A Third Rose
Chapter 5
Released Emotions and New Beginnings
A/N: A big thank you to Iron117Prime for his ideas for this chapter, they were a big help.
I've noticed that there are a few reviewers that want me to skip to the Beacon arc but I can't do that yet. There's still quite a bit to go over to set the stage and there will be some time skips but I'm not skipping all the way to Ruby's first day at Beacon from here. If I did that then no one would understand the context behind several of the changes.
One last word of warning, be prepared for waterworks. I mean not from me obviously, i'm an unbreakable rock, but it's something to watch out for.
-Patch, Rose/Xiao Long-Household, Living Room-
Cinder had only vaguely remembered Summer talking about a brother in-law by the name of Qrow during the airship ride to Vale. Not just that but given how Ruby and Yang reacted it all but cemented that 'Uncie Qrow' was the same Qrow that Summer had mentioned. Though 'Uncie' had now become 'Drunkle Qrow' if how Yang and Ruby kept calling him that was any indication.
Of course, Cinder was wondering how in the hell this Qrow was in any way related to Taiyang. They looked nothing alike. Taiyang had tan skin, was muscular, had blue eyes, and blonde hair while his seeming brother was nearly the exact opposite. Qrow had pale skin red eyes and dark hair. How did it even make sense that those two were even remotely related to one another?
Though Cinder supposed that it didn't really matter though. The guy kept sending her dirty looks every time that one of the kids called him "Drunkle Qrow" like it was her fault that Ruby and Yang thought it sounded funny and wanted to keep calling him that. For a second or two she thought that Qrow would punish her but the look on his face was more annoyed/amused if that made any sense.
Instead of doing that though he gave the young girl a strange look that was like a cross between a smile and an annoyed glare. It was actually kind of funny, in a weird sort of way.
"So, you're Cinder, right?" Qrow asked. "That's me," Cinder said with a nod. Almost immediately afterwards Ruby and Yang started to shake the arms that they were all but attached to, "Drunkle Qrow, Cinder's so cool, she always hangs out with us and she's so much fun!" Yang stated while Ruby nodded her head at such a speed that it could almost be called inhuman. Cinder felt more than just a little bit happy at that.
Qrow twitched his eyebrow before giving the two a mock-hurt expression "Even more cool and fun than your dear uncle Qrow?" he said putting a heavy emphasis on the word 'uncle' as though trying desperately to get the two girls to stop calling him that nickname that Cinder had inadvertently given him.
At that both of the girls were stumbling for some kind of an excuse, and what worries that Cinder did have were somewhat dispelled when Summer rolled her eyes while Taiyang shook his head at the display. If they weren't taking the whole thing seriously then maybe it was okay? For a little while the girls kept trying to convince Qrow that he and Cinder were equally cool and if Cinder was honest, it was adorable to watch. Eventually though, seemingly taking pity on the girls Taiyang said "All right, that's enough girls, Qrow knows you love him, he's just teasing you."
At that both of the girls started glaring up at their uncle but given their age, it came off as adorable rather than intimidating. And judging by how desperately Qrow was trying to hide away his snickers it was clear that he also found it utterly hilarious.
"So, kiddo, did anyone tell you about how awesome I am?" he asked with a smirk on his face, to which Cinder cocked an eyebrow and shrugged "I think that Summer mentioned you once, but she just said that you were her brother in-law."
At that Qrow's jaw dropped and almost looked like he his world was collapsing around him. There was more laughter (or in Summer's case hiding her snickering behind her hands) at the expression the poor man had on his face. After seemingly taking pity on him, Summer changed the subject "So what have you been up to these last couple of months Qrow? I heard you were out on a mission for Ozpin."
"Yep, he sent me over to Mistral to check up on a few things there even got to see an old acquaintance while I was there," Qrow replied.
Ruby looked up at Qrow and asked, "What's an aw-quay-dance?" the way she was trying to sound out the words just made the silver eyed girl look even more adorable than she already was. Qrow just smiled and ruffled Ruby's hair "Just someone you know but isn't quite a friend yet." Ruby looked baffled by the explanation but seemed to accept it, as did Yang.
"I see," said Summer looking a little more interested –not that she wasn't already- "And how did your meeting with your acquaintance go?" she asked, a hint of hope in her voice while Taiyang also showed more than just a little bit of an interest in where the conversation was going. Ruby and Yang meanwhile, just seemed bored; having been hoping for some stories on some heroic deeds that their uncle had performed while out doing his job as a Huntsman.
Qrow sighed "About as well as can be expected, she doesn't want to deal with anyone else right now, to say the least."
That was enough for Summer to look more than a little bit saddened by the news.
At that Yang looked at her uncle with a curious yet saddened expression "But-but why can't you all just say 'sorry' and make up?" she asked. Taiyang looked at his daughter with a sad smile "Sometimes it's not as easy as saying 'sorry' Yang."
Ruby and Yang both looked shocked by that statement and even more than a little saddened. Cinder meanwhile looked more interested than anything. There was something else going on here, it was obvious by how vague the adults were being. However, while she was curious about it, she decided not to ask for any details on it.
The conversation continued for a while longer before the group decided to continue the conversation later as Ruby, Cinder, Yang and Qrow went on to go and spend time together. It was an interesting experience for Cinder, Qrow was someone who clearly liked to throw sarcastic quips about him but didn't seem to take things seriously. She didn't know what to even make of him, and that made her nervous.
She knew nothing about this guy and while he seemed like he was a jovial and nice –if very sarcastic- it could just as easily have been fake. She didn't want that to be true, because if a family member of Summer and Taiyang was being fake towards her, then it was more than likely that both of them were lying as well.
This time they weren't playing Hunters and Grimm, instead they were playing one of the video games that they sometimes got out when the weather was bad. It was one of those fighting games, but it had a large group of characters all at once trying to knock one another out of the arena. It was just as chaotic as it was fun.
Yang looked directly at Cinder with a "Drunkle Qrow almost always beats us at this and then he has us talk about how awesome he is all day! It's awful! You have to help us!" She said, nearly shouting, while Ruby was nodding her head enthusiastically next to her "You have to help us beat Drunkle Qrow so that he can get us more cookies!" She also saw Qrow in the background his shoulder and eye twitching erratically the second that his new nickname was mentioned.
Cinder took one of the controllers into her hands and resisted the urge to say that it didn't sound that awful, especially in comparison what happened before Summer picked her up from the Glass Unicorn. Still though it seemed terrible to those two though and she wouldn't let them down!
Grabbing a controller, she watched as Qrow got a small smirk on his face while cocking a brow at her, like this was his way of payback for that accidental nickname. "I hope you're as good as the two kiddos say."
Oh, she was going to enjoy this.
Just a few minutes later Qrow's grip on the controller went slack and the device fell out of his hands as his jaw dropped and he looked at Cinder with a look of over-the-top horror. It wasn't that big a deal really though now Ruby and Yang were now going on about how Drunkle Qrow now owed them cookies, though she noticed that Ruby seemed more excited about that than Yang was.
"Ok, ok, don't worry I'll get you those fancy cookies that you kiddos like. Not like I wasn't planning on doing that anyways," he assured. Wait…he was going to give Ruby and Yang cookies anyways, then what was the point of even doing it then?! Why was it awful when they just had to go on and on about how awesome he was, and they were still going to get their cookies anyways?!
Then it suddenly hit her. This was some weird way that their uncle devised to have fun with his nieces. Even during the whole thing, even when they were starting to lose against Qrow, the two sisters never stopped smiling. Once again, Ruby and Yang wanted to include her in something that would normally be just between the three of them because they wanted to try and have fun with her.
For what was quite possibly the millionth time since arriving at the home, Cinder felt something warm inside her. It had been happening a lot ever since she came here and she liked it.
Still though she didn't know what to make of 'Drunkle' Qrow, sure it was clear that Ruby and Yang adored him and Summer and Taiyang seemed to enjoy him being around. But still, she'd need to keep an eye on him, just in case.
For the rest of the day things continued on as normal, Cinder kept hanging out with Yang and Ruby –though they were joined by their uncle- and throughout it, Summer and Taiyang had kept a relatively close eye on the four of them. It was actually kind of funny really, Cinder was so focused on watching the seeming newcomer that she didn't seem to realize that she was being watched at all.
Eventually though it started to get late in the day, and everyone was starting to get ready for bed, or in the case of Ruby and Yang, already in bed. The young guest in the household was walking from the home's second floor bathroom to her room, where sleep was beckoning her.
Cinder had thought that for the most part the day had gone well, despite the entrance of 'Drunkle' Qrow, the guy didn't seem nearly as bad as Cinder had initially feared. True she'd have to be careful around this newcomer, but Yang and Ruby seemed to trust him so that gave him more than just a little bit of the benefit of the doubt.
The young girl had just passed by Taiyang and Summer's room when she heard what sounded like a conversation. It was in hushed tones, so Cinder had to put her ear up against the wall to make it out. It was still a little bit difficult to make out the conversation, but she was able to pick up on some things "-you found anyone to take Cinder in yet?" asked a male voice that sounded like Qrow's.
Cinder blinked, 'what do they mean take her in?' Her mind was starting to run wild with theories. None of them good.
There was a sigh "Not all that many people on Patch are looking to adopt directly and the orphanages are-" That voice sounded like Taiyang but she was still having trouble making it out but Cinder didn't really need to and her fears were only confirmed by what Summer said next "Look we'll tell her about everything tomorrow after she and the girls have their playdate with Lycus, we-"
It was then that Cinder's bright amber eyes widened. They were going to get rid of her. Why? What had she done wrong?!
Cinder went back to her room as quietly as she could, tears starting to stream down her face as she wracked her mind as to why they would want to get rid of her. She couldn't remember doing anything wrong so why? She closed the door into her soon-to-be former room and climbed underneath the covers before curling up, her tears streaming freely now as she started to quietly sob.
The question of 'why?' And 'What did I do wrong?' staying with her even as her eyelids started to fall, and sleep overcame her.
It was a beautiful day on Patch. Cinder had been playing Hunters and Grimm with Yang and Ruby for what felt like hours, seemingly nonstop. These were Cinder's favorite times during the day. The three were having fun, and Cinder noticed that the two girls had beaming smiles on their faces, a tell-tale sign of just how much enjoyment they were having.
As they continued playing for what felt like an eternity but after a while Yang and Ruby stopped what they were doing and turned to face her, Ruby looking nervous and was fidgeting while refusing to meet her eyes. Yang meanwhile had her hand on her back "Just ask her Ruby."
"But you want to ask her too! Why do I have to ask?" Yang groaned and quickly gave in "Fine we'll both ask at the same time, okay?" Ruby gave an affirmative nod.
Cinder was about to ask what was going on when Ruby and Yang spoke at a ridiculous rate. "Canyoubeournewbigsisterpleasepleaseplease?!" They begged.
The amber eyed girl only had a second to blink and utter "What?" Ruby's face turned the color of her namesake in embarrassment while Yang had become flush as well, though not to the same extent. This time it was Ruby who spoke up first "Can you please be our new big sister?"
To say that Cinder was shocked by the question was quite possibly the biggest understatement of her life. When she finally regained herself, she found herself wanting this more than anything. She wanted to have Summer and Taiyang as her parents. She wanted to have Yang and Ruby as her sisters, almost desperately.
When Cinder looked ready to give her answer both of the girls were gone. Cinder's eye started to dart around eventually she saw them standing beside Taiyang and Summer who were both right at the door 'How did they get over there so fast?' she wondered.
"Cinder, it's time for dinner!" Summer called.
The ashen haired girl smiled and started to run towards the family shouting "Coming!" but it felt as though the world was stretching out before her, making the distance between Cinder and the family stretch on seemingly forever. But despite the distance she kept running towards them. However much she ran though, it didn't matter, the world seemingly stretched out forever.
As the world seemingly expanded before her, Cinder became more and more frantic in her attempts to reach the family. This continued for what felt like an eternity until she tripped forwards. She didn't hit the grass like one might expect. Instead she fell through the black she started screaming for someone, anyone to help her.
Eventually she hit the floor of some building, knocking the wind out of her. For a second or two Cinder coughed, trying to regain her footing and she had a look around and her eyes widened in utter horror. It was the Glass unicorn, she was back in the Glass Unicorn!
"Mother, Cinder fell on the floor again!" Two voices chirped out Cinder looked up to see two faces she hoped that she would never see again. Anastasia and Drizella Tremaine. At first Cinder couldn't speak so much as a word until she saw the monster that had tormented her for over a year. Eleanor Tremaine, also known as the Madame.
The way she smirked at her showed that she was enjoying this even more than normal. "This-this can't be happening, Summer-" There was a jolt of electricity from her collar and Cinder fell to the ground her body feeling agony. The Madame just laughed in Cinder's face "They got bored with you. Did you really think that anyone would ever care about you? You are nothing, a nobody and no one will ever love you."
Tears built up around her eyes and the Madame hit the button on the remote she asked with a smug, smirk on her face "Now then, what are you without me?"
From then on Cinder kept screaming not only from the electricity but from how she had been put back in the hell that she had been pulled out of.
Cinder woke up with a gasp and she immediately took in her surroundings. As she did, she kept repeating a mantra in her mind 'This isn't the Glass Unicorn I'm safe here!' over and over again until she calmed down. That nightmare wasn't the only one she'd been having but it hadn't been that intense.
Then she remembered what she had heard last night. They were going to tell her something later today after the playdate that everyone was going to have with the Silvers family. She wasn't stupid, she could tell that they were up to something and given what she listened in on, that she probably had days at most to spend time with them. But at the same time she wondered what the point was.
Why didn't they just tell her that they didn't want her? Why were they dragging this whole thing out? What was the point of waiting for so damn long to just tell her that they didn't want her anymore?
Those two questions continued to plague Cinder's mind over and over again throughout the day. Ruby and Yang noticed that was something was wrong. They were both really young but they weren't stupid. They knew that something was going on with their friend and didn't like what was happening.
They did everything they could to cheer her up, usually by including her in more video games and other activities like Hunters and Grimm. While this would cheer Cinder up in the short term, she would soon become depressed and saddened that this was likely the last time she'd ever be able to really play with them. The last time she'd feel truly happy.
It wasn't something that she wanted to think about. Instead, she put all of her energy and her thoughts into the here and now, but it was hard, harder than anything she had to do before. The instant that she started thinking about it the fear, the sadness and pain of losing everyone she had become close to over the past month, that what Taiyang and Summer told her was a lie. If Cinder was to be honest, that alone terrified her more than the thought of going back the Glass Unicorn or anywhere like it.
And if the kids could see that something was wrong, then Summer and Taiyang definitely did. They tried to check on her and ask what if something was wrong, but they didn't really get much of a response out of her. Both seemed to want to push the matter but at the same time were reluctant to do so for some reason. Cinder didn't know why they were bothering. It was clear by the conversation from the night before that neither wanted to keep her around so why were they waiting so long? Why not just do it and get it over with?
Whatever the reason she wanted to make the absolute best out of today if she could.
That was why when they entered Vale and made their way towards the playground that the group was planning on meeting at, she tried to be cheerier than she really was.
When Cinder saw Lycus he seemed more than a little bit nervous, scared even. His head darting from one area to the next and he was clutching the hand of his adopted father tightly. Cinder found the whole display odd. What did Lycus have to be nervous about? His family clearly cared about him, sure they weren't his birth family but considering in Cinder's experience blood ties didn't mean much. After all, her birth family abandoned her to that orphanage, clearly they didn't care all that much.
The young girl shook those thoughts from her head and watched as Ruby and Yang grabbed her hands and started to drag her to the playground with Lycus walking, somewhat hesitantly behind them. Over Yang and Ruby's enthusiastic cheers and calls to having fun and playing, Cinder heard Lycus' mother say "Lycus, it's okay, nothing bad will happen."
"Not like before right?" he asked nervously and his mother smiled and nodded.
Cinder felt a pang of jealousy. She wanted that, that kind of reassurance, that love, that care. She wanted someone to care about her like that. But she held no illusions for that she'd never have that. Cinder would only ever see it, never truly experience it for herself. And that hurt. It hurt more than anything she had to endure back at the Glass Unicorn.
Once again Cinder stamped those thoughts down in an attempt to keep them out of her head, but it was getting harder and harder with each passing moment. Keeping those kinds of emotions down was like keeping a raging beast locked in a cage. It wasn't the best metaphor, but it was the only way she could really describe it. The longer she did it the more powerful the beast became and the more the cage struggled to keep it locked away. It wouldn't take much for the cage's door to break open and for the beast made up of every repressed emotion to flood out like a tidal wave.
Cinder was brought out of her thoughts by the two sisters again "Cinder, come on, we're playing tag!"
It wasn't what they normally played but Cinder figured that the two girls wanted to try playing something different than 'Hunters and Grimm' or some of the similar games they liked to play outside. The group of four played for a while and it seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves. Lycus was nervous about the whole thing but within minutes joined in on the fun and seemed to be enjoying.
It continued for quite a while, with Cinder finding herself once again having her problems forced into the back of her mind. She knew that it couldn't continue forever but at least she could at least enjoy these last few hours with Ruby and Yang. The laughter and fun the four had continued for nearly two straight hours with the sheer energy of the four being seemingly bottomless.
Unfortunately, all good things came to an end eventually.
A new group of human kids started to make their way onto the playground. The group was a relative mix of ages, with the youngest being about the same age as Yang and Lycus while the oldest of the group was probably the same age as Cinder.
The instant that Cinder spotted those kids she noticed that several of them had looks that reminded her a little too much of the Madame's daughters. Yang and Ruby –particularly the latter- didn't seem to really notice just how sinister those other kids looked, if the hopeful expressions on the pair's faces was anything to go by.
Yang looked like she was about to step forward to see if they could play with them, but Cinder grabbed her shoulder and kept her from going too far. Yang instantly looked up at her friend and asked, "What's wrong?" confusedly.
"I don't like how they're looking at us, and neither does Lycus." She then gestured towards their friend who was looking on with an expression that was a mix between frustration, sadness and a resignation. Ruby and Yang looked at Lycus and Cinder with confusion and concern.
When the leader of the kids, some boy that looked like he was roughly Cinder's age had an arrogant smirk on his face and looked directly Lycus "Hey dog-boy, it's funny meeting you here today."
"Hello Mach, and I told you to stop calling me that." Lycus said relatively quietly but at the same time anyone could see how upset he was by that comment. Ruby and Yang meanwhile looked confused by what this Mach was saying, but Cinder could easily tell where this was starting to go and didn't' like it one bit.
Mach and his friends let out some mocking laughter "Why not? Your parents are dogs so that makes you a dog."
At that Yang got involved "Lycus' parents aren't dogs, they're people!" she shouted while Lycus seemed shocked that someone was coming to his defense. Mach however just snickered, and his posse followed along with him "If they look like animals then they are animals. Hey why don't you three play with us instead of the freak?"
At that Cinder felt a fire start burning underneath her skin. She knew what this was, it was anger, and it was getting worse with every syllable that came out of the little bastard's mouth. Cinder's hands turned into fists and was about to try and lead the three away when Ruby shouted, "Why are you being such a meanie to him?!"
Mach and his friends let out a roar of mocking laughter and both Cinder and Yang looked as though they were about to make the kid start swallowing his own teeth. Ruby meanwhile looked positively heartbroken. Out of the corner of her eye Cinder could see the parents get up out of their seats at the benches near the edge of the playground and start making their way towards them.
"STOP IT!" Ruby shrieked angrily, almost getting up in Mach's face while screaming it. Apparently, the brat didn't like being shouted at, and roughly shoved Ruby onto the ground. The four-year-old started wailing less than a second later from the pain caused by the impact.
The instant that Cinder saw Ruby on the ground, hurt and crying; the last remaining shred of self-control she had left in her snapped completely.
The golden eyed girl let out what could only have been described as a feral roar as she tackled Mach to the ground and began swinging her fist directly into his face, over and over again.
For a brief moment Cinder thought she could hear the little bastard shout or plead something and could faintly make out Lycus and Yang fighting back as well. However, none of that mattered, nothing else existed beyond her need to hurt Mach for what he had just done. The little bastard who hurt Ruby needed to pay! He deserved to pay!
"You! Won't! Hurt! Ruby! Ever! Again!" She punctuated each word with a punch to the little brat's face. She wanted to hurt him, she wanted to make him suffer for what he just did to her little sister. Cinder wasn't even aware that she inwardly referred to Ruby in such a manner, but it felt like the perfect description for what Yang and Ruby had become to her over the past month. No one would ever hurt them and get away with it, not on Cinder's watch!
Cinder wasn't sure when it had started, but at some point, during the past month she found that she didn't just want to be part of the family. She needed to be part of the family. It was as though a part of her very being would be ripped away from her if she didn't. The desire to be part of the Rose/Xiao-Long household warred with her fear of it all being a deception almost every moment. But at this moment the desire for family had won out against the fear, or perhaps she simply didn't care about the fear anymore.
The young girl was yanked away from Mach, and she couldn't feel who grabbed her, but Cinder kept struggling. She could hear someone yelling at her but didn't really listen to what was said but she also noticed that Yang and Lycus were being taken away as well while Mach's parents were getting their own kid while shouting something over at the Silvers. She didn't care though, she just kept struggling albeit futilely, though she did get a good look at the one who was restraining her. It was Taiyang who had a stern yet, -strangely enough- not unkind look on his face.
Ruby meanwhile was in her mother's arms crying her eyes out, Yang was close by trying to keep an eye on her younger sister. Lycus was with his parents who were arguing with what Cinder assumed to be Mach's family.
Cinder continued to struggle for several minutes until Cinder had used up most of her energy trying to struggle fruitlessly and was instead simply breathing deeply out of near exhaustion. When that happened Taiyang asked "If I let you go right now, will you promise to behave?"
Cinder reluctantly nodded her head and she soon found herself released and back on the ground. She was sure she'd only get more punishment if she refused.
What happened next was mostly a blur, she remembered both Lycus' parents and Ruby and Yang's apologizing to each other over what happened but at the same time still wanted their kids to be friends and spend time together. Then came the ride back to Patch which was almost completely silent, save for how Ruby and Yang had effectively attached themselves to Cinder and refused to let go. It had even gotten to the point that even after falling asleep their grip was as strong as it was when they were awake.
-Patch, Xiao-Long/Rose Household, Cinder's Room-
=Song for this scene: you've got me by Gavin Degraw=
When everyone returned home for the day Summer and Taiyang asked for Cinder to wait for them in her room. She wasn't stupid, she knew exactly what was coming. The best she could hope for was that they would find somewhere with a roof over her head when they kicked her out. She wanted to see how Ruby and Yang were doing but at the same time she was too afraid to even move from her spot on the bed.
There was a lot of conversation going on downstairs between Summer and Taiyang. Unfortunately, Cinder couldn't make any of it out. Though considering everything she didn't really want to hear it. Either way, this was probably the last time she'd ever sleep in such a nice bed or eat good food…or have fun with people she desperately wanted to call family.
This continued for what felt like an eternity until finally a knock at the door nearly caused her to jump from surprise. "Cinder, it's Summer, can I come in?" she asked.
Cinder didn't know why she even bothered asking but said "S-sure," nervously. Cinder didn't want to make the mistake of refusing.
The door opened with a small creak and standing just in the frame was Summer, who –contrary to what Cinder had expected- had a concerned expression on her face. She slowly walked in, closing the door behind her. Well, that made escape nearly impossible now.
"Cinder, can I have a seat?" she asked. Cinder moved a little bit further away and gestured for her to do so.
Summer took a seat beside Cinder but let the girl have the space she needed. "Cinder I really wish that things had gone better than they did today. I know you probably feel the same way."
The girl in question nodded, not really known where this was going but she did nod in the end. "Maybe I should have stepped in earlier, and that wouldn't have happened."
Cinder wasn't getting what was going on, why was summer stalling this whole time? Why wasn't she telling her that she was going to be sent away. "Why are you taking so long?" She asked much to the Summer's confusion.
"What do you mean?" she asked as Cinder got up off of the bed and started backing away to the corner. Tears pricked at the side of her eyes as the fear and sadness reached their breaking point ever since that moment, she overheard that conversation from the previous night. "Why are you taking so long to tell me that you don't want me? That you're going to send me away?!" She demanded.
Summer looked shocked "Cinder where did you get the idea that-"
Cinder didn't let the older woman finish that sentence "No one ever wanted me for anything other than to use me and then throw me away! That's what's happening here isn't it, you've had your fun and now you're bored so I'm being thrown away again, aren't I?!"
The shock on the Summer's face gave way to a sadness that almost made Cinder want to take back those words, but she couldn't find her voice "Cinder, please talk to me. What happened? What did I do that ever gave you that impression?"
Immediately Cinder started backing away even as Summer got up off of the bed and started to walk towards her "I-I heard you and Qrow, and Taiyang talking about it last night. That you were looking into orphanages and other families!" At that Summer seemed to understand exactly what the young girl was talking about.
"Cinder, we were going to offer you a choice. That you could stay here with us or that we could find somewhere else for you."
At that Cinder backed away again. By the this point she was within just a few feet of the wall and Summer was getting closer "Y-you're lying!" Cinder desperately shouted "You just want something from me, no one ever didn't want something from me! So, what is it? A slave, a punching bag, what?!"
At that Summer gave that same reassuring smile she gave when Cinder first woke up in that hospital over a month ago. It was one that Cinder always wanted to believe was as real as it looked. "Cinder, you are right, I do want something from you."
Cinder tensed up as finally the truth came out.
"I want you to grow up surrounded by those that you love and those that love you. I want you to have the chance at a true family that you've been denied all your life. Cinder, I love you, I love like you were my own daughter. I want you to become my eldest daughter."
The young girl's eyes widened as tears began to freely stream down her face before she could choke them back and she fell to her knees with her legs having become too weak for her "Y-y-you're l-l-lying," she managed to get out, but Summer took another step forwards the girl and got on her knees as well "Cinder, I love you."
Those four words, words that deep down Cinder wanted to hear all her life but never did, released the floodgates of the emotions she had been bottling up ever since her arrival. The walls she had spent so long erecting over her heart had collapsed. By now the tears flowed freely and completely as Cinder started sobbing.
Summer moved quickly and took the young girl into her arms and started to stroke her hair "P-p-please," Cinder choked out "I-I-I want to stay with you, w-with Ruby, with Y-Yang, with T-T-T-Taiyang, with e-e-everyone. I-I-I want to be their n-new b-b-big s-sister. P-p-please l-l-let me stay."
Summer continued to stroke the girl's hair, "Of course my Little Ember, you can stay as long as you want, as long as you need."
"C-c-can I stay forever?" she asked, with a slight hiccup in her words. There wasn't even a single hesitation in Summer's answer "Of course you can, you don't even need to ask sweetie."
The kind words nearly caused Cinder to break down again as she settled into her new mother's arms and as long as long as Cinder needed her to be there, Summer never let go.
At that moment a young girl, who had gone through so much pain and hardship throughout her life, found a home and family to call her own. But this is not where our story ends; instead, it's merely where it begins.
To be continued.
A/N: I'm not crying, who's crying, you're the ones who are crying anyone who says I'm crying is a liar! It's just allergy season where I'm at that's all.
In all seriousness I hope that the resulting payoff was worth the wait and boy-oh-boy we've got some things a-coming in the next couple of chapters.