Qrow's Little Secret

Chapter 3: The Explanation

Team RNJR had been carrying Qrow for about 5 days now. They didn't know how long until they got to civilization. Qrow's health seemed to have plateaued but he was still in a bad state. He was unconscious way more than he was conscious now, only seeming to wake for a few minutes, only to slur his speech and pass out again. Everyone took some time to carry him and those not carrying Qrow were always vigilant, on the watch for Grimm, or something else.

He was also mumbling a lot. He said Summer a lot, occasionally followed up by another name. While most of the team seemed to ignore him, it was beginning to wear on Jaune's nerves. Jaune didn't like Qrow because he blamed Pyrrha's death on him, even though they both knew that it wasn't true.

"Summer...Raven..." Qrow mumbled again. Jaune, who was helping Ruby carry him, seemed to tense up upon hearing his voice again. Ren, who was walking behind him, noticed this.

"Jaune, what's wrong?" Ren asked.

"It's just that... he keeps saying summer, like it's a person or something." Jaune said.

"Well Ruby already told us that summer was his favorite season. He's in a happy place, Jaune." Ren said.

"Yeah, I guess so." Jaune said.

Nora, who was in the lead, turned around to add to the conversation when she noticed Ruby silently crying, tears in her eyes.

"Ruby, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Nora asked, concerned.

"It's nothing..." Ruby said, trying unsuccessfully to choke back tears.

"Ruby, is summer a person?" Ren asked.

"No, I already told you what it means..." More tears form in her eyes.

"Ruby, what's going on? Who is Summer, and Raven?" Jaune said.

Ruby stopped walking and hung her head. She sighed before speaking. "You guys should know..." Ruby set down Qrow before walking to the side of the pathway. She sat down and wiped the tears from her eyes. The rest of the team walked over to her and sat down next to her.

"Summer, isn't his favorite season. She was his teammate, and my mom." Ruby said. The rest of team knew her mom was dead, but they didn't know her name, until now. "He was part of Team STRQ, consisting of my mom Summer, my dad and Yang's dad Taiyang, Yang's mom Raven, and Uncle Qrow."

"Wait, your dad knocked up both female members of his team?" Jaune asked, surprised.

A small smile formed at Ruby's lips and she let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, I guess my dad was a player. Anyways, I don't know much about Raven because she left before I was born. My mom was killed when I was about 4 so I basically grew up with my dad and Uncle Qrow."

"But why does Qrow keep saying Summer's name if Taiyang is you dad?" Nora asked.

"Well, Yang told me that Qrow really like Summer but they had a falling out sometime before I was born. Maybe he still liked her? He was awfully sad when my mom died." Ruby's voice began to crack as she began crying again.

"Ruby, I'm sorry..." Jaune said.

"No, it isn't your fault. You were just curious. You didn't know." Ruby stood up before wiping away the tears. "If Qrow dies, then I would have lost too much. So, we can't wait any longer." Ruby walked over to were Qrow lay on the stretcher.

"Ruby." Ren said. Ruby turned her head to face Ren. "I heard Qrow say your name, more than once. Why is that?"

"Qrow was a like another father to me. In some ways, he was the mother I never had. He helped me do my hair and he let me paint his nail. He was a great mother and an even better uncle. He taught me how to use a scythe and how to kill Grimm. I spent as much time with him then with my real dad. He was always there. He really cared for me. I was almost like the daughter he never had in some ways." More tears formed at her eyes, but these were tears of happiness almost. Tears of a simpler time, when death wasn't a common thing. He cried for the happier times and good times.

"Well, we better get moving." Jaune stood up. Ren and Nora quickly followed suit. Ruby went to pick up the stretcher when she felt a head on her shoulder.

"I got this. You watch with Nora." Ren said. Ruby nodded and took up Grimm patrol with Nora. Jaune and Ren picked up the stretcher before they all started off towards Mistral again. Nora once again took the lead while Ruby stayed back. Here, she was closer to Qrow. She could watch over him better this way. Ruby walked up along-side Qrow and pushed his hair away from his eyes

"Just hold on Qrow, we are almost there."Ruby whispered to Qrow before falling back again.

Jaune looked back at Ruby. It was obvious that Ruby really cared for him. So, Jaune concluded that it didn't matter if he killed Pyrrha or not, all that matter was that he stayed alive, for Ruby's sake. He didn't want to see Ruby lose someone even closer to her than Penny. She would never recover. Jaune looked down at Qrow and thought to himself Stay in their old man. Don't die on me. And as if Qrow heard him, he began to mumble again.

"Taiyang... take care ... my kid..." Jaune was a bit taken aback by what Qrow just said. Ruby had just told him that Qrow never had a kid but yet here he was, telling Ruby's dad to take care of his kid. He looked back towards Ruby. She hadn't heard this and he was a bit relieved by this. He turned back towards Qrow. "What secrets are you hiding from her?" Jaune whispered to himself.

Flashback, 17 years ago

Taiyang and Qrow were sat at the dining room table. It was about 1 in the morning and Summer had already gone to be. Taiyang had put Yang to sleep a few hours before that. Even since Raven left, he had been staying over at Qrow's house. He wanted Yang to have some sort of mother figure and Summer needed some practice with a kid so they decided that the two of them show stay over until Summer had the baby. Taiyang and Qrow had been drinking lightly ever since it was just the two of them awake. They had not had near enough alcohol to be considered drunk and were talking about the future, mainly Qrow's plan for his kid.

"Qrow, what are you going to do about this whole bad luck thing? You have to tell Summer eventually." Taiyang said.

"I know, I just haven't had the right time." Qrow said.

"Well, when is the right time? When she is dead? When you have to explain to your kid that her mother died because you their father is bad luck? When?" Taiyang stood up from his seat, spilling a bit of booze. He sounded a bit angry.

"Taiyang, calm down. I have been thinking this through and I know when the right will be." Qrow said calmingly before taking another swig from his flask.

"I'm sorry." Taiyang sat back down.

"I know how much you care for Summer, for the kid. You care for them like it was your own. So, now it is." Qrow said, sternly.

"Wh-what? What do you mean it's mine?" Taiyang was taken aback.

"I mean that the kid is yours. I don't want my kid to grow up, knowing that his or her father is a literal back luck charm. That's why you are going to be their dad. Whenever they ask, you are the dad. So, I guess a congratulation is in order. Your second kid. I still get to name them though." Qrow said jokingly.

Taiyang was at a loss for words. "Qrow, you can't just give me your kid. It's yours. You made them, you will raise them, and when they ask, they will say that Qrow is my father."

"No, no they won't. Taiyang, I know how much you like Summer and how much you miss Raven. I know that you always wanted a little brother or sister for Yang. So, I'm giving you one. Tai, I thought this out and if I even thought for a second that you were a bad father, then I would have never brought it up. I've been with you for five, almost six years now. I know you are a great father already so what's one more. Also, it's not like I'm leaving. I'll still be here, I'll be Uncle Qrow, not Dad Qrow, okay?"

Taiyang sighed. "Alright, for the kid." Taiyang raised his glass for a toast. Qrow smiled and raised his flask. But when the two objects collided for the toast, Tiayang's beer bottle shattered in his hand, spreading glass and beer all over him and the floor.

Qrow gave a small chuckle at the whole situation. "Heh, bad luck where ever I go."

Taiyang also gave small chuckle before saying "Yeah, I guess." He then stood up and went to the kitchen to grab some paper towels. Qrow just nodded and took another swig before Taiyang returned with paper towels and have some to Qrow. Qrow quietly groaned before beginning to pick up the shards of glass while Taiyang began wiping up the beer.

As Qrow cleaned up the mess, the smile faded from his lips. Bad luck he thought everywhere I go and affecting everyone I come into contact with...