Smile

Chapter 13

"Jacques Schnee, I demand you leave imme- Willow?" General Ironwood's demeanor shifts dramatically when he sees not Jacques but Willow Schnee disembark the Schnee Dust Company airship, not the person he had been expecting to see. "Mrs. Schnee, what brings you to Atlas Academy?" He questions, Willow glancing towards him with a calm smile before speaking.

"I wish to see my daughters. I can promise you, I am not here on behalf of my husband." She requests, James mulling over a decision before nodding and motioning for her to follow.

"I suppose I can grant you this, but just this once. The next time you wish to pay them a visit, I request that you alert us beforehand, I'd rather not deal with Jacques again." Chuckling a little, Willow nods, then follows James into the academy. "How have you been, by the way? We don't hear much about how you may be doing these days, unfortunately."

"I've been... Well enough, I suppose. I'm trying to kick my alcohol problem, but... It's hard." Willow sighs softly before glancing off to the side, smile faltering a little. "I realized how my problem was affecting my children, especially Weiss, and while I still don't trust my husband and can't stand him, drinking isn't a solution..." James chuckles slightly before glancing back towards her, a reassuring smile noticeable.

"I know someone who had a problem like yours, but they learned to kick it, I might have to introduce you to him." Giving Willow no time to mull over who he might be referring to, James stops in front of a dorm and knocks on the door.

"Come in!" A bubbly voice calls out, James looking back at Willow for a few moments before opening the door and motioning her inside. Ruby looks to Willow as she enters, then glances between her and Weiss for a few moments, processing the familiarity between them. "Wait... Weiss's mom?" She questions, Weiss jolting in surprise before slowly turning to face Willow, Penny continuing to diligently braid her hair while seated behind her on her bed.

"M... Mom?" Weiss hesitantly asks, Willow taking a few steps towards her with a widening smile before she gently cups her left cheek with her right hand.

"Oh, darling... It's so nice to see you." Looking down at the pajama clad teen, Willow inspects her braces for a few moments, then leans forward and gently kisses her forehead. "You look as precious now as you did when you first had braces, my sweet."

"I... Um... Mom? W... What are you doing here?" Weiss's nervously uttered question is posed after a minute or so of silence, Willow looking to the smiling Penny for a few moments before turning her attention back to her daughter.

"I came to visit you, of course, and Winter as well. I was sad to hear what happened, about you being forcibly taken home by your father, he wouldn't let me see you at all." She begins to say before pulling Weiss off the bed and into a hug, Weiss freezing up for a few moments before slowly hugging her back. "I... Wanted to apologize, as well."

"For what, mom?" Weiss leans against Willow as she's held close, electing to rest her head on her mother's shoulder regardless of the watching eyes of her teammates and girlfriend. Willow presses another kiss to her forehead, then gently cups the back of her head.

"For all those years I was distant, closed off, for my drinking problem... It wasn't a good way to cope with things, it... Isn't, a good way... I'm so sorry..." Willow whispers the last three words before gently squeezing Weiss around the waist, Weiss nodding slowly before sighing softly.

"I... Mom... I don't... Know if I can forgive you... At least... Not yet..." Willow nods slowly as Weiss speaks, patiently listening to her and processing what is said. "Being left alone to deal with father... He's a monster, and... I needed you... We all did, but you weren't there... You just drank, sat in your room, tended to the garden..."

"I know, darling... I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for neglecting you three... But... I want you to know, I'm fighting to kick my problem... It's hard, but I know I can do it, for my sake, and for yours." Weiss huffs slightly before pulling away from Willow, settling by Penny before pulling Muffin into her arms.

"I... I'll believe it when I see it, mom..." She mutters, Penny pulling her into an embrace that is leaned into. Willow's smile fades into a slight frown until she notices Muffin, a few steps being taken towards Weiss before she gently pets the plush cat.

"You still have Muffin... I'm glad. I know how much she means to you, I'm happy to know you still have her around to keep you safe." Willow takes a step back, then glances between Weiss and Penny for a few moments before looking to the door. "I... Suppose I should go see your sister... It was really nice to see you, my darling, and... I'm happy that you're safe, away from your father." With Weiss just nodding, not paying her mom all too much attention, Willow departs from the room and leaves with Ironwood to go see Winter.

"She seems nice." Yang comments with a smile, Weiss responding with a dry shrug before leaning against Penny and frowning.

"She is, but... I don't believe that she's trying to stop drinking..."

"And why not? My Uncle Qrow did, he hasn't had a drink in weeks" Ruby points out, Weiss glancing towards her for a few moments before diverting her gaze downward.

"Mom's problem isn't like your uncles, she doesn't carry around a flask to drink from, she... Drinks straight from the bottle often times, she hides herself away in her room, she leaves us alone to deal with father..." Ruby slowly makes her way over to Weiss before pulling her into a hug, soon joined by Blake and Yang, Weiss leaning against her teammates before sighing and closing her eyes.

"Thank you... I... Don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive her, but... I really do hope she's trying to stop drinking, that would at least make things better..."

"Klein! Where is Willow?!" Jacques angrily asks Klein, Klein offering up a slight frown before speaking.

"I'm afraid I do not know, Master Jacques. I gave her her breakfast earlier, but she has disappeared from her room." He says before leaving Jacques's coffee on his desk, Jacques scowling heavily before dismissing him with a wave and sipping at his drink.

"Woman... I don't know where you are, but I will find out what you're doing...." He mutters before turning his attention to his computer, unaware of the stealthy entrance of a dark haired man with a bushy moustache.

"Good morning, Jacques." Arthur Watts calmly says, settling into a seat by the desk before looking towards Jacques who's scowl fades into a slight smile.

"Ah, Arthur, you've finally arrived." He begins to say before sipping at his coffee again. "And what news do you bring?"

"Unfortunately none. Yet. I haven't infiltrated the academy again, they've boosted security measures so trying to hack into their systems is a harder challenge. Fortunately, I have a plan that should get us the results you want, but it'll take time." He explains, Jacques nodding before sipping more of his coffee.

"Yes yes, of course. Whatever it takes, I want Robyn Hill removed rom the council, and I want Ironwood to suffer the same fate."