth left a bitter taste, i hated lying to Tai. I especially hated having to lie to my daughters. They didn't deserve that, especially when there is a high possibility of me not coming back.

Again, before I could think more, Raven replied in a mock shocked voice "Summer Rose lying, who would of thought I would ever see the day." The words from Raven left me in a even worse mood, she could REALLY grate my nerves when she tried. It was silent for a moment, we just stood there not saying anything. It didn't last long, as Raven, with a conflicted voice spoke again.

"What about... you know." She gestured back the way I came.

I responded in a bitter voice "What, gaining a conscience now?"

She spoke, again, with a disheartened but reassured voice "You were always better at that life then me, we both know it."

The look on her was face was honestly pathetic, like she actually believed herself. She didn't even TRY that life. Raven would of been a amazing mother for Yang. She had the heart for it and had Tai along with her. They could of raised an amazing family, full of love and joy, but she threw it all away. Like they didn't even matter to her. She abandoned them. She abandoned Yang. She would of let her OWN DAUGHTER grow up without a mother. She may of gave birth to Yang, but she, in my opinion, lost all rights to be her mom when she done that.

With a look of scorn and determination, I started walking and spoke while doing so "Come on, let's get this over with. I want to get back to MY daughters." I shoulder bump her at the end. I made sure to emphasize the "my" as I spoke. Was it petty of me? Yes. Did I regret saying it? No. Yang didn't deserve to be treated like that, even if she couldn't remember her, Ravens lack of presence would of been felt later in her life. I made sure Raven knew that when we were talking about doing this mission.

With a sigh and a saddened voice, Raven responded "As you wish." And with that she used her semblance to open a portal to our destination.

'Come hell or high water, I will protect you all.' I think to myself while clinching the roses in my pocket. With a resolve I haven't had in a very long time, I made my way to the portal that led to a metaphorical hell, and passed through. This was for the world. This was for myself. But most importantly, this was for MY DAUGHTERS!

Xiao Long-Roes household, that exact moment

Taiyangs POV

I was just about to lay down, but a sudden surge of dread rippled through my body. It was as if something absolutely Earth shattering was just about to happen. I looked out the window in Summer and I's bedroom, and I thought to myself.

'Summer, please be careful.'

Whew, that took me waaaaaaay longer then it should of.

I'm going to be honest, I don't really think I done good on this chapter, it just feels off to me.

But here it is, it could of been out sooner, if I didn't have to reset the beginning of it at LEAST twenty times. It just wasn't coming, until I finally figured out what I wanted to do.

Also for the fact that I lost internet at one point, and lost over 2k words, so that didn't help. This chapter really didn't want to be wrote.

How do you like my take on the last episode of volume 9, I don't think I done to good, but I tried.

Now onto the future of this story. I PLAN on one chapter every week, but that might not pan out, however I will try to do so.

Also, as you can see, there wasn't any POVs of the girls this chapter, that will be the case for possibly the next chapter as well, but I could be wrong. The next chapter, and maybe the next, will still be before the main show. After that, we will get into gear and proceed into the main story. Until next time, and have a great day.