Raven had a lot to think about after what had transpired, like what the next move should be.

Clearly, she'd have to wait for Watts to contact them...and they knew the bandits would rather kill their own than allow them to be questioned.

To win against such ruthless opponents seemed more and more impossible without a clear target. And who knew what their numbers really were? The only people who'd know had been killed.

Bribing them seemed unlikely when they were under the spell of the tribe leaders.

Things had gone in circles, and it was exhausting.

Shine's advice, when consulted via letter (that she answered less than 10 hours later, so it must have been important to her to hurry, or perhap the time schism worked to hasten it for once), was to take some space from it for a couple days and let Theo do his part with Watts, while Raven tried to take her mind off of it.

Raven put the letter, which was short, away and shook her head.

Hazel checked in on her later.

While they'd still never called what they were doing dating--at least not to each other, or in anyone's who knew them hearing--they met up nearly every day, when Raven wasn't fully booked with other things, and had gotten very close.

Raven never bothered to explain the relationship to her brother or daughter in detail, but privately she was surprised at how things had worked out. Not the person she'd have thought she'd come to rely on, but somehow, it just clicked. [My feeling about the crack ship. It oddly works, though you'd never see it coming.]

Raven told him what Shine had said, in brief terms, as she usually did.

"She's probably right." Hazel always sided with Shine's advice these days. "There's nothing more to be done on our end till contact is made. Watts can do it, though he is a snake."

"That we knew, but he bit us in the back without us expecting it, still." Raven was still mad about that. "And Cinder of all people figured it out first."

"She knows him better, but I am ashamed I didn't think of it." Hazel rarely used the word ashamed, but he did feel like he should have seen it coming.

"Ah, well, you've not spoken to him since Deliverance Year," Raven said, which was what people called the year of the gods' departure now. "And he'd better hope neither of us pays him a visit over this."

Hazel clenched a fist. "He's a fool, endangering us all. And children also."

"Yes..." Raven didn't like that thought either.

Many of her unpleasant reflections of the past few months had been how many people she'd left just the same as this tribe. But the Grimm stuff was a level she'd never have stooped to, and it was disgusting and frightening at the same time.

"I suppose I should get to the base," she said. "Another day of problems."

"It would be nice if Schnee could come back," Hazel remarked. "This is too much for one person."

"I can hang on till she does, but it'd help if certain people would let me give them some more responsibility," Raven muttered. "Like Zapato. A few years and he could probably do my job, if he was just trained for it. I can't do it forever. We have to think ahead, and right now the new recruits are not even close to being ready for that kind of responsibility. I have no time to work on that though--we need more teachers, and Haven still needs to reopen. That would help the most; that's where most of them should be going to learn about this, since the ones in Vale are likely to stay in Vale now that it's recovering, but what can I do about that? We need a bigger network, but it's not the Council's top priority as long as they have their stupid pet huntsmen."

"Eventually someone will step up." Hazel was getting more optimistic with time. "Already more people have who weren't expected to."

"Yeah..." Raven frowned to herself. "It's this case. I've felt I could handle everything up till this mess started. I'm not used to just being outpaced constantly. This whole thing was thought through more than I expected. I don't like it. I've never felt so often like I was failing completely as a leader. Not to mention I have to keep sending my daughter out on the front lines with this kind of danger, but who else can I trust to know what to do but our team?"

Raven didn't usually voice hesitancy to endanger her friends or family, but she had before to Hazel, who also shared that feeling about Emerald and Mercury.

"They know the risks though," he said.

"It's so odd to hear you say that, of all people," Raven said. "Considering your chief complaint against Ozpin."

"They're not children anymore," Hazel said. "What I prefer aside, they have to make their choice. This matters to them. I wish only that I could do more to protect them. But I can't fight as well without the dust to be as useful. And I can't keep using the dust, so I have to allow the others to be their backup instead now. Doesn't make it easy."

"But you aren't going back to using dust," Raven said. "We made it illegal for a reason. I'd personally court-martial you if I heard of that."

"I will choose to take that as concern instead of despotism." This was Hazel's attempt at humor--still not very natural to him.

"Whatever." Raven tossed her hair. "I just need something good to happen after all the bad news..."

"I believe they say that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself," Hazel remarked.

"I should make it happen?" Raven said. "I can get behind that.... Something more possible than an immediate end to this ongoing crisis..." She put a hand to her chin.

Hazel didn't have any suggestions--not the type.

"Ah, I have it." Raven looked up after about a minute's consideration. "But it'll take more than just me. I have a proposal."

"What?" Hazel asked, just to be polite, since he knew she was going to tell him whether he asked or not.

"Why don't we just get married?" Raven asked, as if she was asking if someone would plan a party.

It took Hazel a full second to understand what she said, but then he paused. "What?"

"Well, Shine's been after me for ages to make a real choice about my personal life," Raven said. "And I kept putting it off, but I'm not getting any younger here. And frankly neither are you, so how about it?"

Now, she wasn't as confident as she sounded, of course, but you'd never have guessed it to look at her.

Hazel gave her a long look. "Are you serious?"

"Yes.... Why? Do I not seem serious?" Bravado was waning.

"I'd have to think about it," Hazel said.

"Oh, sure, think about it." Raven felt a bit more confident again. "Think about what exactly?"

"Well, it is a sudden change." Hazel folded his arms thoughtfully. "Wouldn't be as simple as just saying that. There'd be different living conditions, different expectations."

"I know that," Raven said. "I've thought it all out already.... Did it never occur to you?"

"Not in that kind of detail," Hazel said. "And not this soon."

"Soon? It's been years," Raven said.

"Well, soon for me. I only realized we were together about one year ago."

Well, ouch.

"You never said anything about it," Raven said.

"Neither did you. I assumed it was tacitly understood."

Like most of Hazel's thoughts, really.

"So then this was tacitly understood, wasn't it?" Raven still sucked at communicating.

"I suppose, eventually. Are you sure you're ready for that kind of change?"

"Actually, it might be a welcome break from the mundane." Raven tossed her hands up in a frustrated way. "And it's something I've never done before, so that would be interesting. First times all around, right?"

"Yes..." Hazel pondered it for another moment. "I suppose there's no harm in it. Just like that? Or a ceremony?"

"Well, I always thought I'd not bother with the party," Raven said. "Because, for one thing, I don't want to see my brother's simpering smile or otherwise horror...but then that would be fun, and on the other hand, I could really shock everyone who thought I'd never do it. Maybe a small ceremony would be all right. Nothing too flashy though, I'm not a Schnee."

"Agreed, and it wouldn't be that appropriate when there's so much else going on to take too much time," Hazel said.

"Oh, yes, that's exactly what I say," Raven said. "But for a day or so, they could all spare some time from brooding about the problems of the world. And so could I, so in that way it's ideal."

"Well, if it's worked out," Hazel said. "Emerald and Mercury have to be off duty for it."

"Oh, of course.... Hmm, but there's one problem: the DJs..." Raven frowned. "They might not be able to show up. Shine told me in her letter that she's...well, to put it in Tai's words 'in a family way.'"

"That's good for them," Hazel said.

"Yes...and really about time, considering they've been married a whole year now, I think, but she can't travel like that."

"And it won't have been months since she wrote that, in their time?"

"I don't think so," Raven said. "But...I don't know if we can wait that long. Things could change any day.... I suppose I can ask--but might just have to let that one go.... Bright side, I would be spared Wally's ill thought out jokes about it."

[I bet no one thought this would happen like this--but, no cap, I've heard of real life couples getting engaged in pretty much the same way. Not everyone feels the need to do the flashy proposal--personally I almost think I'd prefer it that way myself. No pressure then.]

* * *

Just the evening after that conversation, Raven decided to surprise visit Qrow again.

Emerald, Weiss, and Cinder actually hadn't left the house yet because Winter had roped them into babysitting until she got back from running some errands, since Qrow was actually working that day--though not far from home. Meridian had gone with him.

Winter of course would also stop by the base to get the latest reports, which she had a habit of doing, to Raven's annoyance, as it made her feel like she was checking in. And no, she didn't see the irony of her minding someone else snooping without telling her.

Emerald and Weiss were really the ones babysitting. Cinder more of just hadn't left yet because she was dreading going to her apartment and being alone with her thoughts, though she was in a little better frame of mind.

Also it just seemed lonely.

"Do you think Royal will be okay after yesterday?" Emerald asked at some point, when she'd finally gotten the twins to go to sleep. 

"Why wouldn't he be?" Weiss asked, finally getting some tea.

"Oh, he took it hard with the bad news after we caught Dawkins, and after what happened to those poor girls and that one guy they took. You know, I just think he might be down," Emerald said.

Cinder had thought this more than once since waking up, which puzzled her.

Weiss noted she was listening to them and spoke a little louder.

"I think he's going to be okay, but it is tough. So you're pretty good friends, huh?" With a meaningful look.

Emerald caught her drift.

"Yeah, I'd say we've gotten to be good friends," she said. "Working together a lot tends to do that. And he's been good about sticking up for us even when other people won't. I appreciate that."

"But you're just friends, right?" Weiss pressed. "Nothing more."

"Weiss!" Emerald pretended to get offended. "Not everyone has to be like that, you know."

"I just thought maybe after Mercury and you ended things, you'd be trying to move on," Weiss said carefully. "You think so?" She directed that remark at Cinder.

"Spare me any involvement in this conversation." Cinder huffily sat down again and pretended to pick up a book for the purpose of reading it but wasn't really reading it.

"I'm trying to move on, all right, but...no, I just can't really feel like I hit it off with anyone else." Emerald became more serious about this conversation. "I've gone out with a handful of guys, and they're nice. Maybe I don't like nice, because it just doesn't click for me. I mean, I get along with them. We can have fun talking about stuff, but I can't imagine really living with any of them or really...you know."

"Love?" Weiss said.

"Sure, that," Emerald said. "What's wrong with me, huh? All of you just found who you're supposed to be with, and you get married, and it's like a storybook. None of you had to dump anyone."

"Oh, sure, because I didn't stop seeing Neptune, who's now married to my niece-in-law," Weiss said. "Talk about awkward history. But we weren't a good fit. I never thought I'd marry a Vacuo guy. My father would have been horrified--which was part of the appeal, but you know.... And Meridian and I aren't perfect. You know that."

"You just seem so healthy and like you never have a real fight." Emerald hugged her sides. "Mercury and I fight, even now that we're only friends, and over real stuff, not just stupid, petty fighting that no one takes seriously. We fight over how to deal with things."

"Em, sometimes Mer and I fight over that too," Weiss said seriously. "We're very different people, you know, in a lot of ways. He's far less cautious than I am, for one thing. I was taught to be careful, calculated, and to coordinate my attacks like some kind of dance. And that's how I try to think. But plans don't always go the right way, and you have to improvise. I've never been that good at that part, and that's practically Meridian's middle name. So we are different. But the important things, we do agree on. I'm not saying you were wrong to break up, but I thought you did that so you both could have the best chance to pursue happiness without the other person dominating it."

"I just didn't think we wanted the same things," Emerald said. "And that's kind of a problem, when you have to work together. I still don't know what he wants. You don't have that problem."

"Well, I'm still figuring out what I want too," Weiss said. "Maybe not everyone has to be moving at the same pace.... So you still like him, huh?"

"I wish I could say less now," Emerald said. "It's kind of embarrassing, but even with the bickering, he's been acting a little different lately. Like...more mature, I guess? More concerned about our friends, and about the people we're saving. And bolder about the Grimm. I wish that wasn't so d--- attractive, but that's just the kind of people we need on our side, and I'm not getting that with the other guys. They don't get it...and they don't share my real beliefs either. I'm stuck."

"I'm sorry," Weiss said. "All joking aside, I get it, actually. Things aren't lining up the way you wanted, and it sucks." She pushed her hair back. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want."

"Thanks, I'm tired of listening to myself complain about it," Emerald said. "I mean, it's over. I should just get over it."

Cinder made a skeptical sound over her book.

"Did you have something to add after all?" Weiss said sassily.

"No," Cinder said.

"Hmm...well, why not give Zapato more of a chance then, Em?" Weiss finally switched gears. "He's a bit more on the same page as us."

"Just not my type," Emerald said. "I think I have a problem where I don't like nice that much. Plus there's a bit more of an age gap there, though not a big one. Besides, I think he's got a thing for someone else."

"Oh, really?" Weiss said, acting surprised. "Who?"

"I think we both know." Emerald glanced toward Cinder, who finally looked up to give them a glare.

"Stop it," she said.

"Oh, come on, you're not fooling anyone," Weiss said. "Just admit it already. You have something going on with that guy."

"No, I don't. And I'm tired of everyone kidding about it," Cinder said.

"Not kidding," Emerald said. "Not now. Maybe before it was a joke, but lately you've been acting like it's for real. I'm sure he likes you."

Cinder flapped the book angrily--or else nervously--but then she said, "What would give you that idea?"

"Uh, you want the list?" Emerald counted on her fingers. "He's always hanging around you whenever there's a chance to; you're always having private conversations; you banter a lot like you're closer; and he's literally gotten in fights over defending your honor. That's pretty clear, isn't it?"

"What do you think he wants? An autograph?" Weiss agreed.

"You sure changed your tone from a few seconds ago," Cinder said.

"Oh, I was just messing with you. Emerald knew that." Weiss waved it off.

"Yeah, I knew she was kidding," Emerald admitted. "Sorry."

"Funny," Cinder said very sarcastically, "that the two of you have nothing better to do with your time."

"You sound like Winter," Weiss said. "Look how that turned out. Why is it so bad? You're not really so against that kind of thing, are you? I'm sure you're human."

"I know she's into it," Emerald said. "Back when we first worked together, we'd both check out the hot guys--just casually of course. Too busy being evil to really go anywhere, but looking is free, right?"

"Isn't that kind of creepy?" Weiss asked.

"Not like that--anyway, what do you expect from us? Not that Mercury ever gave me much time to after he joined us..." Emerald mused to herself.

"Well, that was a long time ago," Cinder said. "And just because someone is aesthetically pleasing, doesn't really mean anything."

"So you admit that he is good looking?" Weiss said.

"How shallow do you think I am?" Cinder grew annoyed. "Looks are not the only thing a person should care about."

"I agree, but they don't hurt," Weiss said slyly.

"Weiss, your Yang influence is showing," Emerald said.

"Oh, shut up." Weiss dismissed her nonchalantly. "I'm sure you like him, Cinder."

"Why is this so important to you?" Cinder felt she was getting red, and she didn't like that.

And why was it getting to her anyway? They were being childish.

"Because maybe you shouldn't be alone forever, you know?" Weiss said. "People get weird when they're alone.... I hated being alone. I hope that you're not going to try to be alone just because you think it's safer. That's just sad."

"She's right about that. It is sad," Emerald said. "But we can't force her to want something, Weiss. I've had this conversation before. It's no good. She's determined not to let herself like the guy, and she's determined to deny that he's clearly into her."

"How ridiculous," Cinder said. "He has an obsession with our way of life and with people reforming, that is all. He's never made any kind of suggestion of anything else."

Emerald and Weiss gave her a look.

"Well, he wouldn't, would he?" Emerald said. "Not if it would bother you."

"Not every guy flirts as openly as Meridian or Neptune," Weiss pointed out. "Especially Atlas guys, trust me.... In the elite circles, it was seen as kind of vulgar to come onto someone.... Usually your parents set you up anyway. The closest we got was someone might ask you what your hobbies were, and if you had one they shared, they might ask you to do it--that only led to them being after my money, in my experience. I'm sure Royal has had the same experience himself. His family was almost as rich as mine, for a while (the SDC did kind of outpace them, but my father did that by cutting corners)--the point is, maybe you're just not reading it that way."

"She's got a point. Royal is a classy guy from a super posh background," Emerald pointed out. "Not like those sleazy guys who hit on us back in the day--they didn't have any kind of decency. That can't be your standard. Or Merc's stupid 'you want me' lines."

"Ugh, I can't believe that was how he used to flirt," Weiss said.

"I don't even think it was flirting. It was just being obnoxious," Emerald said. "And that's my point--a really decent guy wouldn't do that."

"Well, there is Jaune...but he wasn't creepy, just tried way, way too hard," Weiss winced. "Good thing Pyrrha found that endearing."

"She would," Ermald snorted.

"Why does this matter to you so much?" Cinder was hoping they'd drop it if she made it seem embarrassing--but that wasn't working.

"I noticed how you acted yesterday," Weiss said. "I was sure there was something there...and he seems nice enough. So, even if there's not, I'm hoping that you'll not be harsh about it, you know.... As someone who used to get called The Ice Queen, I do feel a little bad for the way I acted. Don't do that, it makes you cringe later."

"I can't say I have that problem," Emerald said. "But it just annoys me that here I am, stuck single, and you have a chance to maybe not be and be happy, possibly, and you won't even consider it because of your weird conviction that it's not possible. What, do you think you're not worthy or something?"

Well, Cinder hadn't tried to put into words before, but...that was pretty much it.

She looked down.

"Oh," Weiss said in a low voice, glancing at Emerald. "Nice going there."

"Sorry, I didn't think that would really be it..." Emerald said in a small voice. "I mean not only that, anyway."

"Funny, since that's your ex's problem too, I'd think you'd know not to step on it," Weiss said.

"Not worthy? What do you mean?" Emerald said.

"Duh, he thinks he doesn't deserve you, so he acts up. This isn't rocket science," Weiss said.

Emerald got a strange look on her face.

[I would add that this is no excuse to tolerate being treated badly, ladies or gentlemen. It is true that people will act up because they don't feel worthy, but some people use that as a reason to excuse acting that way because you'll let them even though they don't deserve it, and they get a kind of kick out of that. That's abusive behavior. I don't put Mercury in that category, but some people are, and I'm not one to brush that off just because they are insecure. However, acting out in a way that hurts yourself more is not something I would call abusive, and not everything is big enough to end a relationship over. Just make sure you're not the one who's always taking the fall for the issues that come up. That's a red flag.]

"That was the first time anyone pointed it out to her," Cinder said.

"It was?" Weiss said.

[Hard to believe but I think so.]

"Nevermind," Emerald said. "We're not talking about me..." She looked uncomfortable.

"Why do I have to want the same things as you?" Cinder said, back on subject.

"You don't," Weiss admitted. "Just so long as you know what you want and you're not just telling yourself you don't want something out of fear, that's all."

"Why should you care anyway if I get what I want?" Cinder was more subdued. "I never cared about you getting your wishes."

"So we're not the same." Weiss shrugged. "Besides, you don't know what I want."

The door opened right then, and Qrow came in carrying his scythe. Meridian followed a moment later.

"That was a short assignment," Emerald said.

"Those punks didn't have a clue how to fight. It was almost embarrassing to fight them," Qrow said. "But you're not the ladies I expected to find waiting."

"Winter just went to run some errands," Weiss said.

"Well, I expected to find you waiting." Meridian picked her up.

"Hey, careful!" Weiss pretended to not like it.

"Always so high maintenance," Emerald commented. "You have it so good, having a guy who wants to see you everyday..."

"If you don't have a bloke like that, Em, get a new one," Meridian said. "That's just the most wrong thing."

"I should go." Cinder was beginning to feel self conscious about staying here for so long.

"You don't have to," Weiss said. "Just yet."

"And stay for more of your grilling? No way." Cinder grabbed her bag.

"Ah, there you are." Raven came barging in the door right then, which Meridian hadn't even shut all the way yet. Cold air came in also, but Raven didn't seem to mind that.

"Sis? What are you doing here?" Qrow said.

"I can't drop in on my family?" Raven said.

"You could, but you're not, not without a reason," Qrow said.

"It pains me how well you know me," Raven said. "But for once, it's not bad news. And good, I see some of you are still here.... I'm a little surprised, but it'll save me the effort."

Cinder paused. "This has to do with me?"

"I'll include you in the invite." Raven shrugged. "Why not? To put it briefly, can you all leave tomorrow evening free in your schedules? We have the assignments covered already. Most of you are supposed to be resting anyway after the last one, but looking at you, little brother."

"Can you stop calling me little?" Qrow said.

"Never," Raven replied.

"What are you asking us to clear our schedules for?" Emerald asked. As usual she was the adult in the room.

"I--wait a just moment." Raven suddenly checked her scroll. "Oh, good, they're here."

"Who is--?" Qrow began.

Yang, Neptune, and Ruby all came in the door a second later.

"What is it?" Yang asked at once. "Did they find someone?"

"Why are you here?" Qrow asked.

"Raven said she had a big announcement that she was making at your house," Neptune said.

"What is it?" Ruby asked excitedly. "Good news, right?"

"Well, now that you're all here--" Raven loved drama, of course. "--I wanted to invite you to come to the sort of reception. Hazel and I are getting married tomorrow afternoon, and I was able to get the use of the base Assembly Hall for that time. Should be plenty of room for everyone."

At first Qrow didn't register what she said. "Well, why would you want us all--what did you just say?"

"I'm sorry, I think I heard wrong. Did you say you're getting married tomorrow?" Yang almost choked.

"To Hazel?" Cinder was incredulous.

"Well, who did you think it would be?" Raven was loving this. "Do you all have mud in your ears? Neither of us really wanted a grandiose ceremony for it, just a quick little one and then dinner or something. Still working that part out. Why? You don't think everyone has to have a big party, do you, Schnee?"

"I...but you..." Weiss swallowed. "Just like that?"

"Did he even know you were dating?" Emerald asked.

"I don't really see why that question is relevant," Raven said.

Emerald smacked herself. "This isn't a weird dream...not that I think I'd dream that.... Okay...well, uh, I'm happy for you, I guess. And sure, I'll come. Might be fun."

"Mom!" Yang was mad. "How could you just spring this on us like this?"

"Coming from the girl who eloped?" Raven said. "You're not one to talk. I'm giving you 24 hours."

"I might have known you'd do that." Qrow recovered himself finally. "Classic Raven, dropping bombs with little to no warning."

"I guess we are in no position to tlak," Neptune said to Yang.

"Shut up, whose side are you on?" she asked.

"Well, congratulations." Meridian wasn't bothered. "I, for one, think you both suit each other and this is the next logical step."

"I didn't ask for an analysis of it," Raven said. "If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't do it."

"It's weird to think of you actually marrying anyone," Qrow said.

"You think I won't?" Raven said.

"I think you're rushing it," he said.

"Not really," Emerald said. "It's been a while."

"What business is it of yours anyway?" Cinder asked Qrow. "It's her life."

"Thank you, Cinder," Raven said. "That's an excellent point. I'll see you all there."

She portaled out, because of course she had to make a grand exit, and she couldn't fly.

"Well, that was weird," Ruby said. "But at least I'm invited."

"Mercury is going to throw a fit," Emerald mused.

"Get a new hobby," Cinder muttered to her.

"Hey!" She frowned.

"I'm leaving." Cinder didn't want to stay and argue about it. She headed out.

* * *

Well, Raven always had her way in the end, it seemed. Everyone was free to attend the next evening.

To be sure, this didn't really overshadow the wake of the horrible things that had happened in the village. 

However, one thing Shine and Wally had always told them, and Wally especially in his (usually shorter) letters, was not to let the bad things keep them from enjoying the good things, because you only have so much time in the day, and you can't wait for things to be perfect to be happy.

Oscar remarked on that to Jaune and Pyrrha when they heard about the marriage.

"Funny how the fastest man alive, in his world at least, says that you never have enough time," Jaune mused.

"Don't you think he might appreciate that even more?" Pyrrha said thoughtfully while sorting clothes for both the kids and the baby. "Because maybe moving at our pace, we have the illusion that if we were just a little faster, or smarter, or stronger, we could do it all, but someone who can do a million things we couldn't in the same amount of time but still can't do everything, would realize that time is precious.... I know, Oscar, how you feel about the village...but in reality, we won't make their suffering less by refusing to have any joy ourselves. Then no one is happy. Though I confess it's hard for me to put it aside sometimes. Seems I don't deserve to be so much happier than other people."

"You deserve it." Jaune put a hand on her shoulder. "But that doesn't mean they don't deserve it too. That poor woman...all of them. You know, Oscar, I want to help stop this. I haven't been involved in it at all, but hearing what they did, I felt so furious. I could take them all on single-handedly."

Pyrrha smiled faintly.

"I know," Oscar said. "I wasn't that interested in being part of it--I mean, I support it of course, but I thought the others could handle it. Now I'd like to see it myself. It's been ages since we all teamed up on the same project--since Deliverance Day, actually. It'd be nice to again."

"I'm sure the world thinks we can stop anything," Pyrrha said. "But I worry that we'll disappoint them, because, in the end, we're human and limited. The best team in the world couldn't solve every problem. Though we are the best team."

"I still want to help," Jaune said.

"That's why I married you," Pyrrha said.

"Oh, not for my looks?" Jaune said.

Pyrrha ruffled his hair. "That too..."

"Uh...guys?" Oscar felt awkward.

"Sorry," Jaune said.

"We wouldn't do anything off color in front of you, Oscar, please." Pyrrha was a little perturbed.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant, I just..uh, well, I feel a little out of place when people start talking like that while I'm around," Oscar said.

"Yeah, sorry," Jaune said again. "I gotta admit, we haven't had much alone time...or quiet time, period, lately. It was super nice of Saph to take the older kids to the park."

"I appreciate my mother offering to watch Lux also, but I hate leaving my baby." Pyrrha frowned. "She said that's normal but it'll grow on me. That sounds awful."

"Well, my aunt never seemed to have much trouble letting me do things alone," Oscar mused. "I guess if it's not your baby maybe it's different. It sounds wonderful though. I hope I have kids one day."

"Of course you will. You'd be a great parent," Jaune said. "You and Ruby just need to make it official."

"Oh, ummmm, but we're not exactly..." Oscar blushed.

"Still?" Jaune said.

Pyrrha nudged him. "Let's not embarrass him," she said.

Too late for that.

"So, uh, do you think we have to dress up for this party?" Oscar changed the subject.

"I don't know, but it might be nice to be out of armor for one evening," Jaune said. "I think I'm chafing."

"I haven't had an excuse to dress up since before the bay," Pyrrha mused. "Maybe we should even if she's not requiring it. I doubt she'd care much, but it feels wrong not to. It's a happy occasion."

"Yeah, do you think they'll go all out?" Oscar said. "I somehow never really pictured Hazel agreeing to this for real. Not that I'm not happy for them. They seem good for each other, but...it's just a little weird."

"Yeah, old people getting together is weird," Jaune said.

"I'm pretty sure Raven is younger than your mom, Juane," Pyrrha said.

"Still old," Jaune said.

"Don't let her hear you call her that," Oscar warned.