A/N: Since there are still rumors that Casey Williams, the singer for the RWBY openings, may voice Neo in the future, Neo is talking. Also, thanks to Crumbling Cube, she has a British accent.

"Dad, who is that? She's really pretty."

Neo giggled. "Thank you, love. I'm an old friend of your father's." Jaune got off the bike and walked towards Neo. "Hello, love. Miss me? Oh," Neo went in surprise as Jaune hugged her. "I suppose you did," she giggled.

Jaune then parted from her and cupped her cheeks. "Do you have any idea how much I want to STRANGLE you right now?"

Neo giggled. "Come now. I wasn't gone for THAT long."

"Fourteen YEARS Trivia!" (Note: According to wiki and her and Roman's book, Trivia is Neo's given birth name. She was born Trivia Vanille but changed it to Neopolitan when she joined with Roman. Jaune is one of the few people she has told this truth, as well as one of the even fewer people she lets call her by that name.) "I thought you were dead."

"Come now, Jauney." She cupped his face. "I thought you knew me better than that."

"I thought we ALL knew you better."

Jaune jumped at the voice. He and Neo looked behind him to see Ruby standing behind Argent with her arms crossed.

"Hi, mom," Argent went casually.

"Hey, cookie," she said with a smile.

"Do you know who that lady is? She seems close to dad."

"Oh, my, you never told him about me?" Argent looked at Neo, who looked hurt, but was obviously just pretending. "How mean of you, Jauney. I thought we had something special in our time together."

"Time together? Dad, what does she mean?"

Ruby sighed. "Arie, this is Neopolitan. We have a very, very, VERY complicated relationship. Your father has the worst of it out of any of us. You see, he and Neo-"

"Ah-tut-tut. I think I can explain it in a much more entertaining way," Neo said.

Ruby groaned. "Be my guest."

"Very well. Hm. . . Ah," she went as she snapped her fingers. "Perfect. Jauney, could you bend down a bit?"

Jaune sighed. "I'm going to get slapped, aren't I?"

"Possibly."

Jaune groaned. "Well, at least you're honest." Jaune bent down. "Just get it over with."

"No need to rush, my love." She then grabbed his cheek and shocked everyone... by kissing Jaune.

Ruby, arms still crossed, blinked twice before her jaw fell.

"Mm? Mm? Mm-mm-mm," Argent went.

Neo then parted from the stone stiff Jaune.

"And that's how it is, love. Had I made a different choice or if I was able to stay..." She looked towards and smiled beautifully at Argent. "I would have been your mother."

Argent and Ruby were dumbfounded.

Neo giggled at the sight. "Oh, my. Is it that much of a shock, my dear?"

"Could have... been my mom? Eh?"

"JAUNE!"

"YES?!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS SHE TALKING ABOUT!? YOU TWO WERE JUST PARTNERS FOR A YEAR AFTER WE TOOK DOWN SALEM!"

"A lot of things can happen in a year, love. One of those things ended up being me falling for our knight here." She then looked seductively into Jaune's eyes. "Of course, he fell for me as well."

"WHAT," Ruby went. "JAUNE, YOU SAID PLATINA WAS YOUR FOURTH LOVE!"

"Uh... I... kinda lied about that." He then sighed. "Neo was the fourth girl I've ever loved." Ruby tilted back (think Megumi from Konosuba) a dumbfounded expression on her face (again, Megumi).

"Seriously, dad, how many moms do I have?!"

"I-I only fell in love with five girls, kiddo! I swear! Ah, but then there was that regrettable fling with Carmine in Vaccuo."

"Carmine?! The criminal that Team CFVY and SNNN had to take down?!"

"REGRETTABLE. I'd choose Neo over that woman any day," Jaune mumbled.

"I heard that," Neo went in a sing-song tone.

Jaune jolted. "Anyway, I never dated criminals outside of those two."

"But you've had a lot of other lovers," Neo said, glancing away in a cute manner.

"I hope you don't mean the women in New Mantle."

"Come on, Jauney. You were desperately keeping your libido in check around them."

"THEY WERE GOREGOUS MOTHERS! If I was a weaker man, I would have been a stepdad before Ruby married Weiss! Then there was that time after their marriage when I took a mission in Southern Mistral and dated this really cute huntress named Sora. Then a real spitfire in Northern Vale named Volcana. There was also this awkward yet awesome period of time I spent around Ra-" Jaune then heard a gun cock. "I'm digging my own grave, aren't I?"

Everyone looked at Ruby, who had her eyes closed, giving a creepy smile, aiming Crescent Rose at Jaune. "Hm? What gave you that idea?" Jaune held his hands up in surrender.

Neo giggled at the entire thing before looking at Jaune. "Still, you've changed, love."

"Hm? Oh, you mean this. It's a long story."

"One I wish I could hear, but I'm a busy woman."

"With what," Jaune asked with a judgmental look.

"Oh, don't give me such a glare. It's your fault I'm like this."

"What?"

"Being your partner was far too much fun. You spent more missions taking down criminal empires than hunting Grimm when we were partners. Clever, using a thief to defeat thieves. Still, it gave me an itch."

"To be a thief again," Ruby asked as she aimed at Neo.

"Kind of. I'm a Master Thief, now."

"Master Thief," Jaune asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes. Like that adorable game you and I used to play when we were at home. The one with the raccoon."

Jaune's eyes widened. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"No. I find it far more fun to steal from other thieves now. Those on the side of the law are far too easy to predict. Its why Roman was able to collect all that Dust. Has it stalk piled somewhere in the world. Hint, hint." Jaune raised an eyebrow at that, and smiled, seeing his old girlfriend suggesting what's basically a side quest for him.

"But criminals. They are unpredictable. No set pattern or rules. Much harder and deadlier security. A true challenge," she said as she paced around before pointing at Jaune. "You did this to me. Gave me this new itch. This new desire. And because of that, I almost made you take responsibility."

"Huh?"

Neo stood in front of Jaune, her back towards Jaune's son and Ruby. "I wanted to marry you." Everyone's eyes widened in shock, Ruby even lowering Crescent Rose, a single tear falling from her now glassy eyes. "But it wasn't meant to be."

Jaune stared at Neo, looking sad, something both mother and son noticed. "Why not?"

Neo giggled. "An up-and-coming Huntsman who was one of the Heroes of Remnant, growing his legend even further... married to a criminal? Scandalous." She then took out her scroll and showed her Huntsman License. "It's because of my past that I can't even be promoted past International Third Class. Imagine what would happen to you if you married such a woman."

"You... were protecting my reputation?"

"And it seems I made the right choice, Vale Knight, Hero, and International 1st Class Huntsman; Jaune Arc. You've become an even greater man than when you were mine alone."

"Neo."

"Though, it seems like my first Dum-Dum, my second one got into a spot of trouble without me." She then combed her fingers down Jaune's white hair before holding his cheek. "You are now that woman's successor. I wonder, if I was with you, if I had married you and stayed by your side, could I have prevented this?"

Jaune stared into her eyes, seeing she was waiting for an answer. "No. I don't think anything could have prevented this. In a sick way, this... was destiny."

Neo smiled. "Hm. So, you believe in it as well. I just wished your destiny didn't involve a curse."

Jaune sighed. "Me, too."

"Though, admittedly, you are still quite handsome in this form. It's attractively dark. However, if I had to choose..." Neo used her Semblance to turn Jaune back into a normal human. "I think I prefer you like this. I always did love staring into those blue eyes of yours and brushing my hands through that gold you call hair."

"Trivia."

Neo smiled as she took her hand off of Jaune's face, her Semblance wearing off and making him go back to his true form of being a Grimm-Human hybrid. She then turned towards Argent. "Little lamb?"

"Hm? Little lamb?!"

Neo giggled. "Well, actually, you are more of a golden puppy."

"PUPPY?!"

"Take good care of your father, dearie. He's very important to me, and to many others," she said as she glanced at Jaune with snide and playful look. Jaune just groaned.

"Of course, I'll take care of my dad! We're Arcs, and Arcs protect their family!"

Neo giggled. "Well said, my boy. Your father is a Dum-Dum, but he's your Dum-Dum. Take care of him." Argent stared at Neo before nodding, a look in his eyes that Neo greatly approved of. "Now then..." She turned towards Jaune and gave him another surprise kiss. When they parted, they were connected by a string of saliva that vanished moments after. "Ta-ta."

With that, she vanished.

Jaune looked around, realizing that not even his advanced senses could track her. He sighed as he touched his lips. "At least she said goodbye this time."

"Ahem!"

Jaune looked up and shuttered when he saw Ruby standing in front of him, looking angry with her arms crossed, one of her fingers tapping on her arm.

"Oh, crap."

SLAP

Jaune was riding down a forest road, Argent hugging him... with Ruby behind the boy, her hands on Jaune's shoulders. Poor Argent was sandwiched between his parents on a ride to his grandparent's house.

"You know if it weren't for my healing factor and Aura, I'd have a seriously nasty looking red handprint on my face. Can you imagine how freaky it would be for a man with snow white skin to walk around with a red hand on his face?"

"Shut up. You're lucky that's all I did to you, you womanizer."

"Woma- I am NOT a womanizer! I just have terrible luck with trying to keep a relationship. Every time I fall in love with a woman, some stupid reason pops up to make it not meant to be."

"Hmm," Ruby went.

"Anyway, why do you even care about my love life? You're married to Weiss, remember."

Ruby blushed. "Again, shut up. I'm just... looking out for Arie."

"Me?"

"Come again?"

"I don't want you to bring a bad influence around Argent. He doesn't need some thief in his life."

"Hey, Neo would have been a great mother."

"Would she? Sounds like she had you tied around her finger when you two were partners."

"We weren't just partners. We were dating."

Ruby's eyes widened. "You two were dating that entire time?!"

"You really didn't know?" Ruby babbled. "Well, not that it matters. Argent wouldn't have a bad female role model. I have Nimueh, after all."

"Ah! And that's another thing! I can't have you cheating on Nimueh! How would she react to you KISSING Neo?!"

"Oh, don't worry. She's plenty pissed."

"She is?"

"Rubes, she's on my hip. As long as I have Aura, I can hear her. And trust me, she has 'plans' for me." Jaune shuttered. "There's nothing a man fears more than the wrath of the wife he loves. It's even worse when the wife loves him back."

"How is it worse if she loves you," Argent asked.

"When you and Lyra are old enough, you'll understand," Jaune answered.

Argent went even redder than his mom before him. "W-What does Lyra have to do with anything?!"

"Oh, I think you know."

Argent babbled for a bit. "MOM!"

"Don't worry, cookie," she went as she patted his head. "He's just teasing you. Mommy will punish him later."

"You're not going to cook, are you?"

"Ah! Now you've made it personal!"

"Well, in dad's defense, no offense mom, but compared to his, you're cooking kinda... sucks."

"Ow! Betrayed by my own kin. How could you. Your own mother. Sob, sob, sob."

The "family" then laughed at the little exchange as Jaune sped up.

Minutes later, and they were at the Arc Estate. Argent didn't waste any time getting off the bike and running to the door.

Before he could reach it, the door opened, Cereza appearing and catching Argent in a hug, the beautiful older woman laughing along her grandson as she spun him around. Aurum then walked out and ruffled the giggling boy's head.

Then, they got a serious look when Jaune walked up. "Hey, mom. Hey, dad," he went nervously. They didn't answer at first. 'Never thought I'd rather take on a pack of Nightmares on my own,' he thought.

Cereza put down a now worried looking Argent as she walked up to Jaune. He braced himself for the usual pattern of people slapping him. He was instead surprised when Cereza hugged him. "My boy. I'm so happy to see you again," she said with genuine happiness in her voice.

"Wait, you're not scared?"

"Why would I be scared of my own child," she asked.

"Because of... you know... all this," he motioned to himself, alluding to his new, cursed body.

"Jaune, you're our son," Aurum began. "We would never be scared of what you look like." He then hugged him as well. "Whether you look like a man, a Faunus, or even like that witch; you will always be our son. One of our most valued treasures. Don't ever forget that."

Jaune began to relax, enjoying the feel of his parents hugging him.

"However, we are INCREDIBLY angry with you," Cereza said as she yanked on Jaune's ear.

"OW!"

"YOU HAD US WORRIED SICK! SEEING EVERYTHING YOU WENT THROUGH IS ONE THING, BUT KNOWING LITTLE ARGENT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT?!"

Aurum hit Jaune over the head. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU MAY BE A 1ST CLASS HUNTSMAN, BUT ARGENT IS ONLY TEN! HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE FIGHTING INSANE CULTISTS, BIKER GANGS, OR GRIMM! AND HE SURE AS HELL SHOULDN'T BE RIDING ON THE BACK OF A DAMNED NEVERMORE!"

"I couldn't stop him even if I wanted t-OOW!"

"NO EXCUSES! YOU'RE HIS FATHER! IT'S YOUR JOB TO STOP HIM FROM DOING DANGEROUS ACTS LIKE THAT! ARE YOU EVEN TRYING TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR HIM?!"

"I'm trying my best here! But it's not like I'm a single dad. I have Nimueh to help out."

Aurum then pulled Jaune's cheek. "And where is your wife?" Ruby's eyebrow twitched when Jaune's actual father asked that.

"She's been watching us since mom yanked on my ear," Jaune lisped out due to his father stretching out his cheek.

The parents looked to see the beauty next to Argent, leaning against the house, arms crossed, a smile on her face. "Oh, please, do continue. Hubby needs a lesson."

"And there's one of the reasons I've always liked that girl," Cereza said.

"Nothing like getting the wife's approval. You heard the lady, boy," Aurum said.

"Traitor! I shouldn't have given you the Aura needed for you to materialize!"

Nimueh stuck her tongue out at Jaune. "Just remember, babe, once they're done with you, you're mine."

"And I'm sure she has quite the punishment for you. The only one who knows how to punish a man more than his parents is his wife," Aurum said. "But before that, get ready for one hell of a lecture, Jaune Arc."

Jaune groaned. "Sometimes I hate my life."

Yang was laughing her butt off as she watched the video Ruby recorded on her scroll. Even Blake was giggling a bit. Nora was on the ground, laying like a corpse in a casket with a giant smile on her face. She "died from laughter". Verde looked embarrassed because of her mothers, scooting closer to Jaune. She glanced at the man, his hand on his face as he was groaning, and looked away with a blush... before scooting just a tiny bit closer.

Lyra was sitting next to her father while drinking the tea Cereza kindly gave her before grabbing a cookie and dangling it over her mother. She released the treat just in time to prevent her mother from biting her fingers. Nora happily chewed on the treat before looking at her daughter and giving her a thumbs up, which Lyra returned.

"It is quite amusing, isn't it," Weiss went with her nose in the air, making Silber sigh.

"I hate you all," Jaune said.

"Even me," Lyra asked with a look of concern.

"No, sweetheart. Not you. And before you make a gag of it, not you or Silber either, Verde."

"Just wanting to clarify."

"But you, Ren? I know you have a lecture."

"I do."

"Don't make me hurt you."

"Alright, I'll keep it to myself... for now."

Jaune sighed dramatically as he slumped down, looking at the floor. "A lecture from my brother. Just what I needed."

"Dad?" Jaune looked to see Argent squeezed between his two "moms", Nimueh and Ruby pretty much in the same position, their chins on their hands as they looked away from each other, not acknowledging the existence of the other, their hands on Argent's shoulder. "Little help?"

Jaune stared at his son before sighing. "Screw it. I've gotten in a lot of trouble already today." Jaune then stretched his hand, grabbed Argent's, and yanked the boy over to him, the boy going "whoa", as he landed between his dad and Verde, the older Lion Faunus pouting a bit.

"That... was really fun. Can we-"

"No."

"Aw." He then looked at his dad's arm and poked it. "Being the new Salem has perks, at least."

"Uh-huh. Hoo-wha," Jaune went after Nimueh sat on his lap. "Uuuh."

"One word, and it gets worse for you tonight." Jaune just remained silent. "Good boy." She then glanced at Ruby, who was still staring in the direction she was before, but Nimueh saw her scratching into the couch, thumping her foot. She was definitely agitated. 'I win,' Nimueh thought.

Jaune sighed. "Alright, now that everyone is done laughing at my torture-"

"Actually, I could go for a few more min-" Yang began.

"DONE," Jaune emphasized. "Care to explain why EVERYONE is at my parents' house?"

Everyone looked among themselves before they all looked at Argent.

Jaune sighed. "Shoulda guessed."

"What did I do?!"

"Arie, you were attacked by a cult," Blake said.

"They were after dad! What was I supposed to do, sit back and do nothing? I'm training to be a Huntsman."

"You're ten," Weiss went. "None of us fought even our first Grimm at that age, let alone criminals run by that lunatic, Tyrian."

"And that brings in another problem," Qrow said as he walked in, carrying a plate of sandwiches Cereza made. "Like how that psycopath is still alive and how we're supposed to deal with him."

"We," Jaune went.

"Don't give me that, hero. He may be after you, but he's going to be a problem for all of us."

"Then it's a good thing he already has a bounty on his head," Jaune said as he held up his scroll.

"Nine million Lien. That'll make Bumblebee shine," Yang said.

"Anyway, he's my problem now, given who I am. I'll deal with him when I see him," Jaune said as he put his scroll away.

"He's not just your problem," Blake said. "He'll probably come after Argent just as feverishly."

"What? Why me?"

"Because you're Jaune's son," Verde explained. "If Grimm Pool Water made your father into that, what could it do to you?"

"Oh. Ooooooh. That makes sense. Still, I'm not worried. I'm an Arc! I've got Crocea Mors and my Semblance. My dad showed me how to fight and I have no problem using what I learned."

"And there's the reason I'm here," Yang said as she stood up.

"Huh?"

"You need more training, kid."

"Huh?! I get plenty of training from dad!"

"In swordplay and basic fighting, but you need to learn REAL martial arts. You're fighting is amateur at best. You're great with a sword, but not so much without it."

"Oh, come on, Auntie! I beat that angry lady without Crocea, didn't I? I threw her like a baseball!"

"You took too long to throw her, used a lot of unnecessary movement, and didn't throw her with your full potential of strength. Your technique was also just plain bad," she explained while holding up her fingers. "Sorry, kid, but you're as bad as a fighter as your mom is when it comes to martial arts."

"HEY!"

"Sorry, Rubes. The truth hurts. Come on, Arie. You really want to be like your mom? She couldn't throw a decent punch until she was sixteen, and that's only because Ozpin trained her while he was still merging with Oscar."

Argent thought about it for a bit. "Do I really need to?"

"Kid, did you see your dad?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. You were fighting Tyrian without a weapon."

"You were?!"

"Arie, you had Crocea and Nimueh was fighting two of those cultists. I had to rely on these," Jaune said as he grew out his claws before retracting them. "So, yeah. I fought without a real weapon. Felt... natural, actually."

"So, there you have it. What do ya say? Wanna learn how to punch stuff with your favorite aunt?"

Argent was about to say something.

"What do you mean? I'm not gonna teach him how to punch," Nora said.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh when Nora said that, except for Yang, whose eyebrow was twitching.

"When you least expect it, Nora Ren," she mumbled.

"...aaaaaaAAAAAAAHHH-" BOOM When the dust cleared, Argent was on his back, his eyes replaced by swirls. "Please tell me someone... got the number of that... airship."

"Sorry, kiddo. Your insurance isn't good enough," Yang said as she walked up.

"Bleagh."

"Come on. You've got a bit more to go through."

"Oh, great." Argent jumped back onto his feet and took the stance Yang taught him.

"Good. It's only been a week and you can take the stance perfectly. We'll make a Xiao Long out of you in no time."

"HE'S AN ARC!"

"NOT TODAY, HE'S NOT, JAUNEY-BOY," she called back. "Alright, where were we?"

Jaune watched as Yang trained Argent. Even he had to admit that his son was a natural. He was seriously sloppy at first, not landing so much as a single graze on Yang but receiving all of her smacks, slaps, and trips. He looked like a nerd trying to throw his first punch compared to Yang when they began. Now he looks like a competent martial artist, throwing fast punches, performing long reaching kicks, dodging Yang's punches, and jumping over her kicks. He was using her teachings to his advantage, using his small frame to avoid Yang's bigger attacks.

And to think that he was doing all this without using his Semblance. At first, Argent showed that he did have some Xiao Long blood in him when he got angry at his first three losses to Yang, activating his Semblance to increase his speed and strength to try and fight Yang. Though Yang didn't receive so much as a scratch from the flying debris at that moment, Jaune himself had to stop and calm down his angered son, a moment that embarrassed the boy.

As Jaune watched the two train, he noticed that Ruby was next to him, recording the sight on her scroll. "Video for Tai?"

"Yup. Ever since the first one, he pretty much flooded me with texts to record each and every training session of 'the daughter and grandson duo'. You wouldn't believe how proud he was to see his grandson train in martial arts."

"Mm." Jaune watched as his son was doing well against Yang, the blonde beauty smiling in pride and enjoyment. She was obviously having a blast training with her nephew.

"It's disturbing how much they look alike," Ruby said. "It looks kinda like a mom training with her son."

"Ruby, I will hurt you."

"Since I'm now hearing what I just said, I wouldn't stop you." Ruby sighed. "You taught Argent how to fight with a sword, Yang taught him how to fight unarmed, and Nimueh just plain raised him. Poor excuse for a mom, huh?"

"Well, you're not a typical mom. Then again, we're not a typical family, now, are we?"

"No. No, we are not," Ruby sighed. "Still, at times like this, I wonder... what would our lives have been like if I..."

"If you what?"

"If... If I-"

"Jaune?" The two turned to see Nimueh at the door. "Dinner is cooking, so we have enough time to talk to your parents."

"Alright," Jaune said as he got off the railway.

"Something wrong," Ruby asked.

"Mm, not exactly. It's something I need to deal with."

"What?"

"Don't worry. It's nothing major. Just keep recording Arie training with his second favorite aunt."

"I HEARD THAT, HERO!" Jaune then held up his hand and caught Yang's shotgun blast. He whistled when he looked at his palm. "And that was without Aura. Damn, this body's tough. No wonder we had such a hard time beating Salem," Jaune said before walking into the house, Ruby watching him as he did.

'We did have a hard time, against her, didn't we? . . . But you're not her, Jaune. You're you. After all these years... you're still the first man I ever had feelings for,' she thought before going back to recording her son's training session... before she got an idea... and took out the portable scroll stand.

Cereza was making sure all the food was cooking properly, with Aurum about to sneak a bite, only for his wife to smack his hand away with a wooden spoon. "Nice try, dear."

"Can't blame an old man for trying."

Cereza giggled. "You never change."

"And I would hope neither of you plan to."

They looked to see Jaune walk into the kitchen.

"Jaune. Did you need something, son," Aurum asked.

"Yeah. I need to ask a favor of you two."

Cereza giggled. "Our big-time superhero of a son needs our help. It's honestly nostalgic, being able to help my baby boy again."

"So, what does our 1st Class Huntsman son need from these old geezers? Ow," Aurum went after his wife hit him with her spoon.

"And who are you calling old," she asked with a teasing smile.

"Certainly not you, my love," he said with a smile, the two giggling at their interaction, Jaune smiling at the sight.

"You realize that might be us one day, right," Nimueh whispered as she walked from behind Jaune.

"You don't age."

"I can manipulate my body to look however I want, honey. Besides... we... don't know what your body's limits are. As far as we know... you could be immortal now."

Jaune's eyes widened before he looked sad. 'Me... immortal? Does that mean I'd...' He thought of his family, his friends, and most importantly, Argent. He then shook his head, clearing his head.

"Jaune?" He looked at his dad, who looked a bit concerned. "Something wrong?"

"N-No. It's just... I'd like you to look after Argent."

"Look after him," Cereza asked.

"At least until our house is rebuilt in a couple of months and until I come back."

"Come back? Where are you going," Aurum asked.

"To Mistral. I need to find someone. A friend that can help me figure this out," he explained as he held out his arm.

"And Argent can't come with you," Cereza asked.

"Mom, you and dad yourselves said that he doesn't need to be exposed to so much danger at just ten years old. Tyrian and his cult are still out there, waiting for me. And as you saw on the news earlier today, I have plenty of enemies. Vicious men and women who wouldn't hesitate to attack Arie. Plus, I don't know how far my influence against the Grimm goes. I doubt they will all react like Skyshadow did. What if I run into a Nuckelavee, a Wendigo, or gods forbid, a Nightmare? He doesn't need to experience those kinds of horrors at his age."

The grandparents looked at each other before Aurum sighed.

"Alright. Those are fine points, son. It makes me proud to see how great of a father you are. With an upbringing like that, Arie will grow into a great man. I just know it."

Jaune smiled. "Thanks, dad."

"But you do realize we're going to spoil him rotten while you're gone, right," Cereza asked with a wink and a smile.

"Pfft. When DON'T you spoil him rotten," Jaune asked, making the family laugh.

Aurum then looked at Nimueh. "Sweetheart?"

"Hm?"

"Take care of our son, will you?"

Nimueh smiled. "Of course. I'm his partner, after all."

"And I'm sure I don't need to say this, but come back safely, too, dear. You're our daughter-in-law, after all."

Nimueh still blushes every time she's called that, cutely brushing a strand of hair off her face. "Of course... M-Mother."

"Hm? Trying to show off how cute you are to your mortal in-laws, dear," Jaune asked as he leaned in close to her.

"Shut up," she said as she playfully pushed Jaune away, making everyone laugh.

Jaune then sighed. "Of course, I expect you to help them in any way you can, Ruby."

"Eep!" Everyone looked at the entryway of the kitchen, watching as Ruby slowly appeared from the corner. "You... You knew?"

Jaune tapped his nose. "Grimm sense of smell." He then tapped his ear. "Plus, Grimm sense of hearing. I knew you were nearby the entire time, just like I know there's no one else nearby. They're busy either telling stories of the good ol' days and after or watching Argent train with Yang."

Ruby walked into the kitchen, shyly, her hands behind her back. "So... you're leaving?"

"Yeah. I've got a lot to do. Old friends to find, questions to ask, and powers to figure out."

Ruby had a thoughtful look. "Questions to ask?" She then had a look of realization. "You're looking for Jinn?"

"Bingo."

"But Jaune, it hasn't been nearly a hundred years. What's the point in-"

Jaune then activated his Semblance, his arm glowing. "Nimueh thinks my Semblance can jumpstart Jinn, like how it prevents her from killing me like she's supposed to. Aura seems to be the key to practically everything, which means my Semblance is the key to the world. If she's right, Jinn can get out of that lamp as often as Nimueh can stay out of her sword. I'm a 'get out of jail' card for spirits. If I had any good ideas, I'd probably give Ambrosius the time of his life. And gods only know how much more powerful Glynda would be if I strengthened her Power of Choice."

Ruby crossed her arms. "Does that mean you're going to ask for HER help?"

"Well, she IS the Spring Maiden. She's the only one who would be able to open the vault. It should be alright. The Branwen Tribe is the only band of bandits that actually likes me, given how I helped them in the past. Raven herself admits she owes me one."

"Helping take down rival tribes. Is that the only reason Raven likes you," Ruby asked with a raised eyebrow.

Jaune shuttered. He was quiet for a bit before he cleared his throat. "Yes, that is the only reason. I've scratched her back plenty of times so now she has to scratch mine." The silence was deafening. 'Why the hell did I use THAT phrase of all things,' he thought.

"Hmmm. Nimueh, how high are the odds that I'm going to have to punch him the next time I see him?"

"Sky high."

"NIMUEH?!"

She shrugged. "Just being honest."

"Mhm. Good to know. Well, whatever." She walked up and placed her fist on his pec. "Don't worry, big guy. I'll take good care of Arie. I'm his mom, aren't I," she asked with a smile.

Jaune looked at her with a surprised look before he smiled back at her. "I guess you are."

Cereza clapped. "Now that that whole matter is settled, let's get everyone's dinner to the table."

"Huh," Jaune, Ruby, and Nimueh went.

"It finished while you were talking," Aurum said as he pointed at the now beeping oven and the steamy pots. "So, are you youngins gonna stand there and talk or are you gonna help your aging hosts bring food to the table?"

"Honey," Cereza went as she glanced at her husband.

"I meant me, of course." The room laughed before they began bringing the food into the dining room.

After the delicious dinner, everyone was in their own rooms, the moon starting to shine. The couples each had their own rooms, but Lyra, Verde, and Silber were sharing a room. Since Argent was the only boy (and it was well known by everyone that he and Lyra had a crush on one another), he had his own room. It was very convenient that Jaune's sisters were out of town so everyone could have a room.

In said room, Ruby was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, hands behind her head.

"Something wrong, Ruby?"

She looked to see Weiss walk up, drying her hair, before looking back at the ceiling. "No. I'm just thinking."

"Oh, then there is something wrong."

"Ah, that's hurtful! I'm not allowed to think?!"

"Mmm. No," Weiss teased as she sat on the bed.

"Why you..." Ruby then pounced on Weiss, the two laughing.

"There's the Ruby I know. You're better when you're smiling."

"Have you seen YOUR smile?"

The two giggled before they began to make out.

As this was going on, Yang and Blake were "playing" in their room, as well as Ren and Nora. The girls were talking among themselves, Lyra teasing both Silber and Verde for having a crush on their uncle Jaune, but they fired back about her obvious crush on Argent. The girls went back and forth until Lyra smacked Silber with a pillow, Verde retaliating by smacking her back with her pillow. Verde looked victorious before Silber hit her with a pillow, saying the cousin stole her kill, only for Lyra to hit both of them with thrown pillows. Of course, this escalated into a pillow fight, the girls laughing as they enjoyed their impromptu sleepover. Argent seemed to be sleeping in his room.

As this was happening, Jaune was sleeping in his bed... until his eyes shot open, glowing red for dramatic effect.

Using some Grimm abilities, like the Geist's and Seer's floating abilities, Jaune snuck out of the house, not making a sound for anyone, not even Blake or Verde, to hear him. He also used the Apathy's Willpower Drain on himself so Ren couldn't sense him or Nimueh. He carefully and quietly opened and closed the door, locking the house with his parents' hidden key before hopping over to his hovercycle.

He waited until the house was completely dark, which did take a while. It was about ten minutes before the lights were out, and he waited for five more before he turned on the hovercycle. It hummed to life, ready to go wherever Jaune liked.

"Right. Ready," Jaune asked Nimueh.

"Ready," she answered within the sword.

"Ready."

"Alright. Wait, wha?!" Jaune looked behind him to see his son smiling up at him. "Arie?!"

"Shi-shi-shi."

"Shi-shi-shi, nothing! What are you doing up?!"

"I mean, we're going to Mistral, aren't we?"

"No, I'M going to Mistral. YOU'RE staying with... Aw, who am I kidding. This is my kid we're talking about. You're as stubborn as me AND your mothers. Both of them."

"HEY! I'm not stubborn!"

"Actually, Nimueh/mom, you kinda are," her boys said in unison.

"Why you two- You'd better hope I don't cook anytime soon! It'll be brussel sprouts for all!"

"Oh, mom! Don't do that," Argent pleaded.

"You hate brussel sprouts as much as we do," Jaune went.

"I'm willing to sacrifice my tongue to punish the both of you."

They groaned before Jaune turned to his son. "You know what you're getting into, right?"

"Mhm."

"Tyrian is still out there, along with the rest of his cult. We have no idea who is or how many Servants of Salem there are."

"I know."

"They'll come at us with everything they got to drag BOTH of us to the Land of Darkness."

"Obviously."

"And I don't have full control of my powers. There are plenty of Grimm out there that are more than terrifying enough to give a ten-year-old nightmares for years."

"I won't get any. I'm the son of the Vale Knight, plus an Arc. I'm tough," he said with a proud grin.

"Argent-"

"Besides, we're pretty much a team, right?"

"Huh?"

"You, me, mom, just one more and we'd be a full-on Huntsman Team. Besides, we're family. We stick together and keep each other safe, don't we?"

Jaune stared at his son with blank eyes. "I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?"

"You'd have a better chance of taking a chocolate chip cooking from mom or pancakes from Aunt Nora."

"Ooh, he's serious," Nimueh said.

Jaune sighed. "You'll get in trouble with everyone, you know. Grandma and grandpa, Ruby, your aunts and uncles; they won't just be angry at me this time. They'll know you snuck out to be with your old man."

Argent gave his biggest grin with his proudest "shi-shi-shi" laugh yet. "Totally worth it!"

Jaune smirked as Nimueh giggled. "You'd better not regret those words," Jaune said as he reeved up King's Glaive before riding away, with Argent going "whoo-hoo," the ten-year-old excited for his next adventure with his father.

Cereza and Aurum, still in bed, heard the boy, the two sighing.

"Why are my boys so stubborn," Cereza asked.

"I'm pretty sure it's from your side of the family."

"Well, as long as Jaune keeps my baby safe, I'm fine. It's good for a boy to spend time with his father."

"They'll be fine. They have Nimueh with them, don't they?"

"And from what our daughter-in-law said, they'll have that smart Jinn girl with them soon. I hope we get to meet her one day."

"Maybe sooner than you think, my love. But for now, let's get some sleep."

"No arguments there," she said as she turned her back towards her husband. "Oh," she went after Aurum hugged her from behind. She giggled. "Still wanting to snuggle with your wife after all these years?"

"It's your fault for being so beautiful, Cereza."

"Ah, beauty is such a sin," she jokingly said. "Why did I have to marry such a handsome devil?"

"Luck, my love. Luck," he said as the two went back to sleep in each other's embrace.