A/N: Yikes. I took waaay too long to post this. I'm sure you're sick of my sorry bum saying that by now, but I appreciate those of you stickin' it out with me! I promise, I will NOT abandon this piece. So long as people are interested, I will write.

That being said, this chapter is pretty significant as it covers quite a bit of important bits and pieces, while still raising even more questions. Muwahaha.

Also need to note that there has been a slight edit to chapter one that I would recommend skimming through. It's nothing major in terms of a rewrite, but it does alter the plot a teensy bit. If you don't feel like doing so, I'll just go ahead and give you the 411.

For sake of plot, namely Raven's mysterious agenda, she did not name Yang. Tai did while she slept, and Raven vanished before ever bothering to learn her name. Easier to distance yourself from something emotionally if you never give it a name, right? Once you name it, it all goes to shit. Your goose is cooked.

So, yeah. Yay edit.

I do my best triple-checking for typos, but hey, I'm human.

Thanks for checking in and without further ado, enjoy!

All is well on Patch.

Is that so?

Raven folded and refolded the note in her gloved hands, debating on whether or not to toss the useless scrap in the flames before her, knowing fully well that she would not.

Back home-Scratch that. There was no home. She had no need for one.

Back in Vale...the weather was warm, no doubt, even for a night such as this, but here on the northernmost tip of Atlas, the atmosphere was frigid year round. She liked it that way. The heat was her enemy. The sun and everything associated with it utterly repulsed the rogue ex-huntress. Summer had been the beginning of her slip in sanity, the very bane of her existence.

No matter what hemisphere one rested upon, the sun remained a magnificent hue of yellow.

Yellow.

Flashes of gold burnt into her memories, memories that she had been trying so fiercely to eradicate.

Gold was the color of her old flame, a flame that she found herself drawn to, found comfort in, but like all good things, had to let die out. Dare to get too close to a brilliant fire and expect to be burned, isn't that what wise old men say? Well, burned she had been, despite her best efforts. She had gone and fallen in love with a man, pushed him away and into the arms of another, and there was no going back from that. A scar she would carry with her as a lesson learned for all her days: Don't get too close.

Gold was the shade of glorious luster that adorned her daughter's crown, passed down from the lion of a man she had made far too grave of a mistake with. Gold was the life she had given birth to and abandoned almost immediately, for both of their sakes.

Her name...had she ever been given one? How inconceivable for a mother not to know her own child's name. Of course, she hadn't exactly stuck around long enough to learn it. What her brother must think of her...

Reminiscing finished, Raven scoffed, folding the parchment back to its original shape, stuffing it down to the deepest depths of her pack, buried with the rest of the vague notes she'd acquired over the past three years. At least her correspondent had been courteous enough to carry out her request.

"As little information as deemed necessary. Names and other specifications are out of the question."

She need not know more than the health of those she left behind. It was for the better this way.

. . . . . . . . . .

"...I will burn like the sun and keep you safe and warm!"

Yang rocked excitedly against Summer, both girls lying against her headboard, the younger of the two dressed her pajamas, teeth brushed and ready for bed, but not before an impromptu sing-along; one of her favorites, a song that Summer had taught her. The older woman's chime-like voice carried out the next piece of their duet.

"Like the smell of a rose on a summer's day,

I will be there to take all your fears away,

With the touch of a hand,

I will turn your life to..."

Summer tapped her step daughter's nose, indicating her to chime in on the last word.

"Gold!"

Yang held the note as long as her small lungs would allow. At the foot of the bed sat her father, joining in with his own solo. Given his large frame, one might expect the barrel chested man's voice to be deep and booming, but to the surprise of many people he spoke to for the first time, his voice was actually much lighter, often cheery and optimistic.

"Don't worry, I've got you
Nothing will ever harm you
I'm close by, I'll stay here
Through all things I will be near..."

Tai's rich tenor faded out and all eyes shift towards the doorway where the missing piece of their ensemble stood, leaned against the frame, arms crossed and brooding. Violet irises blinked expectantly, eyelashes batting at her uncle to finish the verse. With a sigh of defeat, because honestly how could he deny those puppy eyes, Qrow reluctantly crooned out the words she was waiting for.

"Close your eyes, don't you cry

Love's around you, in time you'll fly..."

The lyrics were flat, and not simply because the scythe master couldn't carry a tune to save his life, but because he simply did not feel the cheer and love that the rest of the band was feeling. How could he after everything that had transpired over the past couple of weeks.

His half-assed solo was accepted by the little girl who gladly finished the song, ending in a storm of giggles, curling against Summer Rose, a tiny hand on her tummy.

"Mama...is it a boy or girl?"

"Well, the doctors say it's still a little too early to tell, but I'm willing to bet my trusty hood that it's a girl."

"Good. I wanna be a big sister and not a brother."

Tai shook his head at his daughter's confusion. "Either way, you'll be a big sister. A full sister, got it, Yang?" A look of contest was thrown over his shoulder at Qrow, daring him to challenge his words. The thinner man narrowed his eyes, but didn't offer a verbal rebuttal. "Qrow had too much of his...special drink when he told you what he did. It's okay, though. We all make mistakes."

"Got it." Yang nodded eagerly, throwing her own displeased glare at her uncle, burrowing deeper in her mother's hold. "Uncle Caw, liars are bad...but I still love you."

Qrow wanted to scream, hurl insults at his friends for their cowardice and using his questionable drinking habits as a scapegoat, a means for deceiving the three year old, but he wasn't going to give in to those urges. Not in front of her. Didn't mean he had to stick around for the fool's show, though.

"Yeah, well, lying runs in the family, Firecracker. Just ask your parents one day when your older, if they're not through with their little sham by then, that is." Qrow ignored the look that promised death if he continued coming from his best friend, choosing to stare a hole into Summer instead; a stare that said 'this is wrong and you know it'. The petite woman chewed on her lip guiltily, returning her attention to stroke Yang's hair.

Qrow shook his head, not understanding. He had been counting on Summer Rose to be his back-up. She had been the one to originally suggest telling Yang the truth and had seemed so adamant about it. How quickly her tune had changed after Taiyang's outburst. Sure, she may want to keep her husband happy, and sure, Yang wasn't technically her own flesh and blood, but she knows that continuing this charade would come back to haunt them. Taiyang was digging himself a hole and now Summer had picked up a shovel of her own to help him.

Qrow needed space from all the bullshit, as he saw it, and thankfully, his work had kept him pretty busy. Although, this new mission from Ozpin...he shook the thought from his mind.

"Anyway, I'll see you bright and early, Yang-arang. G'night, kiddo."

"Night night, Uncle Caw!" Yang blew her uncle a kiss before he disappeared from her room, blowing one to her dad who followed after Qrow.

The night air was warm, remnant's of summer still lingering in the atmosphere. Despite the season, Qrow felt a winter's chill run down his spine as he stepped out onto the porch, his skin prickling with goosebumps. Solemnly, he wondered if his twin was someplace cooler, finding no other explanation for his change in body temperature.

Raven...would he encounter her with this new task he'd been given? Qrow reached for his flask, a much less flashier one than the one his sister had gifted him, the one that still collected dust on his counter top. Best not to hope.

"Some sing-along that was. I thought birds were supposed to be good at singing." Great. Taiyang had followed him out of the house. "Although, Yang's pretty tone deaf, too. Must get it from you."

The embittered huntsman was not in the mood for friendly jabs. "Forgive me for not feeling the excitement in robbing my baby niece of her right to know the truth."

Tai's smile faded. "I'm not going to have this argument with you anymore, Qrow."

"Tch, yeah. Not if I wanna see my own family, isn't that right?" Another swig of his whiskey.

The larger man was trying to keep his temper at bay. "Qrow, please...I'm trying my best."

"You gave me a fucking ultimatum! Something along the lines of 'if you can't lie to her, stay the hell away from her', wasn't that it?" Qrow threw his arm forward, finger and flask both pointed in the accused's face, sloshing liquor on his front. Tai stared at the stain in contempt, placing a large hand on Qrow's wrist, lowering the offensive object form his face.

"I'm sorry, but if you can't support my decision as her fathe-"

"Don't worry about it, brother." The term he once used with sincerity for his best friend now spewed from his mouth as if it were laced with arsenic. "I'll be out of your hair and this little act by tomorrow. You won't have to stress about me ringing anymore bells and telling your daughter what she deserves to know for a long, long time..." The anger was still present, but Qrow's volume had simmered down significantly, the weight of his words' meaning finally striking a chord. He was about to be away from the only family he had left for Oum only knows how long, should he ever make it back.

The change in tone rung resoundingly through Taiyang, his visage of irritation shifting into concern. "Qrow, what are you talking about?" When the thinner man did not respond for a while, Tai stepped forward. "What kind of mission did you take?"

A sigh. "Ozpin needs my help with...something."

One week prior...

Familiar cogs and clockwork greeted the raven haired warrior upon reaching the top floor of Beacon Tower. As he started his walk towards the lone desk across the room, Qrow recounted the various occasions he'd been privy to the honor of standing in this hall of emerald and jade. More often than not, the members of STRQ had been formally escorted by an instructor after having found themselves in some juvenile predicament that required reprimanding. As time passed and Qrow and his teammates outgrew such childish antics and started to take up serious huntsman personas, their talent and efforts had been recognized by the headmaster. Specifically, Ozpin and the scythe-wielder had formed somewhat of a strong mentor and student bond.

Above all, though, the most poignant memory he had of the grand office had been the night Raven had been informed of her status as a maiden. Qrow had been the first to sense something was a miss with his twin. Not only had her physical strength and power seemed to increase to new levels, but so had her anxiety and stress. Recognizing that something out of the ordinary was occurring, he dragged her to the only man he knew with the kind of knowledge and experience to aid his sister. That had been the mother of all visitations.

Now, nearly eight years later, Qrow still felt a hint of uneasiness. Ozpin and he had retained their friendship, Qrow being a high ranking huntsman that often worked closely alongside the academy's leader. He'd even go as far to say that he was the most trusted man Oz had, at the risk of sounding arrogant. But being in this office often entailed trouble. Qrow was a magnet for trouble.

"Qrow...Thank you for taking the time to meet up with an old soul such as my self. I do hope your trip was pleasantly...uneventful." The large chair seated behind the desk swiveled around to reveal the aging headmaster who wore a cordial expression.

"Drop the formalities, Oz. It's just us friends." Qrow took the seat placed in front of the professor, turning it around to lean his forearms across the back. "Heh, you say you're an old soul? I'm starting to feel more and more like a dusty old crow with each step I take around here."

Ozpin's posture relaxed, sitting back further in his chair. "Indeed, it is. How does it feel, being back at the academy after so long? Doesn't it feel like it was just yesterday that you and your team graduated with the highest marks ever received from our institution?" The older man offered him a pensive gaze. Ozpin was well aware of Team STRQ's trials and tribulations of the past few years, having kept in close contact with most of it's members since their time at Beacon. He was also aware of how...touchy of a subject it could be. Ozpin did not wish to upset his guest in any way, but he would present the opportunity to discuss if he so needed.

Qrow rubbed the back of his neck, mind replaying the last four years of his life in a flash of memories. "Yeah...something like that. So..." He focused his eyes on the gray haired man, noticing his own reflecting in the headmaster's spectacles. Skepticism was written all over his face. "...the real reason you had me travel all this way to meet in private...it ain't just so we could go over good times, is it?"

The time for pleasantries was over it seemed, judging by Ozpin's drop in face. He usually wore such a damn good poker face. Whatever was up, it must be something near cataclysmic to work over the stoic professor. Fabulous.

"No, Qrow. I'm afraid it is not." The headmaster sighed, taking a drag from his mug. He set the porcelain cup back on the glass top of his desk, eyes lingering on the cogs that turned beneath for a brief second before settling back on his former student's taught face. "Tell me, Qrow, what is your favorite fairytale?"

Not this again.

"Oz...I heard this spiel back when Raven was...discovered." His eyes narrowed in suspicion, trying to catch the old man's angle. "I get it. There's magic and four mystical fairy ladies running around Remnant. Why, I'll never understand, but it's real. My sister's proof. You don't have to convince me, but I would advise you to cut to the chase." Qrow held a great deal of respect for Ozpin, but his patience was also wearing thin. Recent events back on Patch with his headache of a former team had made sure of that.

If the aging huntsman took any offense to his colleagues brevity, he did not show it. "Interesting...you mention that you'll never understand why it is that the maidens exist, yet you claim to remember the tale so well. So, tell me again, Qrow, who gave the four women such power?"

Good ol' Oz, always ready to knock me back down whenever I get too big for my britches.

With a grunt of mild irritation, Qrow answered. "The wizard. To return the favor of their kindness." Didn't explain why there was any need for special powers in the first place.

"Correct. Do you find it odd that none of the recounts of this story ever mention what happened to the wizard? Or why he was shut up in solitude to begin with?" Ozpin leaned forward on his desk, with his hands folded before his face, studying Qrow for a reaction. "Is it unreasonable to think that the old man could still be alive this very day?"

"So...it's a long term assignment..."

"Couple months at best. A year at worst."

"And you're just now telling me this..."

"We haven't exactly been on the friendliest of terms, big guy."

Taiyang ran a tired hand down his face, taking in this new information. "I get it, we're the best huntsman Oz has, but this is sounding like a dead end suicide mission, Qrow. I mean, just because you don't have a wife and kids doesn't mean you don't a family," he argued, referencing himself, Summer, and Yang. Despite their current differences and inability to see eye to eye, Qrow was still a brother to him, as well as Summer, not to mention Yang's favorite person, though the golden haired hunter hated to admit it.

"And it's because of you all that I'm even more determined to see this through. Whatever storm is brewing out there, it's gonna be huge, Tai. And to make matters worse..." Qrow lowered his voice. "...Raven is involved somehow. You may hate her very existence, but she's still my blood."

The mention of her name caused Tai to bristle slightly, but he shook it. There would be no talking sense into his friend. The Branwens were infamously stubborn. The most Taiyang could do was let him go and pray to Oum that his brother returned home safely, preferably before his second-born made his or her way into this world.

"You promised Yang you'd come by tomorrow."

"And I will. I'll say my goodbyes tomorrow."

. . . . . . . . . .

The news of Qrow's departure came as a shock to Summer Rose, whose husband decided to tell her last night after she finally got their excitable three year old to settle down for the night. And with so little information about the mission as a whole...to say she was worried was an understatement. One Branwen MIA was enough. Summer was barely able to keep her fragile little emotions in check as it was.

And now, standing aside and having to watch her adopted daughter say goodbye to her hero. Oh, the tears were coming alright. Stay strong, Sum. If Yang sees you have a meltdown, she's gonna panic, and then Tai will lose his marbles, and Qrow will be distracted on duty and NEVER comeback to them!

"Summer...you, uh, okay? I mean, you're smiling but your left eye is doing that creepy twitchy thing..."

Act natural.

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Psh, no worries here. I am totally fiiiine." She waved off her long-time friend's concern with a hand, wearing an air of false confidence.

Both men in the room stared at their awkward companion who grinned back, rubbing her head lightly.

"Uncle Caw...you'll be home for the baby, right? You gotta play with her and give her cookies like you do with me." Yang tugged on her uncle's pant leg with a concerned frown.

Oh sweet Oum, this was just too much for the emotional huntress.

Qrow dropped down to her level, wearing a serious expression. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Firearm. I dunno if I'll get home in time to meet the new baby. I'll be out for quite some time."

Christ on a cracker, just tear her tiny toddler heart out why don't you, Qrow! Summer tensed internally, ready to break down with her daughter after a speech like that, but as usual, the little spitfire was full of surprises. Her amethyst eyes didn't fill to the brim, her little pink lower lip didn't quiver, no noises of protest escaped her. In fact, all Yang did was nod and run off to her room.

That was it? Summer almost felt cheated. Why was she the only one in this household privy to sentimentality and raw emotion?!

Qrow prepared to stand back up, figuring that was as good of a farewell as he would receive from the temperamental child, but the pitter patter of light footsteps caused him to hault. Golden pigtails flying behind her, Yang reentered the room with her prized stuffed dragon. The adults exchanged glances, wondering where she would go with this. You never knew with a kid like Yang.

The sound of a tear filled the silence. Summer wasn't sure whether the noise came from the wing her step-daughter had just detached or from her heartstrings finally giving out.

Yang extended the flimsy golden appendage outward to her uncle who accepted it in confusion, but graciously.

"Now, you have to come home...so Mama can fix him."

Qrow crushed his small niece to him, allowing himself to be vulnerable for her.

"I'm coming back, don't you worry."

There was a sniffle. Aha! Someone else was losing it, too. Not Yang...not Qrow...that only left...

Sure enough, the other blonde Xiao Long wiped an arm across his eyes. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, Summer thought triumphantly, dabbing at her own eyes.

. . . . . . . . . .

This was good for her. It would teach her independence.

Keep telling yourself that.

Yang couldn't depend on him to always be around. The life of a huntsman didn't permit it. No tomorrow was a given.

Awfully early for her to learn that lesson, don't you think? Her mother already abandoned her. Carrying on the tradition, I see.

She has her parents. And a new brother or sister on the way. She has plenty of family who love her.

Parent's so loving they deceive her. A father so wrapped up in his new real family that he'll probably forget all about her.

Qrow shot off into the sky, allowing the sound of the wind whipping around and through his feathers to drown out the voices of his doubts. This was going to be a long mission.

A/N: Leave a quick review, if you would! It helps me immensely in the writing process!