"In the early hours of this morning, the Council of Vale has finally ratified the final legislative form of the Super Registration Act, marking the end of three years of turmoil within Vale's politics. Following the recent battle between the dastardly Green Reaper and the Red Crusader in Memorial Square and the destructive brawl between Dragon and known Roman Torchwick associate Neopolitan on the VN-12 Highway, public opinion shifted decisively in favour of the registration of known 'Supers' to ensure they are held to account for their actions. Several months ago, the well-known superhero called The Huntsman publicly supported the Super Registration Act, in a move that was criticised by his colleagues as stepping out of line with the so-called Hero-Villain Code of Conduct Convention, an informal agreement between Superheroes and their villainous counter-parts that were agreed upon three years ago following Atlas' Public Protection and Necessary Identification Act to ensure both parties held themselves accountable to prevent oversight from the Council's of the Four Kingdoms. Following the passing of the Super Registration Act, Vale leaves Vacuo as the only Kingdom on Remnant to not introduce a registry for super-powered beings, though unlike Mistral's infamously 'open' registration, Vale's registry will be anonymous to ensure super-powered beings are allowed their right to privacy, with only courts, police, healthcare professionals and the Council able to access the registry. The Huntsman claimed the Convention he helped create alongside his long-time nemesis, the Nefarious Nightstalker, needed to be strengthened to actually prevent civilian collateral damage, hence why revealed his support for the Super Registration Act. His former sidekick, Dragon, was among his critics, though the Red Crusader is said to have quietly supported her former mentor."

"The Kingdom and superhero community has long been split over the Super Registration Act, with many heroes fearing it the Act is too intrusive and vulnerable to hacking or other forms of leaking by their enemies, which could open up their families and loved ones to attacks from villains and members of the public who oppose their vigilantism. This divide has been exacerbated by the dramatic fall in crime over the years, with some arguing it's time for superheroes to retire and allow the VPD to do their jobs again. However, this fall in crime can be directly correlated with the rise in superheroes following the emergence of the Huntsman and other heroes in Mistral, Atlas and Vacuo, though this has also seen a rise in dangerous crimes caused by criminal supers who have been emboldened to use their powers for evil after see how ineffective Vale's police force has proven to be. Only time will tell whether these divides can been bridged by compromise, these fears assuaged and these bitter disagreements concluded. Lisa Lavender, Vale evening news."

"Congratulations." Cinder said dryly, clapping slowly as looking up at Jaune from where her head rested on his lap. "I'm doomed."

"I already told you there's nothing to worry about." Jaune rolled his eyes, flicking Cinder's nose gently. "It's anonymous and they can only prosecute crimes committed after a super was registered."

"Then why was that not on the news?" Cinder huffed, ignoring the pleasant feeling coiling in her stomach at the coy look on Jaune's face.

"They don't know about it yet." Jaune answered simply. "The Council only published the main part of the Act to distract the public and supers from the part they know isn't going to be popular with anyone other than former villains like yourself. You told Emerald this right?"

"Of course." Cinder sniffed, turning her head away from him at the thought she wouldn't inform her former apprentice of critical, need-to-know information. She was the better mentor after all. "She thinks its too good to be true."

"That's because it is." Jaune sighed, slumping back on the sofa. "I still don't know how I managed to do this."

"You know how you managed this." Cinder smirked up at him, slapping his chest as she did so. "You just want an excuse to tell me again."

"No I don't." Jaune protested weakly. "...Maybe I do. Am I getting annoying? I thought you enjoyed it?"

"Oh I do." Cinder practically purred, hand snaking up to cup his jaw. Jaune was normally such a goody two shoes and she loved that with all her heart. But Jaune being a devious schemer as well? That did plenty of good things to her. "But Khione will be coming back soon so I don't know if you should start talking. You don't want to scar our Snowflake for life now do you?"

"Khione'll be too busy enjoying Emerald's and Ruby's attention to be home soon." Jaune replied, a glint in his eyes as she stared down at her. "It all started with a discreet communiqué with the most powerful man in Atlas himself, General James Ironwood himself."

"Go on..." Cinder said, hands falling to his shoulders and using them to help pull herself up so that she was straddling his lap.

"I had critical information about a hidden family member of his that he loves dearly."

Meaning Khione, who still technically owned the tank Ironwood had given her ages and ages ago.

"Keep talking." Cinder smiled, leaning down so that her lips hovered just above his neck.

"I told him about the threat to that family member and strong-armed him into supporting an idea I had."

"Did you now?" Cinder asked, even though she knew that in truth there was less strong-arming and more 'this girl we love more than anything could get hurt if we don't do something'. Also that Khione had been present to use her dreaded puppy eyes on her godfather.

"I did indeed." Jaune said, and she could practically feel him resist the urge to burst out into laughter. He just didn't understand her delectable taste and the acquired but fine taste of Machiavellian scheming. "With Ironwood in my pocket I confronted the Vale Council and made them bend to my will and accept my demands."

By which he meant they negotiated and found a suitable settlement to please all parties. Cinder got her pardon, Khione would receive anonymity in case she ever displayed any powers, the rest of the super community would receive a right to privacy and maybe they would start paying more adherence to Convention now that there was a way for the Council to prosecute supers for civilians being hurt or caught in the crossfire.

"My, my Mr Arc." Cinder smirked, pressing light kisses against his neck. "You've certainly been busy. All that hard work...I think it deserves a reward."

"Do you now Mrs Fall?" Jaune grinned back, hands falling to her hips, and Cinder held back an instinctive wince, fearing he'd caught on to that idea. "And what reward am I worthy of for bending a Kingdom's leadership to my will?"

Damn her for a fool but she was easy to play now they knew what got her going like the engine of a car.

"Well...I was thinking..." Cinder felt herself flush, unable to hide her embarrassment. "The bunny thing?"

"What?" Jaune blinked, and Cinder buried her head against his neck with a groan. Neo had offered her a present to celebrate her anniversary with Jaune, and Cinder had sworn never to wear the corset with a fluffy bunny tail attached, nor the fishnets and fluffier bunny ears that came with it.

She also couldn't deny her curiosity at seeing what such an outfit may do to Jaune. Such things were apparently popular with men.

"Don't make me say it again." Cinder said weakly, and she felt Jaune rubbing comforting circles into her back.

"You don't need to do anything you don't want to do." He told her softly, and that only made her want to do it for him even more. He deserved everything she could give him and more just for the fact he'd let her into Khione's life at all.

"MaybeIwantto." Cinder mumbled, this time not hiding her wince at all.

"What was that?" Jaune asked, clearly unaware to what she had said. Cinder shook her head and pushed herself off of him.

"Stop talking." She ordered, stepping over to the living room curtains and pulling them shut. She headed over to the television, turning it off and plucking the headband with two fluffy ears attached that she had hidden before settling down on Jaune's lap to watch the grand reveal of his scheming. She hid them behind her as she turned around, kicking off the pink slippers Khione had gotten her for mother's day and pulling off the baggy hoodie that had once been Jaune's, revealing the corset she'd worn underneath. Her sweatpants followed, and his eyes were wider than dinner plates and his jaw practically reaching the floor when she added on the headband last.

"C-Cin-"

"I'm back!" Khione yelled as she burst through the front door. Cinder paled faster than snow melting in Vacuo, hastily dragging on her discarded sweatpants as Jaune rushed to the hall to delay their daughter seeing something she really shouldn't see.

"Heya kiddo!" Jaune yelped, voice a higher pitch than usual as he staggered into the hall. "I thought Ruby was taking you to that fast food place you like."

"She got us kicked out because she and Emerald kept arguing." Khione replied glumly. "I hope they just skip to the part where they start dating like you and mom did."

"It's...Not quiet as simple as that kiddo." Jaune said carefully, and Cinder paled further when she heard Ruby and Emerald's fervent denials of Khione's claim "Just wait there and I'll go get-nonono!"

"I just wanna watch some cartoons before dinner dad." Khione said, and Cinder stilled, one hand on her hoodie as a shadow descended in the doorway. "I'll do my homework after..."

"Don't!" Cinder yelled, swinging her hoodie around to cover her up as Khione stepped into the living room. "Out!"

"My eyes!" Khione screamed, running into the hallway and out of the house. "Why the sofa?! Why?!"

"What's going..." Emerald asked, peeking her head into the living room.

"On..." Ruby finished, popping in next to Emerald.

"Jaune!" Cinder roared, face turning redder than a tomato as embarrassment rushed through her.

"Out girls." Jaune instructed firmly, face almost as red as hers as he gently pushed the stunned twosome out of the living room and into the hallway. "Can you two check on Khione please? I have a feeling she doesn't want to see me or Cinder right now."

"Y-Yes sir!" Ruby's embarrassed voice squeaked out.

"What she said." Emerald said, remarkably stoic but with a shaken undertone that was undeniable. Cinder fell onto her hands and knees and screamed into her hoodie.

"So..." Jaune said awkwardly, stepping into the living room sheepishly. "I think Khione might be coming home sooner than I thought."

"I'm going to murder you."

"But I love you."

"I'm going to do it slowly."

"L-Let's use words now."

"I am using them now." Cinder snapped, stalking towards Jaune with a murderous gleam in her eyes. "And there will be plenty of words coming out of you soon enough"

"Let's not overreact now!"

Cinder stopped. Jaune paled.

"Overreact?" Cinder asked calmly. "My daughter, my Snowflake, just saw me in a goddamn skin-tight bunny suit and you think I'm overreacting?"

Jaune said nothing else. He just turned and ran.

"Come back her right now Jaune!"

"You'll never take me alive!"

"That's the plan you idiot!"

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"There, there." Ruby offered gently, patting Khione's back as the girl rocked back and forth, arms wrapped around her legs and head buried in her knees. "It'll be okay. I saw Uncle Qrow in tighty whities once. Nothing can be worse than that. You'll recover, everything will be okay."

"My eyes...my eyes!" Khione whimpered softly

Emerald stared at the house, wincing whenever she heard something crash or heard a not-so masculine scream followed by a very-much-so animalistic snarl.

"Are you sure about that?" She asked sarcastically, earning a scowl from Ruby.

"Don't you know how traumatising this kind of thing is? Is there any time you aren't being an insensitive jerk!" Ruby snapped, and Emerald rolled her eyes.

"Considering I don't have family, no, I don't." Emerald retorted, a victorious gleam in her eyes as Ruby wilted. She didn't say it, but they both knew what she was thinking.

"Who's the insensitive one now you good-for-nothing goody two shoes?"

Khione peered up at Emerald, staring at her with watery eyes before opening her arms.

"Hug." She demanded, and Emerald turned away awkwardly. "I'll tell...I'll tell mom how nice you've been."

Emerald caved, falling to her knees and embracing Khione with little sign of the reluctance she'd shown. There was no way she had any sort of affection for the girl, she was just a tool to gain Cinder's affection with, and it definitely didn't make her relax to feel the girl she definitely didn't consider a little sister relax in her embrace.

She did jump when Rose joined in.

"I'm sorry." Ruby admitted weakly, and Emerald decided to not risk shattering the moment and accepted it quietly. They pulled apart when the noise from inside the house died down, Khione now worried her mother had killed her father, but Emerald found herself too distract by the smell of strawberries to care about the death of her most-certainly-not-pseudo-father.

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Cinder was Cinder Fall. Her mother abandoned the Fall's after her father was put out of business by bigger businesses moving into Vale. Her father fell into a spiral of depression and alcohol that left him susceptible to the demonic wiles of Cinder's stepmother, who loathed Cinder with all her being. Her half-sisters, born from the fruitful union of blood father and not-blood mother, grew up under their mother's influence and set out to make Cinder's life even more hellish so that even when her stepmother wasn't around she received no respite.

The Fall family fell quickly from five to one. Her father finally died due to his alcoholic excesses, and her stepmother say the opportunity to rid Cinder from her life permanently now that she did not have to fear any sort of retribution from her father. It was a shame for her that in doing so, she caused so much stress and pain and grief and fear that they ended up all swirling as one singular emotion. The will to live, to have revenge. Flames had spilled forward uncontrollably, granting Cinder's half-siblings a quick death they did not deserve as they were burned away into ash. Cinder's stepmother would cry for the first time, at least the first time Cinder had seen, and then she would scream as Cinder slowly roasted her into a withered, burnt husk.

The Fall family was a family of death, tragedy and pain.

The Arc's were not.

They were warm, kind, loving, welcoming and protective. They were many, they were blonde, they were irritating at the worst of times and everything Cinder had dreamt of wanting from family at the best of times. They were the family of Jaune, of Khione, and it showed where those two got all the traits and quirks that Cinder loved about them so much.

She wanted nothing more than to be apart of that.

They had accepted her, despite their reservations and the interrogations she had suffered when Jaune had finally introduced her to them. They were fiercely protective of their own, but they were also warm, genuine people who take you in and have your back so long as you don't betray them. It had taken them to time to warm up to her, the memories of the last woman Jaune had introduced likely plaguing their thoughts and worrying them, but they had accepted her nonetheless in time.

Except for one. The matriarch herself.

Juniper Arc was a woman who was terrifying in every way of the word. She would smile and feed you home-made apple pie that tasted divine all while her eyes screamed of how desperately she sought to shoot you in the head and bury you in the orchard behind the large farmhouse where the Arc's all had once dwelled. She would ask about your day all and nod and make sympathetic noises all the while wishing luck on your worst enemies and cursing your closest allies. She was a woman of love, a mother through and through, someone with no cruel bone in her body yet having the capacity to ensure the destruction of entire bloodlines of those who opposed her or harmed her family.

Juniper Arc didn't like her. Yet it was clear she was the one Cinder had to win over before she even started thinking of broaching the topic of marriage with Jaune...which was something she had already failed at miserably, considering the fact that Cinder had already bought an engagement ring she was starting of thinking on putting on Jaune rather than the other way round.

Despite three years and then some, Jaune and Khione hadn't technically fully 'rehabilitated' her. She still took what she wanted, and what she wanted was to be a permanent fixture in Jaune and Khione's life.

But first...mother-in-law...an oh so terrifying mother-in-law...and Cinder had to woo her.

"Good evening Mrs Arc." Cinder greeted with a slightly strained smile as smoke wafted down the hallway from the kitchen, where Khione was yelling loudly and smoke alarms were shrieking. "You're right on time for dinner."

"I can tell." The matriarch of the Arc clan deadpanned, shooting her an unimpressed look. "I brought pie for desert."

"That's wonderful. Come on in and I'll just put it away whilst we eat." Cinder simpered, or at least tried. Her skin felt itchy and she fought the urge to burn the stupid apron she'd borrowed from Jaune. She had to prove that not only was she better than Jaune's former wife, which wouldn't be that hard all things considered, but she also prove that could do...well...wifey things.

Sadly, there was only one cook in Cinder's home, and he was currently away at Cinder's request so that she could as his mother if she had her permission to marry him.

"Did you leave my granddaughter unsupervised in the kitchen with a fire?" Juniper asked with a deadly tone that would've have made hardened criminals ,more hardened than herself that was, quiver in their boots.

"No." Cinder replied, trying not to crush the plastic container keeping the pie from being un-splattered. "Neo's keeping an eye out on her."

"Is this the same Neo that kept flirting with my Nicky the last time we came to visit?" Juniper demanded, and before Cinder could so much as take a breathe the sound of shattering glass cut through the shrieking alarms and warning cries from Khione.

"Neo!" Cinder roared, stomping into the kitchen to find a pile of glass with a limp towel that had been dropped by it's fleeing wielding next to the oven. "I'm going to skin you alive you little midget!"

"The casserole!" Khione wailed, waving a little tea towel at the oven desperately. "It's screaming! It's burning!"

"It isn't screaming." Cinder sighed, not even bothering to refute the second, more truthful statement. "Go say hi to you grandmother sweetie."

"Grandma's here?!" Khione blinked, switching from remorseful and grief-stricken to jubilant and exuberant like flicking on a light bulb. "Granny!"

As Khione tore into the hallway, Cinder slid the pie onto the already set dinner table and headed over to the oven after opening the kitchen window. Smoke billowed out, and she used the cloths dropped by Neo and Khione to direct the black smoke out of the house as Khione masterfully distracted her grandmother in the hallway. By the time Juniper had arrived to the kitchen, Cinder had managed to shove the leftover casserole Jaune had made the other night into the oven, heaving a sigh of relief and wondering just how she could play it off.

"Just the broccoli fortunately." Cinder smiled, earning an unimpressed look from both grandmother and granddaughter. "I hope you like carrots and cauliflower."

"They'll do." Juniper replied, voice filled with about as much enthusiasm as an underpaid store clerk being asked to check out the back stores for something a customer desired. Khione saved Cinder momentarily, dragging her grandmother to the table to ask hundreds of questions at a mile a minute, clearly angling to see if her grandmother had brought some sort of treat or gift along with her. Juniper played along teasing, extending the conversation before revealing Khione could have her present after dinner. Cinder worked silently as they talked, trying not to panic or fly into a desperate rage as everything and anything seemed about to fall apart all at once.

"So, may I ask what the special occasion is." Juniper asked with a smile that promised pain as Cinder dished up what was left of the meal she had attempted to make. "I don't believe we've done this before."

"Technically we have, just you were the one cooking instead of me." Cinder replied, plastering a polite smile on her face that made her cheeks hurt. "I thought I could return the favour."

"Is that so?" Juniper returned thoughtfully, eyes flickering to the food on her plate as if it were poison. "How thoughtful of you dear."

"Would you like something to drink?" Cinder asked politely, refusing to comment on the clear insult. She was her to schmooze, flatter and earn favour with, not burn any and all bridges she may or may not have.

'Don't poison the wine, don't poison the wine.'

"Just some water please." Juniper replied. "I'll be driving back after all."

"Of course." Cinder said, heading to the tap and filling up two glasses with cool water. She poured a smaller glass of apple juice for Khione, and she also definitely did not warm up Juniper's glass of water ever so slightly using her powers. "There you go Snowflake."

"Thanks mom." Khione grinned. She was in on the plan after all, having overhead Cinder and Emerald scheming together and swearing on her soul she wouldn't tell Jaune to spoil the surprise.

"I hope you'll enjoy." Cinder said, scooting her seat in closer to the table after giving Juniper her water and sitting down herself after removing her apron.

"I'm sure I will." Juniper replied after swallowing a forkful of food. "I love a good casserole, though in my honest opinion I don't think I'm the best at cooking them."

"Really?" Cinder blinked. She may not necessarily like the woman because of her antagonistic behaviour, but there was no denying the fact the Mama Bear Arc was a really good cook. It was obvious where Jaune got his own culinary talent from.

"Really." Juniper nodded, taking a sip from her glass of lukewarm water.

"Who does then grandma?" Khione asked curiously, munching on a carrot with poorly concealed revulsion. Part of Cinder's deal with Khione was that she'd be on her best behaviour to show her grandma just how good of a mother Cinder was in order to increase the likelihood of the success of Operation: Schmooze future mother-in-law.

As such, veggies were to be eaten without the usual protestations. Khione was still a good girl who Cinder adored, but the older she got the more rebellious she became. Complaints about veggies were frequent at the dinner table since she turned ten years old, the taller the girl getting the more pushback she gave. She came up well above Cinder's hips now and she dreaded the day Khione reached her shoulders. An even more dreadful thought was if one day Khione grew taller than herself.

She refused to look up at her own child. It was demeaning.

"Your father does." Juniper smiled kindly at Khione, who nodded eagerly.

"Dad's the best cook!" She beamed, before poking at a particularly offending broccoli on her plate. "I wish he used less veggies though."

"He just wants you to be healthy dearest." Juniper smiled, leaning back and taking another bite out of her food. "Delicious. I didn't know you cooking was on the same level as my son Cinder."

"I'm just full of pleasant surprises I suppose." Cinder smiled back through gritted teeth before chomping on her food filled fork. "How was the drive here?"

"Busy." Juniper grumbled. "It seemed like everyone from across all four kingdoms was heading here as well."

"That's odd. The roads tend to be more clearer during the week so long as it isn't rush hour." Cinder said, silently revelling at the thought of Juniper suffering in slow moving traffic.

"They're probably here for that Vytal Festival." Juniper shrugged, and Cinder cocked her head with curiosity.

"So early? It's not for another month isn't it?"

"Which is why they're hurrying to claim hotel rooms before they all run out." Juniper replied with a knowing tone. "Think of it like a sale at a shop on Black Friday, the sooner you are there and in the better of you'll be. Besides, Vytal is important to all four kingdoms, and it's only Mistral that doesn't have a national holiday nor things like a three week half term off of school to celebrate it. Since the kids will be off, parent's book time off too to look after them and if they can they'll bring them to the host country, this year Vale. It happened four years ago when we last hosted as well. Jaune was coming to visit us rather than watch it at home so Khione could spend some time with family and ended up stuck on a coach for eight hours due to traffic."

"I don't travel far out of Vale." Cinder replied. "I noticed it got busy, but not a month earlier."

"Maybe the better weather we're supposed to have this year has effected things?" Juniper offered with a shrug. "Either way, I don't much mind the traffic since I didn't have to suffer for eight hours like you did dearest."

"It was horrible." Khione shuddered, looking for all the world like a soldier suffering from shell shock. "Dad kept trying to cheer up by singing songs and stuff once his Scroll ran out of battery and I couldn't play games anymore."

"Don't tell me he brought out the guitar on a coach?" Cinder blinked, a smile curling across her face at the thought of her husb-boyfriend doing something so awkwardly in character of him.

"I don't even know how he got it. I thought it was in the suitcase in the big trunk thing." Khione replied quietly, likely relieving the traumatic memory in her mind.

"There, there." Cinder smiled, patting Khione's head gently. "Next time I'll be along to get the big softie to stop before he embarrasses you."

"Four more years until the next Vytal Festival." Juniper remarked as she finished off her plate. "And Jaune isn't coming up to Ansel this year either. You intend to stick around that long?"

"Longer." Cinder snapped, retracting her hand from Khione's head and feeling it curl into a fist shaking with anger. "Far longer than four years."

The two adults glowered at each other, whilst the child they both adored stared at the both of them with wide eyes that flickered back and forth as if she were witnessing two titans about to clash.

"Khione dearest?" Juniper asked, not tearing her eyes away from Cinder for a moment.

"Yes grandma?" Khione replied nervously.

"Are you finished eating?"

"Yes grandma." Khione said, for a moment glad the two adults were too busy hating each other to not notice the veggies still on her plate.

"Cinder and I need to talk. Privately. Would you mind waiting in the living room for us? This won't take long."

"O-Okay."

Khione silently padded towards the hallway, turning back for a moment to see the two of them practically gnashing their teeth at the other. She hurried over to her grandma and tugged at the cuff of her blouse.

"Dear?" Juniper blinked, turning to look at her granddaughter with a far softer look than the murderous one on her face moments prior.

"Mom's really good and nice and I love her because she's my mom." Khione blurted out, refusing to back down as she stared up at her grandmother with determined eyes. "M'kay?"

"Okay." Juniper replied, and Khione kissed her cheek before hurrying from the room. "You're lucky to have won her heart. I would've thought she'd be more cautious about mother figures after what happened to her blood one."

"I'm the luckiest woman in the world with those two by my side." Cinder admitted easily. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for them."

"Hmm." Juniper said, finishing her glass of water in one big gulp. "My son loves you. My granddaughter loves you. It would be cruel of me to deny you the chance to propose."

"You...?"

"Knew? Of course I did." Juniper said, eyes turning cold. "Winter did the same. I made one mistake, and I will never not regret that. I will not make that mistake twice. You've tried, that much is clear, but I still don't know if your heart is in the right place. There's one thing you'll need to do if you want me to give you my approval for your marriage with my son."

"What is it?" Cinder demanded, and Juniper smiled harshly.

"We're going to fight." She grinned, canines looking sharp and gleaming in the evening light. "Do you know somewhere quiet and secure?"

"I do." Cinder nodded, pausing for a moment. "What about Khione?"

"You have one sidekick, Jaune has two and all three have babysat for Khione at one time or another." Juniper said with a pointed look, making Cinder flush slightly. Maybe they'd been too obvious with how often they went on date nights and didn't return until the next morning. "I'm sure you can figure something out."

Rose was around within two minutes, eager to see if Juniper had brought cookies. Not long after Cinder was sat next to Juniper as they drove to Torchwick's safehouse, a glum daughter/granddaughter and even glummer vigilante babysitter left behind.

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Neo's face was the picture of shock. Roman's face was the picture of someone looking an eldritch abomination in it's eyes, though there was a definitive 'too done with this' look in his eyes as he surveyed his smouldering safehouse. Emerald's face was a look of horror as she realised her mentor/mother figure/sort of first crush had just been utterly destroyed in combat by someone other than her boyfriend, the only person who had really been able to stand toe-to-toe with Cinder before.

Juniper leered over her vanquished foe, who's hand were curled slightly with smoke weakly rising from them. For the first time in her life, Cinder had been so utterly defeated she couldn't even summon her flames.

"If you so much as lay a finger on my Jaune, I'll make sure the things I do to you are sung through the ages to ward off wretches from good boys like him." Juniper smiled, eyes flaming with death and destruction. "Do you understand?"

Cinder nodded weakly, wondering just how badly she could have messed up in not seeing the wolf in sheep's clothing that stood before her. She had always believe, especially after meeting the mountain man himself, that Jaune's strength came from his father.

She had never been more correct in her life. If he'd inherited his mother's strength, she would have perished a long time ago.

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Cinder's bruises healed swiftly, a healing process fuelled by jubilation. She lost the battle after all, but had won the war, and now had permission to deepen her relationship with Jaune to the maximum by his family.

Now all she needed to do was actually propose to him. Part of her wanted it to be the other way around, heart fluttering at the thought of Jaune on his knee in front of her with a ring in hand and love in his eyes, but she was Cinder Fall. She did not bow to tradition and she only rarely ever fell to the curse of love and romanticness that came with being with Jaune. Even if she was formally retired, part of her remained the Nefarious Nightstalker, and the Nefarious Nightstalker was not prey. She was a predator, and Jaune was the most delectable prey she'd even catch and devour.

The first attempt...she tried. Emerald babysat for Khione and Cinder took him to Les délices du four à arc, the sight of their first date. She went the whole nine yards, with flowers and the best food and the desert was supposed to have the box with the ring inside it so it could be cut into, opened and Cinder could propose. Except their orders had been mixed up, so whilst Cinder was forced to eat some chocolate-y contraption she would have otherwise enjoyed she watched as some wench tearfully accepted her stunned boyfriend's 'proposal'.

She bought the second ring using the funds she had Emerald steal from Les délices du four à arc in retaliation for their buffoonery.

The second attempt...was attempted. Jaune seemed to have a hint as to what Cinder was planning though, a knowing smile on his face and teasing look in his eyes for much of the night that panicked her. It was beyond perfect that he wanted what she did of course, but at the same she wanted, no she needed it to be a surprise. She had to have that sense of having a card up her sleeve to make sure her confidence didn't falter, not to mention she'd been dreaming of the shocked look on Jaune's face morphing into one of joy for far longer than she'd like to admit. So she played it off as just another date with the 'specialness' being just how much she loved him. He played it off well, but it was clear he was a little deflated to realise his knowingness had been wrong, and Cinder had been furiously playing with the ring in her purse as they walked home arm in arm.

The third attempt...she was supposed have it for crying out loud! Third times the charm, that's how the saying goes! Instead their romantic getaway to the Arc family cabin in Vale's forests to the north was cut short by Khione's babysitter's putting each other in hospital after a battle between one another as their alter egoes. As such, Cinder's fury as she berated Emerald for acting so foolish whilst Jaune did the same a few beds away was both half-hearted and spoken with every fibre of her being, her mind too distracted by the thought of what should have been happening instead of what was happening.

So she went for a fourth time.

This time Dragon interrupted their date in a battle with part time hero, part time vigilante, part time runaway cat thief known only as the Ninja of Justice. Said fight was cut short by two extremely annoyed retiree supers kicking both of their asses for interrupting their date night that should've been a night to remember more for the fact that was the night they were engaged rather than it being remembered as the night their date was interrupted by two dumbasses unable to realise they needed to tone down their flirting in public.

So the fifth time happened. All was going to plan, as she had decided to bring Khione along to help wingman her and Ruby and Emerald had been conscripted to help after interrupting attempt number three. She and Jaune and gone to a fair that had cropped up at the docks with Khione, with Ruby and Emerald present as a 'date' of their own when in reality they'd make sure to use their powers to help however they could in maximising the romantic potential of the evening. The stink of fish wafting over air? Ruby created a gust of wind blowing it out into the sea. The sight of bird crap littering the pier? Emerald blocked Jaune from seeing it with her own powers and Cinder would grab his hand and tug him away whenever it seemed he might touch some, playing it off as her being a little more clingy. The food was relatively good for junk food, Khione had fun and made unsubtle hints about how much she loved her parents and was glad they were a proper family and Cinder herself found herself having fun participating in the games with Jaune and Khione, emerging as the undisputed champion of bumper cars with Khione as her co-driver.

Finally Ruby and Emerald revealed themselves and took Khione off to play some sort of catch-the-duck game whilst Cinder took Jaune on the Ferris wheel, giving the ride operator two hundred Lien for it to 'break' when they reached the top for a few minutes for them to take in the sight of a brilliant sunset and for Cinder to propose. Nothing would stop her this time. Nothing could stop her now.

Except for herself.

She had been leaning against Jaune, arms wrapped around his waist whilst he reclined back and laid his own over her shoulders. The sky was a brilliant amber hue and the sun dimmed but still a bright warmth against the horizon. The win was calm and cool, and she had looked up at him to see strands of blonde hair rustling with the gentle breeze, his face cast in the orange glow of the sky and his eyes utterly gleaming like bright, brilliant gemstones as he looked back at her, love radiating from him like heat from magma. The moment was perfect, even if her words would have been a little choked from the fact that she was so desperately in love with him that her throat was clogging up a little.

And she froze. Not even that, she pushed herself away. He looked startled and hurt by the suddenness with which she had pushed herself away from him. But he'd pushed his hurt away and had asked what was wrong due to the fact her was concerned for her.

The problem was, Cinder herself didn't know what was wrong with her. She had everything she wanted on a silver platter, and at the very last moment she had faltered and crumpled. Fear? Anxiety? Worry? She just didn't know, so she said she wasn't feeling well from the food and they descended the Ferris wheel in awkward silence. Khione and Ruby and Emerald had bounded over to them with excitement on their faces only for it to fall into worry and concern. When she shook her head, the disappointment in all three of their eyes was enough to make her stare at the ground with shame.

What was wrong with her? She was letting herself down, letting Jaune down, letting Khione down, letting Emerald and Ruby down…and for what? There was no excuse this time. No reason for the delay, no explanation other than her backing down at the last minute.

She wanted this…didn't she? Wanted to be an Arc, a permanent fixture in Jaune's and Khione's lives until death inevitably came for her. She wanted to be known as his wife not just out of the icky romantic part of her that had gradually been fostered under Jaune's loving care but also from the possessive, greedy part of her that was undeniably herself, the Nefarious Nightstalker. She wanted a gold band on his finger to signify her claim over his heart and vice versa, for there to be a clear sign to the world that she was his and he was hers.

But she had froze. Why?

That single word plagued her all the way back home and followed her into their bed, with her turning her back to Jaune and huddling against herself as she stared out into the darkness of their bedroom, unable to sleep as she searched for an answer to that damnable word plaguing her so adamantly.

It was safe to say she did not sleep a second that night. She ended up falling asleep during breakfast from sheer exhaustion, and Jaune had called her in sick on her behalf after putting her to bed.

Or so she was told when she finally awoke at halfway through the afternoon by Emerald, who had been holding a silent vigil at her bedside after being informed of Cinder's condition out of both a desire to look after Cinder as well as instructions from Jaune to do so.

"Something's wrong with you ma'am." Emerald noted bluntly after giving Cinder a glass of water and the cold sandwich Jaune had left for her in the fridge. "What's bothering you?".

"You currently." Cinder grumbled, unsure whether she wanted to wake up properly or go back to sleep. "It's nothing."

"It's yesterday."

Cinder angrily munched on her sandwich. She didn't want this now. Couldn't deal with this now. How could she give any answers when they eluded her as well?

"It's nothing."

"If it was nothing then you wouldn't be looking like you're about to rip my head off right now."

Emerald was lucky Cinder found her presence tolerable enough to warrant a modicum of mercy, elsewise she'd be naught but ash right now.

'But that's not you anymore. You're nothing to fear. Nothing to tremble before. You're weak.'

"I'm fine." Cinder said, unsure as to whether she was trying to speak to Emerald or herself in that moment in time. "I just got nervous at the last second. It's a big thing, I'm allowed to panic."

"Jaune knows." Emerald responded quietly. "He's known for a long time now."

"You know something." Cinder said, eyes narrowing into slits. "Did you tell him? Did Ruby?"

"He figured it out after first time you tried." Emerald replied. "You weren't quiet when you muttering why you wanted to roast that couple as if they were roast beef that first time around."

"Then...Then why hasn't he...?"

"He thought you wanted to do it, so he let you." Emerald continued, a guilty look on her face. "He...He isn't so certain anymore. He thinks you're having doubts. He thinks you...you don't want to do it. Any of it anymore."

"I...He...What?" Cinder mumbled, arms falling as her half-eaten sandwich brushed against the bedsheets.

"He thinks you're going to break up with him." Emerald said, brushing stray crumbs off of the bedsheets. "He thinks your trying to do it nicely. He doesn't think you want to propose Cinder, he thinks your trying to dump him in a 'perfect' no had feelings kind of way."

"He thinks...He what?!" Cinder blurted. "How could he?! Why would he?! I'm not breaking up with him!"

"I know!" Emerald protested, holding up her hands. "I've tried telling him that but he's being stubborn! If I outright tell him what you're trying to do you'll kill me for ruining the surprise! It doesn't help Ruby's started to believe him as well."

"What?!" Cinder roared, vein on her forehead twitching as she easily conjured up the scenario in her mind. Of Jaune, vulnerable and confused after so many disasters, of Ruby, a little devil on his shoulder pushing him away from Cinder and towards...her. "I knew that little wretch wanted him!"

"Wait, what?" Emerald blinked.

"Ruby!" Cinder snapped, eyes blazing with the promise of pain and fury. "She's always hero worshiped him, had that stupid little teenage girl next door with a crush vibe as well! Now she's trying to steal him from me! I knew it!"

"I-I don't think-"

"I'll flay the skin from her bones!"

"M-Maybe we should calm down a little-"

"You're on her side aren't you." Cinder glared, and Emerald looked like a lamb trapped in the eyes of a hungry wolf. "You're betraying me? No...No! You want him too don't you!"

"No!" Emerald blurted out, holding her hands out in front of her. "Of course I don't!"

"Why?" Cinder snapped. "Do you think he's unattractive? Are you calling my husb-boyfriend ugly?"

"No!"

"So you do think he's attractive!"

"N-No! Y-Yes? NO!"

"I will give you five seconds to run out of respect of our former relationship as mentor and mentee."

"I don't have a crush on Jaune! And I'm not working with Ruby to steal him from you! Ruby isn't even trying to do that! She's just worried you're still evil and stuff!"

"Of course I'm still evil." Cinder scoffed. "I'm just better at hiding it these days."

"Look..." Emerald sighed, breathing heavier than usual after coming down from the adrenaline rush of nearly being slaughtered by Cinder. "I'm just letting you know Jaune is worried, and yesterday didn't help. I still want to help you, and I can convince Ruby you're not actually trying to dump him as well, but if you want my advice? Don't try again until you know you're ready and that you can do it. Okay?"

"Humph." Cinder replied, finishing her sandwich off angrily. "Fine. Just remember who is the mentor and who is the mentee my apprentice."

"Jaune's made you watch Star Wars again and that's gotten you paranoid I'm going to try and take your place again hasn't it?"

"No." Cinder lied unconvincingly.

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"Did it work?"

"She's going to murder you."

"It worked."

"You dumbass." Emerald groaned, holding her head in her hands. "She nearly killed me as well! How the hell did you know she was so paranoid?"

"She looks at me the way Yang looks at Ilia sometimes." Ruby shrugged, munching on a cookie whilst she sat next to Emerald. The school courtyard was bustling with other students, though they stayed well away from the two of them. Emerald was prickly at the best of times and had a Yang-like attitude of punch first and ask questions later. Ruby was hyperactive at the best of times and she was also regarded as a bit of a weirdo thanks to her love for heroes that bordered on obsession.

The only reason Emerald sat there was to discuss their stupid plan with Ruby. Not because she wanted to spend time with her or anything like that. She was her arch nemesis after all.

"I never would've thought you could be so...manipulative." Emerald said, and Ruby shrugged.

"Someone has to help those two." Ruby replied, grinning as she turned to Emerald. "Do you know Jaune bought a ring a year ago?"

"Shut up." Emerald blinked.

"Every time he gets anywhere near close to proposing he'd panic and give up for a while." Ruby said, a look of consternation on her face. "I...I don't think it was because he was doing what Cinder did and getting nervous at the last second either. It was like he was scared."

"He was married before wasn't he?" Emerald offered. "Khione's egg donor. That didn't turn out well did it?"

"Not from what I know." Ruby sighed. "But I don't know everything. I hate being in the dark like this!"

"Who would've thought you were such a snoop and gossip as well." Emerald teased, earning a half-hearted glare before Ruby went back to munching on her cookie. "Is your half of the mission complete?"

"I convinced Jaune to go take some downtime yeah." Ruby nodded. "I just don't know if he'll be going alone. He might still invite Cinder and Khione along with him."

"Maybe." Emerald said, before falling into a quiet silence with the girl next to her, who continued to eat her cookie patiently, wanting to savour it.

"Hey Emerald?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think I'll ever find someone who cares about me like they do to each other?"

"Yes."

"Maybe." Emerald said, flicking an imaginary thing off of her skirt. "D-Don't be getting any ideas! I'm your nemesis and I don't have a crush on you or anything like that!"

"Cool." Ruby said, grinning teasingly. "Besides, who said you were my nemesis?"

"Of course I am." Emerald scoffed, crossing her arms and glaring at Ruby. "Who else would be?"

Ruby hummed as she nonchalantly picked up her school bag, the shrill drone of the school bell signalling and end to their break.

"Hey! Don't just walk away from me? Who else would it be!?"

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"Hey Cinder?"

"Y-Yes?" Cinder replied calmly, totally not startled by her husb-boyfriend suddenly opening a conversation whilst she was busy pretending to read a book when in reality she'd been watching him read a book.

"What are you doing this weekend?" Jaune asked, and Cinder cocked her head, feeling curious as to where this was going.

"I've been called up as witness at Torchwick's trial." Cinder replied, having been caught up in the last battle between Ruby and Torchwick that had led to the fool being captured, somehow, by the VPD. She had been in her civilian alter ego at the time, and she wasn't willing to risk her cover to aid Torchwick, let alone her waitress gig that had been hard enough to get by itself. She wasn't going back the whims of the job market, not willingly at least. Consequently, she was considered a random witness that would be brought forward in the hopes of locking Torchwick away for life. "I also need to meet Neo again and make sure she doesn't kill Ruby for what happened."

"Oh." Jaune said, looking away, making her feel as if she'd just kicked a puppy. "Okay."

"Why?" Cinder asked, closing her unread book to show she had his full attention. Jaune slid his book mark in his book and tossed it to the side, resting his hands on her knees, her legs having been swung over his lap.

"I was thinking about getting away for bit." Jaune explained. "Away from the city, from work, the superhero stuff. Dad has a cabin up north, a little family thing we're all welcome to use so long as we keep it tidy. I as thinking we could go up there, maybe go fishing in the lakes or something."

"You can fish?" Cinder blinked, and a faint smile spread across Jaune's face at her honest surprise.

"Yup." He grinned. "My grandad taught me when I was young. I'm no expert, but I've caught a few big ones in my time. Would you fancy it?"

"I don't think I have the patience for it." Cinder admitted honestly. "But I wouldn't mind at least trying sometime."

"Sounds good." Jaune smiled, before scratching the back of his head. "Do...Do you mind if I go up there this Friday? I'll spend Friday night there and come back Saturday evening. It's...It's been on my mind a while now so...yeah."

"I'm not your mother." Cinder snorted. "You can do what you want so long as it is reasonable. Wanting to go fish on Saturday is reasonable, but you better make me a nice big breakfast on Sunday for being so generous."

"I'd do nothing less than the best." Jaune smiled, holding her hand and squeezing it tightly. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Nope." Cinder re-iterated. "I can have Emerald keep an eye on Khione whilst I'm testifying against Torchwick."

"I thought you'd be going easy on him?" Jaune asked curiously, and Cinder snorted.

"It doesn't matter if I do or don't, Neo will break him by the end of his first day in prison." Cinder shrugged. "Besides, the idiot needs to learn to be more careful or he will be put behind bars for life someday. Or worse."

"Neo wouldn't let that happen." Jaune said simply, before shuddering. "Though god help us all if something like that does happen and she can't."

Cinder quietly agreed. She did not fear Neo, the little multi-coloured gremlin that she was, but she would be a fool not to recognise just how dangerous she could be.

"Would you like a drink?" Jaune asked, and Cinder nodded.

"The usual." She replied, reluctantly shifting her legs so Jaune could go to the kitchen. Khione was already in bed, so they could afford to indulge a little. When he returned she took her wine eagerly and waited for him to settle down with his vodka and soda before reclaiming his free lap with her legs. Rather than go back to reading, and pretend reading in Cinder's case, Jaune turned on the television and they watched a stupid, corny rom-com that Cinder detested until well beyond what was a reasonable bedtime for a work night.

But with Jaune's warmth at her side throughout she couldn't bring herself to care that much.

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Jaune's departure went well. Cinder was able to distract Khione from her sadness with the promise of a girl's night with her and Emerald and her own sadness was distracted by having to wrangle Khione and Emerald, who was showing the little girl side to her she had always hidden around Cinder. The joy on her face was enough to prevent Cinder being too annoyed at her apprentice, and the extra work did distract her from the noticeable absence of Jaune, so Cinder let it slide.

Just this once. Otherwise she'd be getting soft.

Khione went to bed easier as well that night, as she was all tuckered out running amok around the house with Emerald. Cinder settled onto the sofa with a sigh, watching as Emerald cleaned up colouring pens, paper and glitter and glue and other such things. With Khione gone it was like a switch had been flicked in her apprentice, turning her from a giddy child-but-not-a-child into her usual stoic, albeit embarrassed, self.

"You seemed to have fun." Cinder teased from the sofa in an attempt to hide just how tired she was from having to technically babysit two children.

"I like spending time with Khione ma'am." Emerald admitted with a sheepish smile. "She's...cool."

"Naturally." Cinder preened. "I am her mother after all. Did you enjoy your school day?"

"It was alright." Emerald shrugged, before pausing for a moment. "Though Ruby was a little weird I guess."

"Ruby? How so?" Cinder blinked. The girl had not come round to help babysit Khione when Cinder had texted her, having left her on read before replying with a simple 'busy'.

"She said something about wanting to do something but being embarrassed about it." Emerald explained, keenly studying the coffee table she was busy clearing. "I don't really know what. Apparently there was a cabin involved."

"Was there now?" Cinder asked quietly, hands curling up into fists. "Did she say why she needed to go to this cabin?"

"Something about Jaune needing to do something for her I think?"

Cinder was out of the front door in moments, fire spiralling from her hands as she furiously made her way north.

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She landed harshly, hair a mess from the fierce wind and punishing speed with which she had travelled. Ruby was exciting the cabin, and she shot her a smug look.

"Hey Cinder!" Ruby waved, and Cinder noticed a piece of paper in her hand. "Jaune just signed my registration forms for me. I'm a legal superhero now! Oh, by the way I think Jaune wanted to tell you something. You might wanna have a word with him before you go. Cya!"

The girl disappeared in a burst of rose petals, and it took Cinder all of two seconds to realise she had been duped and made a fool of.

'I'm so going to punish them for this.' Cinder growled internally, before her eyes flickered to the door of the cabin. 'B-But a quick word won't hurt anyone...'

Cinder tentatively opened the cabin door, the quietness of it all unnerving her. There was a pen on the coffee table and a lantern providing light. Floorboards creaked and Jaune stilled in the hallway leading to the bedroom, shoving a hand behind his back and eyes widening with surprise.

"C-Cinder?" Jaune blurted out. "I...How...But...I'm not...I'm not complaining at all but this is certainly a surprise."

"I...I wanted to see you." Cinder said, not willing to admit she'd been worried Rose would be trying to seduce him, the thought ridiculous to her now that she thought about it. "Ruby said you wanted to speak to me about something?"

"I do." Jaune swallowed, looking away nervously. "You...You might want to sit down. Just in case."

"A-Are you breaking up with me?" Cinder gasped softly, hating the vulnerability in her voice and the icy pain she felt in her heart in that moment.

"No!" Jaune replied adamantly, washing away any worry with the sheer firmness in his tone. "Never! I...It's just something."

Cinder nodded, face flushing from acting so foolishly, and she settled down on the sofa between them, never taking her eyes from Jaune as he strode over to her, standing in front of her awkwardly before falling to one knee. Her heart thundered in her chest so loudly she was certain he could hear it and she squeezed his hand tightly when he grabbed hers with the hand not hidden behind his back.

"I...I wanted this to be perfect. Romantic. Special." Jaune admitted slowly. "I wanted this to be something you wanted, something you'd remember fondly. I wanted this to be the start of something new. I...I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner. Looking back I can think of dozens of better ways to do it than this but...I was scared. Scared I was wrong. Scared I was making a mistake, pushing you into something you didn't want. I think I know better now, especially after those dates you took me on recently."

"I...You...We..."

"I know." Jaune smiled, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. She fell silent again, not knowing if she could strangle together something coherent. "Thanks to you Khione has a mother who loves. Thanks to you, Emerald has a role model and a home. Thanks to you...I'm happier than I've ever been. It's selfish of me, greedy too, but...I want this. Forever. For as long as you'll have me."

Cinder's heart stopped at the little black box he unveiled in his other hand, breath catching in her throat as he opened it tentatively, revealing the simple but beautiful ring within. It outshined anything she had ever stolen before. Not even the Vulcan Diamond was as beautiful as it, because nothing was more important to her than what that ring meant.

"Cinder Fall, would you do me the honour of being my wife?"

She didn't even need to think of an answer.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Cinder yelled, leaping forward and pressing her lips against his. He toppled over with a yelp, but she refused to give him any respite as she peppered his face with kisses, uttering a single word the hole time. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

He kissed her back. She kissed him back harder. Eventually they paused for breath and he breathlessly slid the finger onto her hand, and Cinder felt her insecurities wash away at the sight of the physical proof he'd given of his intention for their relationship and their family to remain permanent.

"I love you." Jaune said, and Cinder found herself drowning in the positive emotions welling in her chest.

"I love you too." She replied honestly, leaning down over him and kissing him once again. She did not let her passion guide her, rather she let the softer, romantic love that Jaune had taught her, and that soft kiss between fiancé and fiancée was better than Cinder could ever dream of.

Once upon a time, she would have looked at the thought of meeting the Huntsman with scorn. She would've have hated him and everything he'd stood for. It was quite fortunate then, that they'd had that lucky meeting so many days and nights ago, otherwise Cinder would be nowhere near as content and happy as she was now.

A/N: Thus is the end of A lucky meeting? I wasn't sure how long I wanted to expand on this one-shot for, as by the time I started planning and writing additional chapters I'd already published it's sequel, Crossed Lines, so I always knew there would be a limit to what could and couldn't be in this. I'm content, at the least, with how this turned out and feel like I've done a good job honouring the initial one shot, the sequel and the multi-chapter story that it became. But it's over now. I'll add a few more chapters for Crossed Lines in the future, but it won't be as much as an expansion as I've done with this, so if you liked this setting and story then there will be a little bit more in future! If you didn't like it, why are you reading the author note at the very end of the fic lol?

In all seriousness I hope you all enjoyed :)