'Thought' "Speaking" {On the Phone}
A little girl about eleven years old that had white hair with black tips and red eyes walked down the hall of the manor to the garden to see her mother sitting at a table with an unopened bottle of wine and empty wine glass.
"Mother, are you alright?" Winter asked entering the room.
Willow looked over towards Winter then smiled and offered her a seat across from her.
"I'm fine Winter, just a little nervous." Willow answered. "Also, I could have sworn Lily was supposed to be watching you and Weiss."
"She's trying to get Weiss to eat her green beans." Winter answered, climbing into the chair. "And Whitey is still taking he's nap." As Winter watched her mother, she saw she was messing with her hair. "Are you worried about seeing my father?"
"What?" Willow questioned knowing for a fact she hasn't told Winter that Qrow was even in the city.
"I heard one of the maids talking about how Klein went into town to get a man from your past." Winter answered, fiddling with her fingers.
'Of course, those maids would gossip within earshot of her,' Willow thought, pinching her nose. 'Jacques must have done something.' Just then the door slammed open and a girl with white hair and blue eyes wearing light blue dresses ran into the room.
"No, I won't eat those gross things." the girl shouted.
"Weiss, that's no way for a lady to speak." Willow said, picking Weiss up off the ground.
"Mama." Weiss squealed seeing her mother. Then quickly hugged her.
"Don't worry Lily I have her, please go and check in on Whitey you he still has the habit of leaving the room once he wakes up."
"Right away, my lady." Lily said leaving the room.
"Know Weiss you know better than to run in the house and green beans are good for you." Willow said, putting Weiss down. "They help you grow big and strong so you can be a Huntress just like your grandfather."
"They'll still gross." Wiess complained with a pout.
"Your sister said the same thing about peas." Willow said back looking at Winter.
"Mom!" Winter said.
A knock then came to the door and Willow said, "Come in."
"My lady, it's Klein." a voice said through the door.
Willow went stiff knowing what that meant and took a deep breath then said, "You may let him in."
The door opened and Klein stepped to the side to allow a man with black hair and red eyes to come into the room. The man walked over to Willow and smiled.
"Hey Will." Qrow said, moving a lock of her hair out of the way. "You look a bit happier than the last time I saw you."
"I was a mess last time." Willow said moving Qrow's hand away not wanting to give him ideas. "Please come meet my daughters."
Qrow immediately saw a little girl that had white hair with black tips and red eyes looking at him somewhat scared, while the other one that seemed much younger looked at him oddly.
"Winter, Weiss, this is an old friend of mine." Willow introduced not needing Weiss to know about her relationship with Qrow. "This is Qrow Branwen."
'This man is my father.' Winter thought seeing the man show her mother kindness that she never saw the other man give her.
Qrow walked over to Winter and offered a hand and said, "You must be Winter. Is very nice to meet a little lady such as yourself."
Winter shook Qrow's hand and smiled then Qrow looked down to see the other girl pulling on his pants leg.
"Are you a huntsman?" Weiss asked.
"Why yes I am." Qrow answered. "Tell me do you want to be a huntress when you grow up?" Weiss smiled and nodded her head frantically. "Then why don't I give the both of you some stories of when I was younger."
Qrow soon started telling the two girls' stories of the battles and missions he did with his team. As the time went on Willow couldn't but smile seeing the girls so interested in something, she soon noticed a maid came back with Whitey. Willow easily took Whitey as they continued to listen to Qrow's story. Klein then got Willow attention and showed her the time and her smile faded knowing that time was almost up.
"And the mighty woman took hold of her weapon and glared at the Grimm, then using all the strength she swifty ran at the beast, it raised its claws ready to strike…"
"Sorry girls but I think it's time to say goodbye." Willow interrupted.
"Oh is it that time already? Sorry for that." Qrow said knowing what Willow meant.
"No finish the story." Weiss begged, clinging on to qrow's leg.
"Sorry but I've got a job to do this, and don't worry I'll send you mom the rest of the story she can tell you how it ends." Qrow said, rubbing Weiss' head.
"Promes." Weiss said, holding up her pinky.
Promise." Qrow said locking their pinkies together.
Willow then saw Qrow looking at Winter who seemed sad then said, "Um Weiss why don't we go see if Lily has any snacks you can eat that can hold you over till dinner."
"Okay." Weiss said following her mother who was still carrying Whitey. Once they were gone Qrow looked to Winter seeing her fiddling with her hair.
Qrow sighed then said, "I know I don't have a right to say this but, if you ever need me for anything at all, I swear I'll come running. All you need to do is call."
"What if I want to talk to you about being a huntress or I want you at one of my events." Winter mumbled.
"Then I'll be there looking out for you and watching you shine like the star you are." Qrow said, digging in his pocket. He then handed Winter a silver locket with a black chain. "I know I'm late but happy birthday Winter."
Winter looked at the locket to see that it was oval shaped with a blue gen in the center when she opened it she saw on one said was a picture of Qrow and Willow smiling together from when they were younger and on the other side was a picture of Willow holding Whitey when he was born with Weiss on her left and Winter on her right.
"Thank you." Winter said, closing the locket. Qrow got on one knee and offered a hug, Winter then immediately hugged Qrow as a few tears fell.
"Sorry but looks like I've got to go." Qrow said letting go. "I've given your mother my number, so just ask her."
"Goodbye Da…Mr. Qrow." Winter tried but couldn't say what she really wanted.
'Maybe someday I'll be worthy of it.' Qrow thought as he left the room then quietly left the house.
Willow watched from a window as Qrow left the house trying not to be seen.
"My lady, I have seen the children to their rooms." Klein said entering the room.
"Did you scrub the videos?" Willow asked without looking away.
"Yes." Klein answered.
"And the staff?" Willow questioned.
"Have been warned to not mention this to him, should they wish to keep their jobs." Klein answered as his eyes changed closer.
"Good, I may not be in command of the company doesn't mean I have no authority in my own home." Willow said, turning towards Klein. "And what of Winter?"
Klein smiled then said, "He gave her a gift with a picture of the two of you together along with one of you and the children without him in it."
Willow sighed as she looked down then asked, "Do you believe I made a mistake not taking Qrow up on his offer to run away from it all."
Klein looked at the window then back to Willow and said, "If I'm honest my Lady, the moment your son was born you should have divorced that man and made your way to Mr. Branwen." Willow looked at Klein not excepting that. "I looked into his family, and they aren't the best people, but I also found that he is loyal to those he cares for. His sister has a daughter that happens to be the same age as Weiss."
"Maybe I can arrange for them to meet." Willow said with a bit of joy hoping her daughters would gain friends. She then saw a limo drive to the front door. "Looks like he's back."
"I'll go open the door for him." Klein grumbled.
Klein opened the front door allowing a man with white hair and blue eyes wearing a white suit to walk in as if he was a king sitting on a throne.
"Mr. Schnee, it is lovely to have you back home." Klein said, bowing his head so the man would see him roll his eyes.
"Yes, whatever." the man said. "Where is he?"
Klein looked up at the man and asked, "Who might you be talking about, if it is one of the butlers?"
"No you idiot," the man shouted. "I am talking about the man that helped create her."
Klein had to hold back a growl as he said, "Sir, I do not understand who you are talking about. You will have to be specific."
The man looked towards Klein ready to yell some more but was interrupted, "Klein has been out running errands the whole time, so don't you dare shout at him, Jacques." The man looked up at the top of the stairs to see Willow walking down. "Klein, please see how dinner is going."
"Yes, My Lady." Klein said bowing then left the two alone at the entice.
Jacques looked around the room then said, "He's not here is he."
"I couldn't find him in time to talk to him," Willow explained with no emotion. "He still has no idea she's his daughter, but I doubt you care about that. You just don't want proof that we weren't engaged before I met him."
"The company has been making more money than ever, I highly doubt the board will let you take control back." Jacques growled.
"Like I care," Willow said back. "You might be making money now but that can last only so long, and the board will start asking why no successor has been named yet. Remember I'm the one that had the Schnee name first. The clock is ticking, and Winter is eleven now. Soon she'll be eighteen and the board will need answers."
Jacques glared at Willow as she walked away knowing her husband couldn't say anything back to her knowing she was right.
'There must be a reason why Winter shouldn't be the Heir the board will accept. She may not be my child; she is still a Schnee thanks to her mother.' Jacques thought to himself as she walked to his office. 'For now, I'd better check the cameras to see if that man really wasn't at the house.'
Qrow made he's back to the hotel they had rented for the mission to see Aqua wait outside the room.
"We've got a problem." Aqua said, handing Qrow a folder. Qrow took the folder knowing he wasn't going to like what was inside. Once Qrow read the report he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Qrow if something happens I will protect her first. Sorry but you're on your own for this one."
"Yeah I got it." Qrow said walking away with paper still in his hand. Qrow walked to a bar in Mantle and took a seat at a table. When the waiter came over they placed a glass of wine in front of him. "Oh I didn't order yet."
"No but the man up top paid for it." the waiter said, walking away.
"Okay let's do this." Qrow said while taking the drink. Qrow walked up to the second floor to see the man he wanted nothing to do with. "What do you want, Dad?"
The man lowered the paper he was reading, then looked at Qrow and said, "Come now Qrow, I'm your father isn't that more than enough reason to want to see my own son."
"Cut the crap old man and talk before I leave and tell Atlas security you're here." Qrow immediately said back.
"Where is she Qrow?" the man questioned.
"Somewhere you'll never get to her, Raven's now has a bond with everyone in the family." Qrow explained. "Meaning she can now get to whoever, whenever she needs to. So best of luck getting to Yang now."
Qrow chuckled then said, "I wasn't talking about Raven's kids Qrow. I want to know about the one you're hiding." Qrow stared wide eyed at his father. "My source told me you've got a kid, but they have no idea where they are."
"You listen here you sack of crap. You're not laying a hand on anyone that's related to me or Raven." Qrow growled standing up. "Now get the hell out of our lives or the tribe will lose more than two members."
"Qrow!" the man shouted. "That child…"
"Has no idea who I am." Qrow interrupted lying his ass off. "And that's the way it's going to stay if that's what it takes to keep you away from them. Now Fuck off you piece of shit." Qrow walked away giving the man the finger as he made his way out.
"You know they call him Falcon the unstoppable for a reason right." a man said as Qrow walked out.
"Well, we can't always get what we want." Qrow said back. As Qrow walked away from the bar he took his scroll out.
{Hello Qrow, what can I do for you?} Ironwood asked.
"You've got about twenty minutes to get down to a bar in Mantle called the six lotas." Qrow explained. "Falcon's there at the moment demanding I tell him about Raven's child."
{My team will be there in three minutes.} Ironwood quickly said back hanging up the phone.
"You may have created us, but you are no father of ours." Qrow said as he walked back to the station. "I'm not going to allow you to ruin that girl's future even if I have to keep her distinct." Qrow then took out his wallet and looked at a picture of Winter in front of a birthday cake smiling. "I swear Winter I'll do the best I can for you."