Team RWBY rolled down the familiar path leading to Vale, the van rumbling along the rougher sections of the road. Blake was at the wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead as she maneuvered through the winding trails and valleys. Weiss sat beside her, painstakingly tinkering with the last bits of Neo's broken speaking device. In the back, Yang sat slumped, her face cast downward, lost in her own thoughts. Ruby sat near Neo, casting quick glances between her sister and the restrained, blindfolded figure seated next to her.

The air in the van was thick with an unspoken tension, with every member of the team locked in their own reflections. Suddenly, Blake's gaze caught a figure waving from the roadside, and she eased the van to a stop.

Outside, Ilia Amitola stood in front of her modest home, a warm smile crossing her face. "Didn't expect to see you all here!" she greeted, her eyes flickering in surprise as she noticed Ruby guiding Neo out of the van. "Uh, mind explaining why she's here?"

Blake gave a tired smile. "It's a long story. We'll explain everything inside."

Ilia's eyes lingered on Yang, who shuffled past with her head down, her gaze firmly fixed on the ground. Ruby gave Ilia an apologetic look, as if to say they'd had a rough couple of days.

Minutes later, they were seated inside Ilia's cozy living room. Ilia brought out mugs of coffee and tea, offering each of her friends a momentary comfort. Once everyone had settled in, they recounted their journey, from the start of the road trip to the battles they'd faced, and finally, the capture of Neo. Ilia listened intently, her brow furrowing with concern as she heard each new twist and turn in their tale.

"So…" she started, "why exactly did you bring Neo to Vale? She's supposed to be exiled from here."

Weiss sighed, setting down her cup. "Trust me, we're wondering the same thing. That's why I've been working on fixing her mask. And… we called you for some help."

Ilia gave a quick nod, taking the device from Weiss's hands to inspect it herself. "Well, I can see a few spots you missed," she remarked, then left to grab her tools.

As they waited, the front door creaked open, and a female Faunus with rabbit-like ears entered. She was carrying a bag of groceries, but upon seeing the group, she froze, the bag slipping from her hands and spilling apples onto the floor. One of the apples rolled to a stop next to Neo, who tilted her head and grasped it with her bound feet, curious.

Ruby immediately swiped the apple away, tossing it back into the bag as she bent down to help the newcomer pick up the fallen fruit.

"Thanks," the Faunus said gratefully, blinking up at Ruby with curiosity.

"Lucy, right?" Ruby smiled as she recalled her name.

Lucy nodded, her gaze moving to each of Team RWBY, then back to Neo, her brows raised in confusion. "Sooo… what's with her?" She tilted her head toward Neo, who was now seated stiffly on the nearby couch.

"It's a long story," Ruby answered with a weary smile.

Ilia returned with her toolkit, giving Lucy a knowing look. "Trust me, Lucy, it's a long story. I'll fill you in later." She passed the now-fixed mask to Weiss, adding, "Should be good to go now."

Lucy glanced over, curiosity evident on her face. "Are you guys staying for dinner, then?"

Blake looked to Ruby, who seemed hesitant. "We really appreciate the offer, but—"

"Oh, come on," Lucy insisted, looking over the team's tired faces. "You all look like you haven't had a proper meal in days."

Ruby thought it over. "We've… been surviving off snacks and soda for most of the trip." She looked at her team, who all gave subtle nods of agreement. "Alright," she agreed with a smile, "we'll stay for dinner."

Hours later, Team RWBY, Ilia, and Lucy sat around a dining table, enjoying the meal Lucy had prepared. The aroma of spices filled the room, warming everyone from the inside out. Lucy had mentioned the recipe was a family tradition, handed down for over a century, and Blake couldn't help but compliment her. "This is incredible. Thank you, Lucy."

Ruby glanced over at Neo, who sat silently on a nearby couch. With a sigh, she loaded a plate with some food and carried it over, carefully feeding Neo while keeping her bound. Neo took the food silently, then nodded her thanks, though she kept her head lowered. Once done, Ruby returned to the table and continued her meal.

Ilia set down her fork, looking over the group. "Are you… are you all doing okay?" Her voice was gentle, but it carried a weight of concern.

The team exchanged glances, and for a moment, the room fell into a heavy silence. Weiss was the first to speak. "We were… when we started this trip. We had a purpose. We met old friends, saw amazing places. But now…" She trailed off, her expression distant. "Now, I'm not so sure."

Lucy reached out and took Ilia's hand. "It's understandable," she said softly. "Ilia has moments like that too. But I'm always here for her, just like you all are here for each other."

As Ruby looked at them, something on their hands caught her eye, and she gasped. A glint of silver on both Ilia and Lucy's fingers.

Ilia chuckled, showing off her ring. "A year ago. Lucy proposed," she said with a grin. "We kept it private. Just the two of us."

Team RWBY congratulated them, and Ruby noticed a flicker of a smile on Yang's face—small, but a glimmer of the sister she remembered.

As night settled in, Lucy offered them a place to stay, which they gratefully accepted. Ruby lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She listened to the soft sounds of her team sleeping around her, but her thoughts kept her awake. After a few minutes, she quietly rose, slipped into the kitchen, and opened the fridge for a bottle of water.

Turning around, her gaze fell on Neo, who lay asleep on the couch nearby, still restrained. Ruby took a long sip, her mind swirling with memories and conflicting feelings. Could she ever forgive Neo? She wasn't sure, but she knew she'd need to face those questions soon.

The next morning, as Team RWBY prepared to leave, Weiss thanked Ilia for her help with Neo's mask.

"Thank you for staying," Ilia replied warmly. "It's been a while since we've spent time together. We should do it again soon."

As Ruby closed the van's back door, securing Neo inside, she gave Ilia a final nod. "Definitely. But for now… we're heading back to Patch. We have questions for Neo, and hopefully, we'll finally get some answers."

As Blake started the van and pulled onto the road, she glanced at Ruby in the rearview mirror. "Are you really set on taking her to Patch?"

Ruby looked to Yang, who nodded, albeit with a tired look. Ruby sighed. "Yes. We need to do this."

She glanced back at Neo, her mind racing with all the questions that had been building up. Neo had answers—answers that might help them understand what drove her to do everything she'd done, to break so many lives along the way. She owed it to herself, to her team, and to Jaune's memory to finally get those answers.

For now, though, she turned to the window and let her thoughts drift, focusing on the road ahead and hoping that, somehow, their journey would bring them closer to closure.