Dinner was delicious; but this was not news to Ruby, it always was when you lived in a house with Taiyang.

Dessert was even better.

"COOKIES!?" Ruby yelled. "YAY!"

"How-?" Yang started.

"Did they survive? Let's just say it helps when you two," Summer pointed at Yang and Ruby, "are asleep when they come out of the oven."

"AHA!" Yang shouted triumphantly. "I KNEW nap time was a hoax!"

"I thought I smelled cookies," Ruby said thoughtfully. "but I was too sleepy to go see." She blinked her large, silver eyes at Summer.

Yang was still ranting about naps, "A PLOT! A SCHEME! A RUSE! A FAKE-OUT! I'M NEVER NAPPING AGAIN! NEVER-EVER!"

"My question is where you learned all of those wonderful new words," Summer said wryly.

"Daddy's night time TV show," Yang stated innocently. She realized too late that she had said the wrong thing as Summer whirled around to glare at Taiyang, who looked guilty and surprised at being caught.

"Uh-oh," he muttered through a mouthful of chocolate-chip cookies.

Ruby was too immersed in her cookie to pay much attention to Summer lecturing Tai about the quality of his entertainment, even at times when certain children should be in bed. Still, she knew that Tai would not be watching it again tonight, and she thought this disappointing. She and Yang would have to find a different before-bed entertainment tonight.

When everyone was finished with Summer's cookies (or rather, when the cookies were finished), that meant it was time for bed. Ruby and Yang put on jammies and brushed their teeth, then went to their room. Summer came in to tuck them in, and to both her and Ruby's surprise, Yang said,

"Where are you going?"

This question had obviously caught Summer unawares. Her face showed surprise, and it was a moment before she opened her mouth to ask Yang how she knew, but Yang got there first.

"I heard you telling Daddy this morning. You said you were leaving. You didn't think you'd leave without telling us, right?"

"N-no, I just-"

"Mom, please."

Summer sighed, knowing she wouldn't win this. "I'm going on a Huntress mission, dears. Tai said he would tell you himself."

Yang brightened, satisfied with this answer.

Ruby however, remained worried. "Did you not want us to know because you won't come back home after?" She whispered.

Ruby spotted the momentary uncertainness flashing across her mother's face as she said,

"Of course I will Ruby."

"Promise?" Ruby asked.

Summer unclipped the silver rose from her belt. "Here. Let this remind you that I promise." she said, giving it to Ruby, who smiled.

"Ok. Can we have a bedtime story now?" Ruby asked.

Summer smiled. "Sure. Do you want to hear about the Maidens?"

Ruby shook her head. "No. Can you do Alex?"

"Ok." Summer picked a book off the shelf and opened it. "The Girl Who Fell Through the World. Chapter One…"

"...what are you?" Summer finished, shutting the book. Both girls had fallen asleep during the story. It was time to meet Raven.

And, most likely, break her promise.

I feel like an unfortunate fly. Summer thought. I flew too close to danger, and now I am caught in a web of lies.

—-

There was no trace of Summer Rose for the next two weeks; however, no one found this unusual, because her missions often took at least a week, if not more.

What was unusual was when Uncle Qrow and Tai came into the room where Ruby and Yang were playing

and said the words that brought Ruby's whole world crashing down.

Ruby squeezed the silver rose

and in that moment made her own promise.

To become a Huntress

and never let this happen to anyone else

Ever again.