RWBY: Tale of Two Roses

Chapter 1: Petals in the wind

Qrow walks in and sets his sword next to the door. He hangs his cloak on the rack and turns on the light. "Surprise!" he jumps and turns to see Summer standing with a cake. "Happy birthday Qrow."

"Thanks Summer."

"Taiyang wanted to come but he was drug out on assignment. Which reminds me." Qrow feels a tug on his pant leg and looks down. A toddler yang smiles up at her uncle. "Hey there." He picks her up and she wraps her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "Why don't you help me blow out the candles?"

"Okay!" Qrow turns to the cake and takes a deep breath. Yang attempts to blow them out and succeeds with the help of Qrow. He puts her down and they sit her down at the table with a slice of cake.

"You heard from your sister? Yang really misses her mother."

"No luck."

"Luck never seems to be with you."

"I don't know, luck lead me to you." Summer blushes and punches Qrow on the arm. "Look, we didn't have a normal childhood. I left the tribe but Raven..."

"Raven is more stubborn. But if Yang is any indication there is hope for her."

"Hard to believe that ray of sunshine came from her." Yang walks up and curls up between them. Resting her head on Summer's lap and letting out a big yawn. Summer smiles and gently strokes her hair and hums as she drifts to sleep. Qrow reaches over and takes her hand. Summer leans over and lays her head on Qrow's shoulder.

The next morning, Qrow wakes up and stretches. He looks at a note on the counter. "Took Yang to the park so you could sleep in." There's a knock on the door and Qrow answers other to see Tai. "Hey Qrow, Yang up yet?"

"Summer took her to the park. I came back late from a mission last night so she wanted to let me sleep in."

"Sorry I couldn't make it, had a mission of my own."

"Don't worry, Tai. It was just us and Yang anyway. Not much of a party. C'mon, I know the place Summer usually takes her." Qrow grabs his cape and they walk down the street. "You heard anything from Raven?"

"No, sorry. She's always been good at not being found if she doesn't want to. I'm sorry she ran out on you and Yang. Least she could have done is said goodbye."

"Water under the bridge Qrow. At least I have Yang." They get to the park and Yang looks over at Tai and smiles. she holds her arms up and Tai lifts her up. They walk away and Qrow takes Summer by the hand and walks back to the house. "I've got some amazing news, Qrow." They sit down on the couch and she looks him in the eye with a giant smile. "I'm pregnant. We're gonna be parents!" Qrow's face goes pale, the breath is knocked from his chest, Summer looks and sees the panic in his eyes. "Summer, I...I don't know what to say."

"Qrow are you okay?"

"Yeah, Yeah I'll be fine. But it's just a bit of a hit. I'm..."

"You're what?"

"Look, I love you with all my heart, I'll love you until I croak. But my life is too dangerous to bring a child into it. I feel guilty enough getting you involved."

"Qrow, I'm not scared. We're both strong. I know we can keep our child safe. C'mon, James and Anne would love to hear the good news." They spend the day with the Paladins, but Qrow's fears are at the forefront of his mind. They get home and get ready for bed. Qrow waits for Summer to fall asleep then walks to the kitchen and writes a note.

My dearest Summer,

I cannot, in good conscience drag you any further along knowing the constant threat I pose to you and our unborn child. But protect our child. If it's anything like you the world needs more of them. This pains me more than anything but I need to put you and our child first. And the safest place for you is as far away from me as you can run.

I'll love you forever.

Qrow

Qrow grabs his gear then shifts into a crow and flies away.

The next morning Summer wakes up and sees the note. She reads it then lets it fall to the floor. She sits on the couch and starts crying her eyes out. She gets a call from Tai and does her best to collect herself. "Hey I heard the news from James and Anne! Congrats!"

"Thanks Tai."

"Hey you sound a bit choked up, you alright?"

"Q-Qrow left, he said he couldn't bear keeping us involved in his dangerous life."

"I'm so sorry. Hey if you need someone to talk to I'm just a phone call away."

"Thanks Tai." Time passes and Summer settles in with Tai. a few months later Ruby is born. A simple soul in a not so simple world and one where things seem to happen for no rhyme or reason.

It's been over three months since Summer fell out of contact during her latest mission. They've called off the search and prepare to notify the family. Taiyang opens the door and calls the girls into the living room as Qrow walks into the broken home. "Listen, There's no easy way to say this. It's been three months since Summer's disappearance. They've had to call off the search. I'm sorry for your loss." Tears well up In their eyes as Qrow walks out the door. Qrow stands outside holding in tears of his own. He turns into a crow and flies off. He lands and all the emotion comes pouring out of him. Screaming, cursing, pounding the ground as tears run like a river out of his eyes. "Damn it Tai! why'd you let her go alone!" Back at the Long residence Ruby's run back and locked herself in her room. Tai is sat on the couch, Frozen with grief. Yang walks up to the door and tries to get Ruby's attention. "Ruby?"

"Leave me alone Yang."

"Ruby please let me in."

"Go away!" A thud can be heard on the other side like something being thrown at it. Yang turns around and sits against the door. The sound of her sister crying hurts her. It hurts worse knowing she has no way to help her. She walks into the kitchen and on a plate is the last batch of cookies her mom had ever made. There's only four left. She picks up the plate and holds it out to her dad. "Cookie?" He looks over. He tries to fake a smile as he takes one from the plate. "Thank you pumpkin." She walks up to Ruby's room and starts to put one under the door when it swings open. Her silver eyes surrounded by redness from crying. Yang stands up and hands the cookie to Ruby. "Chocolate chip, just like mama used to make." Ruby says, her voice shaky from the tears.

"It's from the last batch she made." Yang says softly. They each take one and they walk in and sit on Ruby's bed. "Do you remember the song mommy used to sing?"

"Yeah." Ruby snuggles up to Yang and says "Can you sing it to me please?" Yang Holds her sister close and starts to sing the best she can. As she sang, Yang started to get choked up. Ruby munched on the cookie between sobs and Yang continued to sing.From the doorway, Tai watched as his oldest tried to comfort her younger sibling. But she just continued to sing lulling her sister to sleep. At this point Yang is almost in tears. All the memories rushing through her head. She wraps her arms around Ruby as she continues to sing. The song being the only kind of consolation she can give to the grieving toddler. She sings through tears as Ruby lay snuggled up in her arms. Her head resting on Yang's Tear soaked shoulder. She painfully finishes the last 5 lines.

"I will cling, I will clutch

I'll hold onto you, I won't turn away

I won't leave, I won't go

I will stay with you all our days

I will stay with you all our days"

Ruby now sleeps in Yang's arms as she sits there letting everything she'd held back come out. Tai sits next to yang and wraps his arms around her. "Yang you don't have to stay strong for anyone."

"Why'd she have to leave dad? Why couldn't she have stayed here with us? Why'd she have to leave us all alone?"

"These things happen Pumpkin. Life gives us no reason why. People come as easy as they go I suppose."

"It hurts. It hurts so bad!"

"I know it does. But we'll make it through this. A wise woman once told me not to celebrate the loss of someone, but all the good times they've given you. Always remember that Yang. I'm proud of you for trying to comfort your sister. But you don't have to be strong for anyone." Yang leans against his shoulder and he hums her mother's song. Yang drifts off to sleep and Tai lays her down and tucks them in together. He looks over to see the plate with the one remaining cookie. He takes it to a park Summer would take the kids. They would play, Have picnics, and feed the birds. A familiar bird with a red ribbon around it's leg lands nearby. "Here you go Qrow." He walks off and the bird morphs into Qrow. He takes the cookie and walks off.