The cool night air hung over the sprawling campus of Beacon Academy, crisp and still as the stars twinkled high above the horizon. The courtyard was quiet, most students having long since retired to their dorms to rest for another day of training. But not all of them were asleep.

Summer Rose soon exhaled as she sat down. She was always the first to notice the stars, how they seemed to dance on nights like this, when the world seemed to stand still. But tonight, something tugged at her, a heaviness in her heart that even the peaceful night couldn't shake.

"Hey, I had a feeling I would find you here." a familiar voice said to her, warm and steady as always.

Summer turned around and smiled, there he was: Taiyang Xiao Long, her partner and arguably one of the closest friends she have had while at Beacon.

"Couldn't sleep?" Tai asked as he sat down on the bench next to her.

Summer shook her head as she confirmed his answer.

"Well you know how bad of a snorer Qrow is, I just needed to get outside for some air, what about you?" Summer said as she looked at her blonde-haired crush.

Taiyang soon exhaled as if the answer for him was some great mystery he needed to solve but he ultimately couldn't really come up with a answer. So instead, they sat in silence for a moment, watching the stars together. It was a comfortable quiet, one they had shared many times during the following days. But Tai could sense there was more on Summer's mind tonight.

"You've been thinking," he said, more of a statement than a question. He knew her well enough to recognize that distant look in her eyes.

Summer soon snorted a bit as she faced him. "Wow I guess I am really obvious, I guess I am thinking about the future."

Taiyang soon looked at her and leaned back on his arms, tilting his head up to look at the stars as well. "The future, huh? That's not something we usually talk about, is it?"

"No, but it is something I like to think about. What type of Huntress I am going to be in the future." Summer said as she relaxed a bit more. "Are people going to rely on me the more I save them? Will I be able to live up to their expectations?"

"Well you are Summer Rose, you dream of saving the world right? I am sure you will be a great Huntress." Tai said as he playfully punched her shoulder.

Summer laughed again, this time more genuinely, her silver eyes twinkling in the starlight. "Oh, I don't know about 'great but thanks,' but… I've always wanted something simple, I guess." She looked down at her hands, fiddling with the edge of her cloak. "I want to help people, of course. I want to be a Huntress. But… I also want a family someday. A home. Somewhere peaceful."

That somewhat surprised Tai, most Huntresses, and Huntsman he knew didn't exactly have the time for a family so he was surprised when Summer also expressed that desire.

That sounds nice," he said, his voice gentle. "A family, huh?"

"Yeah, maybe it is somewhat far-fetched but I want to have a family where I can be there for them like my mom was for me. To make sure they grow up in a world where they can be safe, where they don't have to fight the way we do." Summer said as she looked up into the stars.

Tai was quiet for a moment, contemplating her words. He hadn't thought much about his own future beyond Beacon, beyond becoming a Huntsman. But hearing Summer talk about her dreams, it made him think. A family. A home. It sounded… right. Peaceful. Maybe he wanted something like that too, though he hadn't let himself dwell on it before now.

"You will be a great mom, you got the heart for it. And I am sure who ever you marry will make a great partner and parent as well." Tai said to her.

Summer blushed slightly, looking away with a shy smile. "Thanks, Tai. What about you? What do you dream of?"

Tai chuckled, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Honestly? I'm not sure. I've always kind of gone with the flow, you know? Training to be a Huntsman, working on being stronger, better. But I guess… maybe I want the same things you do. A family, eventually. Someone to come home to."

Summer smiled at him. It was one of her favorite things about him, his strength and his optimism. But yet hearing him speak about his dreams and passions, made her feel closer to him than ever before.

"Do you think…" she began, hesitating slightly. "Do you think it's possible? To have both? To be a Huntsman and have a family?"

Tai looked at her, his golden eyes thoughtful. "Yeah, I think it's possible. It won't be easy, but… if anyone can do it, it's you, Summer."

Summer but before she could continue she saw a striking figure approaching them in the darkness. It was their teammate and Qrow's sister, Raven. Despite the initial friction between them, Summer had actually come to regard the tribeswoman as a dear friend in the last few months.

"There you two idiots are. I thought you guys had been seriously hurt or something." Raven said with her usual bluntness.

"Relax Rae, as you can see, the two of us are fine." Tai said to the tribeswoman.

The aloof teenager soon blushed at his words, something that Summer noticed but chose to keep mum about as she got up.

"Well, I suppose we should head back, don't want your brother to wake up and assume the worst." Summer said playfully to Raven.

Raven rolled her eyes but at the corners, Summer could see a small smile forming.

"Very well let's go you two." Raven said as they returned to the dorm room.

Taiyang soon followed her but Summer actually looked above at the sky one last time, the stars above seemed just a little brighter, as if they were still guiding them forward, lighting the path to whatever future they chose to build.

"Whatever happens, I know I won't do it alone." Summer said before she finally followed her teammates back to the dorm.