"Jaune… why you haven't told me before I had such lovely granddaughter?"
It was a tricky question with no right answers, Jaune knew that. His mother was good in doing such things, and she wouldn't allow him time to think. He just sighed deeply, entered the room and walked towards them, observing how Ryuuko was already comfy on his mother's lap. He should've know his mother would love his daughter immediately, though more pressing questions ran through his mind.
"Ryuuko, haven't I told you to not open the door for strangers?" Jaune questioned the dragon girl, that blinked and tilted her head.
"But she smells like you, so I knew she was family and family aren't strangers." She justified her actions without hesitation, making Jaune sigh a little.
"I suppose, but she could've be tricking you. We don't want anything bad happening to you." He affirmed, and the girl nodded in agreement. So, with that done, he turned to his mother. "I was going to tell you today, as we were planning to go home for the spring break… all of us, I mean."
"Is that so?" She inquired, and their eyes met. Her gaze was unavoidable, and she could break a grown man into submission with it if she so wanted, but seeing her son's eyes, she conceded. "Very well, now everyone, line up."
Even team RWBY lined, as Sarah's voice while gentle carried the commanding tone of an experienced mother of nine and a regal quality that compelled people to obey her orders. She smiled satisfied over the obedience, and stood up with Ryuuko by her side, walking towards the beginning of the line and staring at Jaune, as if evaluating him.
"How are you?" She asked, a loaded question that Jaune knew what meant.
"I'm fine. Trying to remember the good memories and not the bad ones." He answered, and Sarah smiled and gently caressed his cheek with her hand, before moving to Nora.
"You aren't giving Ren too much trouble, are you? Remember he's not just your best friend, but your beloved, so you need to support him too."
"Yes, mama Arc." Nora said with an unusual sheepish grin on her face. Even the energetic girl had no power to go against that woman. Sarah smiled and moved to Neo.
"You're being a good girl, right?" Neo nodded. "You're not giving your brother a hard time, are you?" She shook her head, but under Sarah's steel gaze she made a gesture meaning a little. "He's family, and family stand together. I know you might not be used to it, but you can always count on your big brother." Neo's answer was hugging Sarah tightly. The petite girl never really had a family with Roman, and she never really experienced happiness until the Arcs took her in and adopted her. Neo was pretty broken when they found her, and was still a work in progress for them, and some of her nastiest quirks were still being ironed out. "You don't have to be afraid anymore, Neo. You're an Arc, and we'll help you." It took a few moments before Sarah was able to end the hug with Neo and moved to Ren. "Don't dot Nora too much. She needs a little discipline."
"Of course, ma'am." He answered politely, and Sarah patted his shoulder before moving to Ruby.
"My gosh, you're the split image of your mother… Keeping the good work?"
"Yep! I'll be an amazing Huntress and protect everyone!" Ruby chirped happily, but she stared at her feet a little. "So, no one have to get hurt…"
"I'll be counting on you." Sarah said reassuringly, and Ruby smiled back at her. The Arc mother turned then to Weiss. "You kept contact with your family?"
"Yes, Mrs. Arc. Things have improved between me and my mother and brother. Winter is busy being headmistress of Atlas Academy, but we keep in touch." The heiress affirmed in a polite but clearly trained tone.
"Do not be a stranger to them, Weiss. Remember that the only problem you can't solve is the one you don't engage." Sarah counseled and Weiss gave a small curtsy in agreement. "How about you, Blake? Still carrying the world on your back?"
"I learned my lesson back with the White Fang. Now I just want to do what I can." Blake justified, and Sarah petted her head between her ears, causing the Faunus girl to blush. And finally, she moved to Yang, who shuffled nervous under the older woman's gaze.
"Do your parents know?" Was the question directed to her, and that made the brawler cringe, what did not pass unperceived by the Arc mother. "You'll call them."
"I'll call dad! I just not sure yet what to say… He always told me to not go around making children with random boys but I doubt he was speaking of this!" She frantically talked before Sarah but a gentle finger on the blonde girl's lips, silencing her.
"Jaune, Yang and Ryuuko, stay here with me. The rest of you please give us some time to talk. And no eavesdropping, including Faunus senses. I'll know." Sarah affirmed, and the others left soon after, well aware she would know. Affirmed Ruby closed the door (giving a small supportive wave to the blondes), Sarah turned to the remaining ones. "Sit." They followed her order and sat at Jaune's bed, with Ryuuko between them. The dragonet was the only one calm about all this.
"Mom, before you started, both of us are well aware of the difficult of raising a child. We weren't going to hid her and do all by ourselves until graduation, we were just… wrapping our minds on what happened." Jaune said, but Sarah held an emotionless face, as if analyzing them.
"And what exactly happened?" She demanded to know, and the trio explained as best as they could about it. Being a mother of nine gave Sarah enough experience to understand what they were trying to convey.
"…and then you came here." Yang finished the tale, and Sarah waved to Ryuuko to come to her, which the dragonet complied.
"It's interesting, isn't it?" Sarah mused as she put the small girl on her lap and petted her, causing the girl to smile and make a pleased sound. "For human society, neither of you have any obligation to this child, yet neither of you want to just 'pass' her to others. I wonder why's that."
"She's my responsibility. I found her egg and brought it here." Yang said firmly, but a bit of anger sipping on her voice. "Being family is more than just blood relations, and I won't abandon her so I can do whatever I please."
"Whatever you please…" Sarah gave this idea some thought before turning to Jaune, waiting for his reason.
"I feel like she's family. I don't know if this is a dragon's power or not, but all I see is a small girl that's family." Jaune answered, and Sarah nodded.
"Summer treated me like her real daughter, even if I wasn't. I don't see why I shouldn't treat Ryuuko the same." Yang added, and Sarah once again nodded.
"Very well. I'll talk with Glynda AND Raven." Sarah affirmed, causing Yang eyes to turn red, but it did not affect Sarah. "You will call your father and explain this situation to him, then we'll talk more about what to do from now on."
"But…" Yang challenged, but the glare those green eyes gave her open no space for negotiation.
"I know how you feel, Yang. But this isn't about you, is it?" Sarah affirmed, and Yang calmed down as she stared at Ryuuko. No, it wasn't about her, after all. "Good!" Sarah suddenly chirped up and clapped. "You two get your daughter and go show her Beacon. I'll make sure Glynda understand the situation. And I hope you call your dad TODAY."
"Yeah… I'll do that." Yang said, and then took Ryuuko by hand. "Come on, you still need to eat."
"Fine. I hope you can tell me more stories later, grandma!" The girl said as they left, and Sarah left a small sigh. Kids were easy to handle, but grown-up women would be difficult.
"They did WHAT?" Glynda shouted as she stood up and slammed her hands on her table. Sarah rolled her eyes while Raven grunted. The Branwen woman was now the new combat instructor for Beacon, after her clan was slain fighting Salem, so with nowhere to go, she took the job. Of course, things with her daughter were far from being solved.
"Why I'm even here? Yang wants nothing to do with me." Raven questioned.
"Calm down you two. I plan to assume my granddaughter's upbringing until Jaune and Yang are old enough to actually be parents… maybe in ten years or so. I'm just informing you both as interested parties." Sarah explained.
"Again, what that have to do with me? Yang was very clear she doesn't consider me family." Raven repeated herself, while Sarah rolled her eyes. "Well, excuse me if I think not every woman us a fucking mother hen, including the sheer numbers of offspring. You never heard of contraceptives, have you?"
"At least I'm not giving up on my family because it damps my style." Sarah retorted, and sparks flew between both of them. Glynda slapped her weapon on the table and made them both stare at her.
"Stop it, you two. We should be the mature ones in all this! For heaven's sake! A child is already a serious matter, and you tell me she is a dragon child that got attached to Mr. Arc and Ms. Xiao Long! And that she's walking around Beacon without adult supervision? Raven, you go track them down and keep an eye on them, I don't want problems. Sarah, you and I will search Ozpin's files about this issue. I don't want any surprise like doomsday prophecies."
"Maybe we'll discover Jaune have to marry Yang now." Sarah suggested.
"That would be the dumbest thing ever." Raven answered.
"Are you saying my son is not good enough to your daughter?" Sarah challenged back.
"How you even came to this conclusion? But yes!" Sparks flew between them again, and Glynda groaned as she rested her face on her hands.
"You know, delaying it won't do any good." Weiss suggested as they walked around Beacon's gardens, some students curiously staring at the dragonet. Yang stared at her scroll and sighed, grapping it tight on her hands.
"I know, but what I should say to him? I can't just go spurting anything that comes to my mind!"
"You can just say 'guess who's a grandad?!' and be done with it." Nora suggested with her usual smirk, and Yang blinked at her. "What? It's true. You can't go wrong with the truth."
"I think you shouldn't be so blunt about it." Blake suggested.
"Gee, ya think, Blakey? I say that to dad and he will come roaring and attempt to murder Jaune, who haven't touched me!" Yang affirmed.
"Well, at least he does have a way with children." Blake said as they saw Jaune pleading with Ryuuko for her to come down of a tree, while the girl just kept tossing acorns at him. "My dad would've cut the tree down by now."
"Mine most likely would've climbed with me. Oh, wait, Jaune's climbing the tree." Yang affirmed as they saw the blonde boy doing so, while Neo filmed everything and Ruby cheered on. "He got better on that regard. He did improve a lot since we first met him."
"Well, he's vomit-boy no more." Blake suggested.
"RYUUKO, DON'T EAT THE CICADAS! GAH STOP CLAWING ME, YOU'RE NOT A CAT!" Then he fell down on the ground, and Ryuuko jumped on top of him, landing her feet hard on his guts. "Why…"
"Maybe a little bit still." Yang said as she laughed aloud until her daughter rushed towards her and handed her something. "What is this?"
"Gift!" Ryuuko affirmed simply, and Yang took the object on her hand. A big acorn shaped roughly like a heart. Yang couldn't help but smile and pet the small girl, that seemingly enjoyed it.
"You didn't have to, sweetie. I'll cherish it." Ryuuko smiled and nodded happily, before running away to somewhere, while Jaune chased after her. "I'm glad Jaune have experience with children."
"Didn't you help raising Ruby?" Weiss asked as she saw Ruby joined Ryuuko in jumping on Jaune and tickling him on the ground. "Which explains so much…"
"Yes, but dad was there too, and it wasn't easy, especially after Summer's death. I'm glad Jaune is in this with me." Yang said as she laughed when Jaune grabbed Ryuuko under his arm and she struggled to get free and bit his arm, making him flail with her attached. "I think this won't be so bad."
"Well, she at least doesn't have to wear diapers. But she still will need to go to school, doctors, vaccines…" Nora started listing, and Yang's face started paling as the list kept growing and growing. "…and then she starts dating!"
Then they saw Ryuuko flying in the air, out of reach from Jaune as he tried to negotiate for her to come down. They spent a few moments before the girl suddenly flew always, and they all chased after her, only to see her landing behind the fountain in the main entrance. The group stopped when they saw the dragonet in front of Raven, and both were locked in what appeared to be a staring contest. It ended when Raven sighed and petted the girl, prompting Ryuuko to smile.
"Ryuuko, come here." Yang ordered, a little annoyed about the scene. The girl turned and moved to her mother.
"Who's she, mama? She smells like you, so she's family?" Ryuuko questioned, and Yang gave the black-haired woman an angry stare.
"No, Ryuuko. She is not family." Yang retorted, but got no response from Raven. "What you want, Prof. Branwen?"
"The headmistress asked me to keep an eye on you all." She answered, and that made Yang angrier.
"So that's what needs for you to take an interest." The brawler growled at her, surprising her friends as she had at least being civil with the teacher since classes started back again. Jaune even put a hand on her shoulder but she swayed him away. "We don't need you."
With that said Yang grabbed Ryuuko by her hand and stormed away, fuming. She power walked towards the dorm building, scaring any student who dared to stand on her way, ignoring everyone and everything until she stopped in front of her room and finally remembered to breath. She took a deep sigh and rested her forehead on her door.
"What am I doing?"
"That… is… a good… question…" She turned to see Jaune also recovering his breath, hands on his knees. "Ryuuko, are you alright?"
"My arm hurts…" She lamented, and Yang finally noticed what she had done and let go of her daughter's hand, before kneeling and checking her.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" Yang apologized profusely, but Ryuuko just stared at her feet, making the brawler's feel worse. Jaune noticed this and put a hand on each girl's shoulder. "Come on, let's talk inside."
"This could've gone better." Weiss commented after the three blondes left. Raven gave a long sigh and they turned to her.
"I knew this was a bad idea. She's taking this mother role too seriously." She affirmed, and Ruby moved in front of her, making the woman cringe a little, expecting a sermon from the young girl.
"You should talk to her. Make amends, you know?"
"I've talked to her already, she knows why I did what I did." Raven answered, but Ruby shook her head.
"She does know why. But you haven't opened your heart to her yet, she doesn't know how you really feel. All she sees is a cold woman who doesn´t want to be her mother." Raven shook her head and crossed her arm in front of her.
"Have you ever thought I might not want to?"
"Dad told us when you left it felt out of nowhere. And you gave birth to Yang, so why have her in the first place if you never wanted to be a mother?" Ruby questioned, and Raven could see Summer in front of her, making the same questions year before. "You told us you left so you could fight Salem your own way. It sounds to me you wanted to protect us, in your own way… the wrong way, but still."
Raven groaned a little. So much like Summer despite the little time her friend had to raise that child. Apparently, genetics was strong on this one, while Yang and she had so little to do with each other. Yet those silver eyes were piercing her through, making Raven just groan a little. She just hoped she didn't had the power to convince others as much as Summer had.
"Tell Yang I don't want to be a problem." Raven summarized and left, while the other observed her for a while.
"And I thought I had family problems." Weiss finally commented. "We should go check the others."
"Oh, we should bring food too! Pancakes!" Nora suggested.
"I think we are forbidden from the kitchen." Ren said, remembering the last time they allowed them to cook and the week worth of cleaning duty.
"We can always ask for deliver." Blake suggested.
"She fell sleep as soon as her head hit the bed." Jaune said in a soft voice as he sat on Neo's bed with Yang, observing the sleeping girl that made a 'blanket burrito' for herself. Yang smiled weakly and nodded. "Come on, she already forgave you."
"I shouldn't have hurt her to begin with. I should've be the one protecting her."
"It happens. Dad always said sometimes parents do mistakes, mostly trying to do the right thing." Jaune tried to comfort her, but wasn't working.
"I wasn't trying to do the right thing! I was trying… I wasn't thinking, I was just angry! Heavens! And I thought I learned my lesson about reeling my temper in." She said as she stared at her bionic hand.
"We're human, Yang. We're not machines that always do what's predictable. Damn, look at my mom simple popping here! And you don't need to worry, I'll be here to help you and point the mistakes, as I hope you'll do the same to me." Yang simply rested her head on his shoulder.
"Mom… Raven still pisses me off. If I think of why she left in cold, logic manner, it does makes sense, yet I can't accept it. I look at this little girl and can't think of simply leaving her, for whenever reason." Jaune hugged Yang gently, and she stiffed first before finally relaxing. "You probably don't get it, with how close your family is."
"Can't say I do. The best I can do for you is support you the best I can." He answered, and she giggled and then kissed his cheek, returning the hug. He blushed a little, but allowed her to do so.
"Any idea as what to do with our little bundle of joy there yet?" She asked about Ryuuko.
"Not yet. We need to talk with our parents first, I think." Yang suddenly shivered and cursed beneath her breath. "You need to call Taiyang. He's a cool guy and if you explain thoroughly, he will understand our situation."
"I know… Dad was just too overprotective… And then there will be all those sermons…" She complained with a pout, making Jaune chuckle. She chuckled together and then cupped his face, and he stared at her in surprise. Her bionic hand was cold, but the touch was soft. "Since when you stopped being the guy I teased so much to become someone I can rely?"
"You could always rely on me. You never noticed because you were teasing me so much." He said with a smirk, and she laughed and rested her forehead on his. They stayed like this for a while, just enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere they created.
"Say… How about we get to the city tomorrow, just you and me? We live Ryuuko with your mom and get to talk with each other, just us?" She suggested.
"Like in a date." He affirmed, and Yang was about to deny it, but ended up just nodding. "I'm in."
"Good…" She said and then she pecked his lips…
"WHO WANTS SOME FOOD!" Nora shouted as she kicked the door open, carrying bags of takeout food. Jaune and Yang jumped away from each other as the others entered, apparently unaware of what happened for their relief.
"Why you did that?!" Ryuuko shouted as she jumped from her blanket burrito and up the bed. "Mama and Papa were about to mate!"
…
…
…
…
Six heads slowly turned to the blondes, who turned bright red as they stared at Ryuuko, who puffed her cheeks at the 'intruders'. The awkward silence didn't last longer because Neo started taking pictures of everyone's reactions.
"How… How could you two do that in front of her?!" Weiss screeched as she stomped her foot against the floor.
"We weren't 'mating'!" Yang shout back. "And she was supposed to be sleeping!"
"So, were you, or weren't you?" Blake asked, eager for the juicy details.
"They were touching mouths! It's how humans start mating rituals, right?" The girl shouted, and then all eyes turned to Jaune and Yang again. Then they felt a deadly aura from the door and saw Glynda standing there, having heard everything, with Sarah behind her, giving thumbs up to her son. He simple facepalmed.
"I really hope you two weren't breaking the rules and having illicit activities inside the room. Beacon's rules are clear in that regard." Glynda affirmed and the blondes hand their hands in the air in sync.
"We weren't doing anything!" They shout at the same time.
"That's because you nosy people got in the way!" Ryuuko protested, and Yang decided to see something to silence the girl before she could fan the flames more, and found a bucket of fried chicken within the food Nora brought.
"Ryuuko, how about some food?" The brawler called, and the girl immediately jumped on her lap and started eating the chicken with happy abandon. Yang sighed in relief before turning to the others. "So, Ms. G! What brought you here in the first place?"
"I wanted to meet the young girl first, and say that she won't be able to remain here. Beacon is a Hunter's academy, not a place to rise such young child. She can stay until spring break and visit when relatives are allowed. I understand you both might be attached to her, but I ask for you to think this through." The headmistress affirmed, and while the dragonet was too busy eating, Jaune and Yang traded worried glances. "I know you feel compelled to be with her all the time, but you'd not have time to do so, with missions and classes. I'm not being mean here, but concerned about everyone involved."
"You should hear Glyn. I raised eight children and I know how hard it is. But we have time to come up with a solution… you called Taiyang already, right? He'd want to be involved." Yang sighed and grabbed her scroll, slowly finding her father's contact.
"What you'll say to dad?" Ruby asked as she started eating too.
"I don't want to be dead on point here, but I start rumbling he will start assuming…" Yang said as she stared at her dad's profile picture. "I'll be short but make it easy to swallow."
"That sounds like a good idea." Weiss affirmed and the brawler called. Soon they heard someone picking up the line.
"Hello, it's you, firecracker? How's things going on Beacon? Is Ruby with you?" The booming voice came, and Yang froze for a moment. "Yang? Is something wrong?" Jaune patted her back and she took a deep breath then…
"GUESS WHO'S A GRANDAD?!"
…
…
…
"IT WAS THAT ARC BOY, RIGHT? I ALWAYS KNEW HE HAD AN EYE FOR MY DAUGHTERS! I'M GOING TO END HIM! I'M TAKING THE FIRST BULLHEAD TO VALE!" Then the calling ended.
"Why you did that?! Dad is going to end Jaune!" Ruby complained.
"I panicked! I'm sorry! I'll call him again!" She said as she tried to reach her dead again. "Oh no… he's in rage mode… he won't take the call till he arrive!"
"Oh my." They all turned to see Sarah with a killer aura behind her. "I would hate to see Taiyang getting hurt."
"Yang, what have you done!" Jaune said and the brawler started to panic.
-BURP-
They all turned to Ryuuko.
"I'm still hungry… Why is everyone looking worried?" She inquired.
A.N.: Damn it Barbs!
Also, things are moving for our lovely couple… if granddad doesn't end it next chapter.
