Ch 12: Black Qrow's White Dove

Winter sat in her living room with Dove as she got things figured out for Dove's upcoming second birthday. She had a planner and a few ideas scattered about her as the baby sat staring at the TV contently. Winter didn't think a lot of TV was healthy but still allowed it for short stretches of time. She glanced up and watched Dove get excited over a cartoon displaying a rather pathetic grim reaper becoming property of two children over a hamster's soul.

"Is that really what children think is fun content?" she mumbled confused.

When the episode ended, Dove got up and reached for the stick that went with her toy xylophone and began swinging it around like the reaper had in the show. Winter couldn't help but watch amused at her child's imagination, "Dove, come here for a moment?"

The child turned and grinned, scrambling over to Winter and reaching out to her. She was lifted up onto Winter's lap and the woman moved things away, looking down at her, "You know… your father owns a rather incredible scythe too."

The child's face scrunched up in confusion. It occurred to Winter suddenly that the word might be a bit foreign to her daughter. After all, she had no known grandfather and had only really ever been around Weiss and Ruby a lot to which there was no father in that home per say. She thought for a moment, wondering how to explain what a father was to a nearly two year old without an example, "A father would be… ah sort of like Aunt Ruby to your little baby cousin."

'Sorry Ruby. I'll fix that later,' she thought when it seemed Dove at least understood it to mean a parent of sorts.

As the tiny face stared up to Winter curious, the woman pulled up her scroll and found an image of Qrow. She frowned and zoomed in on just the weapon, showing it to her little girl, the image of the man being a bit unsavory itself so she didn't want her to see it, "There see? That's the weapon. Pretty isn't it?"

Dove's small hands took the scroll and she looked at it with awe, "oooo"

Winter gave a weak smile. It was going to be rather hard to make sure Dove knew things about her dad but she had promised and she planned to try herself anyway, "He is one of the best to wield one, outside your Aunt Ruby of course. It can take many shapes."

Dove was still staring at the picture as she listened before turning to Winter, holding it up, "Can see it?"

Winter swallowed hard, "No sweetie, you can't. It's dangerous."

Her daughter pouted, touching Winter's face, "See it…pwease?"

Winter shook her head, "I'm sorry Dove but I said no."

Dove flopped back on Winter's lap and got frustrated, tossing the scroll weakly and starting to cry. Winter did her best to calm her down, quickly finding the child's favorite plush animal to distract her. It was a little black stuffed bird that Ruby had gifted her when she was born before she knew Winter was still not going to tell Qrow, but Dove loved it more than any other toy she owned.

The child squeezed the bird plush close, nuzzling into it. Her mother hated that it was a crow plushie but if it made Dove happy it was fine enough even if it constantly reminded her of the man. She just kept telling herself it was silly to be so annoyed by a simple toy.

As Dove calmed down, completely forgetting about the scythe in the picture, Winter sighed and glanced around at the mess she had been buried in. Some of it was also work paperwork. She had been asked to come be the headmaster of the newly opening Beacon since it's fall but she didn't know how to make something that time intensive work with a little child to care for by herself.

Her fingers traced across the embossed letterhead. She wanted so badly to take the job and feel like she was doing something right for once with her career without blind obedience or doubts. She looked at Dove as the girl looked up at her, "What do you think Dove? Should Mommy run a school?"

Dove just giggled in response and leaned to kiss her mother's cheek, holding the plushie up to kiss Winter's cheek as well with a smile. Winter melted. This tiny little family she held was everything to her but she could give Dove even more with this opportunity. "Yes. I think you and Mr. Feathers are very right."

Dove wiggled down to go play with the plushie as Winter grabbed her scroll off the floor and made a call. When Weiss answered she was glad to see her sister looking healthier, "Weiss, I hope you and your family are well. Can I bring Dove to you for a day or two? I received a rather wonderful job opportunity and I'd like to go look into it but I don't think she can come with me."

Weiss gave a smile to her sister, "Absolutely! I assume you'll tell me about this opportunity when you pick her up?"

Winter just nodded, "I'll bring her this weekend. That's when the letter wants me to come out. Thank you Weiss, really. This could be a very big chance for me."

"Of course Winter. Why wouldn't I? I love my niece and she's very good with Sterling. Plus, I'd do anything I can to help you," Weiss was lifting Sterling from his nap as she spoke to Winter, Ruby coming into view to take him from her as she came out his room, the woman thanking her wife, "Thanks Ruby I should be done soon."

Winter lightly laughed, "I'll let you go. I'll bring her in the morning on Saturday."

Weiss acknowledged the arrangement before getting off the call.

—-

That Saturday morning, Winter dropped Dove off with Weiss. Ruby was still in bed, Sterling was still asleep and Dove was passed out as she was handed over. It was extremely early but Weiss didn't mind, preferring to rise early. She gave Winter a thermos cup of coffee to take on her way.

When her sister left, Weiss brought Dove to the couch, smiling at the sleeping child barely clinging to her plushie. She got her settled with a blanket and went to the kitchen to her own coffee, so glad to have caffeine back in her life, as she started making something simple for herself to eat.

A loud yawn came from behind Weiss as Ruby dragged herself tiredly into the kitchen, plopping down at the counter, eyes still closed, "Morning Weiss… did I see Dove on the couch?"

Weiss nodded but then ruffled Ruby's messy hair and set her plate down for Ruby before making another for herself, her voice low, "Yes. Now shush. She's apparently been having rough mornings with more of her teeth coming in so don't wake her up."

Ruby nodded, sliding the plate closer happily, pushing the toast into her mouth. When Weiss sat down next to her nursing her coffee, Ruby suddenly sat up, "Oh no. Weisssssss!"

Weiss startled a bit and coughed on her coffee, frowning, "ruby! what?!"

Ruby looked at Weiss with worried eyes, "Qrow was supposed to come over for dinner tonight and meet Sterling! What on earth are we going to do with Dove?!"

Weiss looked confused until the memory returned to her about it and she groaned, rubbing her face, "Oh no Ruby you have to cancel!"

"W-what?! No! It's his only time off before he goes on a very long undercover mission!" Ruby protested, arms flailing.

Weiss rolled her eyes, "Ugh fine I'll figure something out. Now stop yelling before you wake the girl and the baby. I swear if you wake up our son right now you'll wish you hadn't!"

The younger woman squeaked, hands flying to cover her mouth as the two went silent to listen, making sure the house was still quiet. Sterling had just gotten over a sinus issue and was finally sleeping more again. When they were sure neither the baby or the toddler were awake, they each sighed in relief and went back to breakfast. Weiss finished her coffee, "What about seeing if Yang or Blake can help somehow?"

Ruby shook her head, taking their empty plates to the sink, "Doubtful. Yang says Blake still refuses to let anyone near her baby or leave her baby and everytime Yang gets back from missions or town Blake gets real territorial and won't let her go close to the baby or the baby's room til she doesn't smell unfamiliar anymore. I think we would just add stress to the situation."

Weiss hummed in thought as Ruby washed their dishes, handing her wife the empty cup when she finished, "Well. No way around it then. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission I suppose."

Ruby raised a brow, shutting off the water and drying her hands, "Um Weiss… won't winter get really mad if she finds out we told Qrow?"

The older woman frowned and shook her head, "What? No. No, we aren't going to tell him anything of the sort. But the two of them will end up meeting. It's inevitable in this situation. I'll just tell him I'm babysitting her. It's not a lie and he doesn't need to know who's child she is. And when we finish eating I'll take her to play while you introduce our son to Qrow."

Ruby felt a bit bad that Weiss was going to have to step away from someone meeting their son, "Weiss are you sure?"

"Yes just… please do not let Qrow hold him if he seems like he's had even a drop of alcohol," Weiss responded simply, getting from her seat as she heard their son crying, "Time for him to eat."

They got through the day. Dove loved following Weiss around to "help" with the baby. Sterling was finally at the stages of watching movements and he seemed interested in Dove's excited behavior though at times it made him reflexively startle. Ruby helped Weiss and even played small peek-a-boo games with Sterling getting bubbles and slight giggles from him while Weiss sat with dove and kept the toddler's mind engaged with a few games.

When it came time to start to cook, Ruby came down from getting Sterling from a nap and handed the cranky baby to Weiss. It was about time for him to eat so Weiss got Dove settled with some toys as she excused herself with the baby to go feed him while Ruby started making dinner.

When she got everything into the oven she went back into the room with Dove, pulling out her scroll for her routine call with Nora. Dove was watching curiously from the other side of the holo screen as the women talked. In the background, Loki, Nora and Ren's daughter, was running through the home chasing Ren, squealing what Nora called her battle cries as she swung a plastic toy sword.

Ruby could only laugh with Nora as Ren tried to not end up beaten by the toddler. Dove walked over and pulled herself onto the couch next to Ruby, "Who is?"

Nora was letting out an ecstatic sound at how cute she thought Dove was as Ruby lowered the scroll, "This is my friend Nora."

Dove shook her head, pointing at Loki who had knocked her father over and was screaming in victory, smacking him with the sword on his butt and giggling, "Nooo, who that?"

Nora leaned the scroll laughing and encouraged Loki with a pumped fist, Ren pleading she not make it worse calmly as she grabbed Loki and tickled her until he could get up even though that only seemed to anger the tot. Ruby laughed, "That's Nora's daughter. Say hi!"

Dove tucked her plush crow up to hide her lower face and blushed, looking away and waving lightly as Loki took Nora's scroll and was running off howling with her sword pointed like a charge, "To battle girl!"

"No you don't! I'll take that!" Nora said as she plucked her scroll from the crazy toddler who was bouncing around in a tantrum at the loss. Dove fidgeted with Mr. Feathers and scooted closer to Ruby, hiding half her face. "Shy huh? Guess that makes sense you don't really see other kids much do you?"

Dove shook her head and gripped Ruby's cloak. There was a knock at the door and Ruby turned her head before letting Nora know she needed to go. As the call ended and Ruby watched as her uncle became visible in the kitchen, Dove was waving slightly at the screen, whispering, "Bye…"

Ruby was about to call him over when she looked down at the toddler next to her, "Uncle Qrow! I'll be right there!"

His gravelly chuckle greeted her in response and he came over before she could even get up, "Come on Ruby I've been here plenty of times no need to…. well… and who might that be?"

He had hunched over the couch and noticed Dove. She was staring at him shyly, hiding behind her plushie with a squeak and tugging at Ruby to hide. Ruby bit her lip, "Uhhhhhh Weiss is watching her but she stepped away to feed Sterling so I was watching her for a moment. Yea! She's um…huh? Uncle Qrow you know you can't bring your weapon in here! Weiss is going to kill you if she catches you!"

He quirked up a brow and laughed, "Yea I'd like to see the Ice Queen try. Anyway this kid gets it. Hey that's a cute little bird you have there kiddo. A little crow huh? That's funny. I swear she looks like someone we know doesn't she? Weird. A huntsman friend her parent or something?"

Dove had the plush snuggled tighter into her face but then noticed the folded scythe on his back and instantly remembered seeing it before, wanting to touch it. She dangled the plush in her hand as she stood on the couch grasping the back next to Qrow and leaning with her other hand for it, "Can see?"

Ruby was sweating, growing nervous, 'oooohhhh Weiss is going to killlll me. What do I do, what do I do!?' "Y-you could say that…"

He laughed and stood back up, watching the toddler get frustrated at him, "It's not a toy kid. Sorry."

Man that scowl really looked familiar to him but he couldn't place it. Oh well he didn't actually care all that much. Kids weren't really his thing unless they belonged to someone important to him. He could only find her pout and frustration at him amusing. When the timer to the oven went off he offered to get it and left the room, Weiss returning while he was doing so. Ruby whispered frantically, "Weissssss he came over here!"

Weiss instantly was giving Ruby a very angry glare, "Well what did you say?!"

Ruby squirmed, "I don't really know, help me!"

Weiss huffed, taking Dove on her free hip while holding Sterling tucked against her chest on the other side, "You absolute dolt! Ugh, make me and Dove a plate to the side and I'll figure out your mess!"

Ruby whined, feeling like it was quite unfair to call it her mess when Weiss was the one who let Dove over here with the plans already made with Qrow but she wasn't about to try to say that right now else she might get a worse reaction. She quickly got to the kitchen and set aside Weiss and Dove a plate before getting herself and Qrow set up to eat.

The man took his sweet time eating and Weiss still hadn't come to get the plates which made Ruby really nervous. Thankfully Qrow didn't try to hold a conversation while they ate. When they finished, he asked about Sterling and Ruby went to go get the baby, seeing Weiss with a hungry cranky toddler waiting in the living room.

"Weiss… what.." she began to question but Weiss just patted the couch and handed her their son once Ruby sat down, picking up Dove and trying to soothe her fussing, "I'll let him know you are here. Come on Turtledove let's get you something to eat ok?"

After a moment Qrow joined Ruby while Weiss and Dove ate at the table. He sat next to her but held his hands up in refusal when she tried to offer for him to hold the baby, "Nah that's alright kid. I'm good just looking. He's real cute though huh? Looks like Weiss except for those eyes. Guess you really are submissive to the Queen huh? Seriously I'm surprised you were able to have enough back bone to get her pregnant!"

Ruby turned bright red as he messed up her hair, "Uncle Qrow! Ruuuddde!"

He laughed, "Aw I'm just messing with you kiddo. I'm sure you have some sort of charm somewhere deep down."

She fussed at him again but then Qrow reached and brushed his hand along Sterling's fuzzy head, "You know… I still remember when you were born kiddo. You were one cute baby that's for sure."

He poked her cheek and she swatted his hand away before smiling. He stood with a groan one makes at tired bones, "Well, I best get going. Gotta be up real early to head out. Bunch of us are going for a long mission to clear up any remaining mess in the kingdoms from all the underground activity that sprung up around the mess with Salem. Gotta be sure I can convince people I want in so I need to be at my best. And hey, maybe Blake will actually let me see their baby by the time I get back huh?"

Ruby nodded, "Thanks for coming Uncle Qrow. Be careful out there."

He just waved it off and headed towards the door, glancing at Dove on his way out as he picked up his weapon by the door that was placed there when he grabbed the food earlier. She looked over at him and he held a finger to his lips, pointing at the window.

He said his farewells to Weiss and when he got outside, he glanced over at the child watching with rapt attention as she unfolded the scythe in all its glory and gave her something interesting to watch before he was gone with a wave. Dove was excitedly jumping around in her chair making Weiss struggle to get her focus back on dinner.

—-

Winter came to get Dove the next evening, the toddler fussy from being away from her for so long. Before she arrived, Weiss was trying to keep Dove happy sitting next to Ruby while their son was napping. Ruby bit her lip, "What do we tell Winter?"

Weiss rocked Dove gently, giving over something for her to chew on to soothe her gums that were still harboring her last remaining teeth, "We aren't going to tell her anything. Qrow didn't seem to even notice anything and it's not like he is going to want to chase down some other person's child. We chalk it up to our own mistake and never let it happen again."

"Never let what happen again?" Winter asked behind them as she entered causing the couple to jump in nervous surprise.

Dove wiggled free and moved as fast as her untrained legs would take her to Winter, "Mommmyyyy!"

Winter easily lifted her up into her arms and held her close, kissing her head, "I'm sorry sweetie i'm back now."

Weiss stuttered out, "We just had an issue with dinner last night and burnt the food so I never wanted to let that happen again that's all!"

Winter seemed unconvinced but didn't question it. Dove seemed ok with nothing amiss and the surroundings seemed fine so she couldn't think of anything else it could've been, "Well… alright? Thank you Weiss. Because of you two I was able to get the position as the new headmaster of Beacon."

The couple beamed and congratulated her before Dove got even more fussy and Winter decided to take her leave to get the toddler to bed.

Ruby looked at Weiss when Winter was gone, "This is going to come back to bite us later isn't it?"