It seemed like a lifetime ago since Jaune was last home. When he first set off for Beacon, he never expected his life to get so chaotic. Beacon had been destroyed thanks to a Grimm invasion orchestrated by the White Fang, a terrorist group, and Cinder Fall. The latter of whom had been mascaraing as a student of Haven Academy. The very same destination he and his merry group of friends were heading for. Traveling on foot across the continent of Anima hadn't sounded crazy at first, but after a few months that decision was debatable. With his friends Ruby Rose, Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren by his side, there was no danger that team RNJR couldn't fend off.

"NO WAY!" The spunky ginger of their group burst out. "Jaune-Jaune are we actually close to where you grew up?" Nora, who was following behind Jaune and Ruby while the two leaders looked over the map, could not contain her excitement. The chance of a warm bed, hot meal, a shower~. But most importantly, learning more about her fearless leader. Oh, they had to go.

"We have to go!"

"Nora, " Jaune chuckled out. "I don't want to bother my family. Plus, it'd be a few days out of our way. Much too long for a detour."

"Boo your no fun."

"Besides, it should be about time for harvest season. Even if we did go, they'd be too busy to greet us."

"Your family are farmers, right?" Ruby questioned. Jaune hadn't talked much about his family, but that much she was able to piece together. "What do they grow again?"

"Oh, right. I never did tell you guys, did I? My family runs a winery. Been in the family since my grandfather's days. The whole family works together to run it, except for my sister Saphron. She moved out a few years ago and lives with her wife in Argus now."

"A winery? Is that like a therapy thing?" Having grown up on the streets with Ren, Nora wasn't the most cultured of their group. Though she always meant well.

"A winery produces wine Nora. An alcoholic drink made from grapes." Ren quickly corrected.

"So, it's like grape juice then?"

"It's actually a lot more complicated than that. A few years ago, one of my sisters managed to strike a big deal for us and things have been pretty busy since. Or wine has become quite famous I hear."

"Oh look at that," Ruby teased her fellow leader. "Someone is all well connected. Don't let Weiss find out you are from some big shot family heh heh.

"Knock it off Ruby. " Jaune playfully batted her off. The two sharing a laugh while Jaune folded up the map. Both leaders had suffered a heavy loss at the fall of Beacon, everyone had. But it was nice to see Jaune and Ruby both starting to laugh and smiling again. Usually with each other. An act that didn't go unnoticed.

"So Jaune we can visit your place, right? Please, please, pretty please~."

"Nora, like I said. We shouldn't-"

"Oh come on!" Ruby interrupted. Her cheerful voice putting a slight smile on his face. "What's the harm in a quick visit. I bet your family would love to see you again. They do know you made it out of Beacon safe right?"

"Of course, Ruby. They did want me to come home right after I called. But if I did then I don't know if they'd ever let me leave again."

"Didn't you sneak out and go to Beacon?" The little reaper snickered. Always taking a chance to tease her bestie.

" . . . No. They let me go. They just didn't think I'd be able to pass initiation."

"Then all the more reason to go! You can show them what a cool and strong huntsman you have become!" Coming from anyone else, it'd sound sarcastic. But coming from Ruby . . . Jaune would be lying if he said he wasn't happy to hear her praise.

"Then its settled! Alright team. We are going to visit Jaune's family, follow me!" Jaune could only shake his head at the gung-ho petite girl. Though Nora and Ren could see the obvious smile on his face. Jaune and Ruby had become fast friends since they first met at Beacon, and Nora was enjoying watching how much closer the two had grown over their travels.

"Uhh Jaune?"

"I'll lead the way, Ruby."

"Thank you~

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

It had taken them nearly four day, and three nights caping out, but they could finally see the Arc vineyard in the distance. Well, a vineyard. At least they were in the right area. And not a moment too soon. This spur of the moment trip had eaten up most of their supplies. Food, water, and ammo were all running low. By mid-day they had passed a town. Ruby wanted to stop to resupply, but Jaune had insisted they continue on as their destination wasn't far off. That was three hours ago.

"Well, there it is." Jaune stated proudly to his tired and weary group of friends. "The good old Arc ranch."

"Jaune, Does Weiss know you grew up in a mansion?" Staring down the three-story structure, Nora would have mistaken it for a hotel if not for the large stained-glass window above the main entrance. The window displaying the Arc family crest boldly and proudly.

"Nora it isn't a mansion. Sure, it's a bit big, but my parents did have eight kids. Everyone got a room to themselves. It's not that impressive."

"Not that impressive? Not that impressive?! Jaune, this house makes the one Yang and I grew up in look like a yard shed!"

Even Ren, for his silence, stared on in awe at the sight of Jaune's childhood home. After several minutes of his friends' slack-jawed wonder, Jaune tried to usher them down from their hilltop view and towards his family's home.

"If it makes you all feel better, this was built after we got that contract. The house I grew up in is a bit aways and much smaller."

"It really-" Nora started.

"Doesn't." And Ruby finished.

Down the hill and about twenty minutes later the two pairs found themselves at the front door. The large double doors stood at an intimidating eight feet tall in their deep red varnish. They hadn't seen a soul walking up to the building, but Jaune had assured them that not only would they find his family inside, that they should prepare themselves for the inevitable barrage of questions they would receive. With a shaky breath and even more unsteady hand, Jaune tried and failed to reach for the door several times. It wasn't until he felt Ruby's hand reassuringly resting on his arm that he could finally ring the doorbell.

The first voice to greet them belonged to a woman. Considering the only men in Jaune's family were himself and his father, not a surprise. What was a surprise had come after the young woman opened the door. Upon laying eyes on the group, tears swelled up and fell down her cheeks. With a strength surprising them all she pulled Jaune down to her height and buried his face in her sizable bosom. One that could give Yang a run for her money. The woman was noticeably shorter than Jaune, but still taller than Ruby or Nora. A size that probably made her chest seem bigger than it was. But when Jaune finally freed himself from the woman's embrace, one that Ruby had found herself very annoyed by, Jaune could only turn to his friends with a smile.

"Guys, I'd like you to meet my mom. Elise Arc. Don't let her size fool you, you don't want to get on her bad side."

"And you should know! Refusing to come home after that terrible tragedy in Beacon, then disappearing for who knows how long without a single word! Would it kill you to write to us sometime? Your father and I have been worried sick! And now you just show up out of the blue without any warning. What am I going to do with you?" Oh yeah, that was a mom. It seemed like the lecture would have gone on forever if not for the girls failed attempt to suppress their laughter.

"Now Jaune, aren't you going to introduce me to these lovely ladies?"

"Oh, uhh right. So, the girl in pink is Nora."

"It's so nice to finally meet you! I have So0o0o0o0o many questions to ask you! Like is Jaune the youngest? Were you trying to create a sports team or did you keep trying until you got a boy? What was it like raising so many people? OH, what kind of breakfasts did you have?!"

"Nora, please. There will be plenty of time for that later. Just . . . nothing too personal. Okay?" Jaune pleaded with the most energetic member of their group. Well, most energetic unless they were talking about weapons. Then Ruby couldn't be beat. The way her eyes always lit up whenever she spotted a new custom weapon on a huntsman's hip or went through the latest upgrades in a weapon magazine never failed to put a smile on Jaune's face.

"My, she seems spirited." Elise playfully whispered to her sighing son.

"And this is Nora's partner, Ren. He doesn't talk much but I consider him the brother I never had. He and Nora have known each other for years."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, mam."

"And finally, the girl in the red cape is Ruby, leader of team RWBY. They're, uhh. They are going through a bit of a break right now. We have been helping Ruby out. Couldn't let her go on a mission by herself after all." The reminder that she had such great friends put a warmth into Ruby's heart. They really had just packed up and agreed to join her like it was the most natural thing to do.

"ELISE! WHO WAS AT THE DOOR?!" A deep and powerful voice echoed out from deep inside the house. One that nearly made three of the teens reel back in defense.

"ITS JAUNE!" The wife yelled back at her husband. Then a glint twinkled in her eye before turning back to continue. "AND HE BROUGHT HOME HIS GIRLFRIEND!"

Before Jaune could correct his mother, a horde of footsteps rang out from inside the building like a stampeding herd of cattle. In no time at all one man and six women, all sporting rich blond hair, had descended on them. None of them could get a word out before they were drowned in questions by the army of blonds.

"O M G Just look at her! She is so pretty!"

"She is so tiny~!"

"But check out that rack! Damn girl what's your secret?"

"Jaune always did like them short."

"I know right?"

"That's my boy! I knew my advice would serve you well."

"That pink skirt is so CUTE~ Where did you get it, you simply have to tell me."

"Forget that, how did you two meet?"

"Who confessed first?"

"Woah, woah, WOAH! Slow down!" Somehow Jaune had gotten his family to cease their relentless interrogation. He stood in front of Ruby, Nora and Ren as a human shield to protect them from the hungry vultures. His sisters seeming starved for gossip now that the CCT was down and they couldn't watch any of their dramas anymore.

"I'm not dating anyone! These are my friends from Beacon. Ruby, Nora and Ren. Again, I am not dating anyone."

"Why did you all assume I was Jaune's girlfriend?" Nora questioned, peeking out from behind Jaune's left shoulder. "Wait, Jaune am I your type? Aww Jaune-Jaune I'm flattered~ But you're going to have to work harder to capture this queen's heart~"

"Oh, she is sassy as fuck. I like her." Commented one of the sisters.

The near unanimous expectation that Nora was Jaune's girlfriend somehow put a weird feeling into the pit of Ruby's stomach. Why had they assumed Nora was Jaune's girlfriend? Was she not good enough for Jaune? Was she not pretty enough? Why did she care? She didn't care.

"Umm heh heh. It's nice to meet you all." Ruby's small voice broke into the merry group. This time coming from out behind Jaune right side. "But could we come in? Maybe take a shower if that isn't too much trouble. We have been camping out for a few weeks now."

"Oh, how rude of us. By all means please come in." In an instant, Elise Arc seemed to switch from a sweet and kind mother to an army drill instructor barking out orders to the troops. "Jade, could you please show each of Jaune's friends to a guest room. Mary, take the car into town. We are going to need more food for dinner tonight to celebrate Jaune coming home. Sage-"

"Already on it. I'll be sure to pick out a good year and some of my personal recommendations for tonight. Finally, we can have a drink with Jaune again! I refuse to lose like last time."

"I have got to give Saphron a call. She is going to beat herself up that she is missing this."

There seemed to be nothing but the hustle and bustle of chaos as all the Arcs ran around to get ready for the festivities that would come later that night. But to Jaune, he was home.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Woah Jaune are you okay?" Nora had noticed that Jaune had finished yet another glass of red wine before reaching for the bottle to fill his glass once more. She was still working on her first glass of white wine. Something a little fruitier than what Jaune had been drinking.

"Hmm?"

"That was your third glass of wine." Ren, who was only half way through his second glass of red wine, pointed out. They were all finishing up the wonderfully prepared dinner by this point. The Arcs had insisted that everyone try a glass of their wine with dinner, of course not being forceful to those who didn't want to. But Ruby, Nora and Ren all agreed to one glass. Each one getting to try a few samples before deciding one to have with their meal.

"I'm fine. It'll take more than this to get me drunk. I guess growing up drinking this stuff has let me get used to it." He brushed off their worries before taking a sip of his fourth glass. And true to his word, Jaune was fine. He had a slight buzz from the alcohol but nothing to worry about.

"That's because you were never old enough to drink the good stuff." His father chimed in with a hardy laugh.

"Implying that your wine isn't 'good stuff'?" The son quipped back. A playful smirk plastered on his face. The kind that his friends only saw when Jaune was ready to make a killer move during one of their card games.

"Woah now, don't go putting words into my mouth." The patriarch tried to defend himself. Unfortunately, he was only met with laughter across the table. "I'm just saying you kids haven't had a taste of anything strong is all. Back in my bar I've got stuff that'll knock an Ursa out in one shot."

"Now Chris, I think it is still too soon for you to give Jaune his first hang over. The boy only just got home."

"Yes dear." Once more laughter rang out to fill the room. Though Christopher Arc was a towering wall of a man, it was clear that the true power in the family was the woman by his side. Elise Arc may have been towered over by her husband, anyone woman who could push out eight children and keep them all under control was a force to be reconned with. As the two smiled deeply into each other's eyes it was transparently clear that the two had enjoyed a happy life together.

"Jaaaaaaaaa~unnnnne~" Ruby cooed. She had been sat to Jaune's left when they first entered the dining room, her seat being at the end of the table. Ren and Nora followed by taking Jaune's right. Across from them sat Jaune's parents who had wanted to converse with their son and his friends. Ruby, who had remined quiet except when spoken to, had been enjoying the warm atmosphere that reminded her of dinners back home when everyone would be together. But now she wanted to make her presence known. "I want cuddles~"

"Ruby!" He shrieked out in shock. First at her unexpected demand, second when she nuzzled her head against his arm. "You did not have that much to drink. Are you already dr-"

But Jaune's words were cut off by Ruby's next sudden act. It had not only caught Jaune off guard, but had sent the whole table in to roars of pleased shock and excitement.

"Heh heh heh~" A light giggle left Ruby's lips mere moments after they had sealed Jaune's silent with a sudden kiss. The two seemed to be transported into their own little world, completely ignorant to Jaune's family sitting around the table watching the lovebirds. Ruby was displaying a large dopy grin across her blushing face while Jaune just stared at here wide eyed in disbelief.

"Jaune." A voice finally seeming to pierce the couple's little world as if a pin had pricked a balloon. Jaune, despite all his embarrassment, made eye contact with his mother. All the while holding Ruby at bay by her shoulders as she drunkenly, playfully fought to rest her lips upon his again.

The woman's face was stern, serious. After all, she'd only met his friends mere hours ago. He had been firm that neither Ruby nor Nora was his girlfriend. Now here Ruby was being overly flirty and trying to make out in front of everyone. Would his family believe him if he once more stated that nothing was going on between them? Given Ruby's behavior, probably not. Hell Jaune was the most surprised one here. He'd have to talk to Ruby about it in the morning once she sobered up. An auditable huff brought his attention back to the woman who'd raised him and he prepared to hear an earful over what just happened. "There are condoms in the left nightstand. Don't be too loud."

Jaune was dead inside, the life had left his eyes as the embarrassment pierced his heart. With his death came the loss of strength to his arms. And with that Ruby's relentless pursuit to reclaim his lips was left unobstructed. Her drunken mind long deaf to the world around them. All the while his family laughing and teasing the two. If Jaune wasn't so mortified then he might have heard Nora cheering along with his sisters.