"So… It's decided then."

He didn't want it to be. This is the last thing he wanted. It wasn't decided, because if it was decided it had ended. And it wouldn't end. Not ever. Not for him.

"Yeah…"

"It's for the best."

"You already said that."

"I know, it's just…"

She wants to be reassured. She wants to be right. Neither of them are right here. All of it was wrong, but it was even worse like this.

"And you'll keep going? You'll never say a word to him?"

"I… I have to. He wouldn't be able to-"

He puts up his hand. He knows. They had talked about this. Not only once.

"…"

"Was there a chance? Ever?"

"I… Don't know. But now…"

"She's his... I get it. I don't like it, but I get it..."

"…"

"S-Summer?" He fought against the catch in his throat.

"I… I don't know. It was before you came back. I mean, we had never declared it, but I'm helping to raise Yang. She needed a mother… And he's been good, and you're always gone…

"It just happened."

"…"

"And then you came back."

"…"

"And I just didn't know who…"

"If she's mine…"

"Would it matter?"

And that was the moment his heart broke.

"Of course it would. If she's my flesh and blood…"

"Would you treat her any different? You can't be here for them, not always. You can't be there to make eggs on Sundays. You can't be there when she takes her first steps. You can't be there when they have nightmares. You can't be there when she makes cookies with your name on them. At least you can't know you will be."

"…"

"I wish it was you. I wish I could choose…"

"…"

"Are you going to say something?" He could see the tears brimming in her eyes. Fear, pain. Love, hurt.

"…"

"Anyth- "

"Okay."

"…"

"I'm going to love her one way or another. She's yours, so my heart belongs to her." There was bitterness at betrayal there though. She choked back a sob, but barely.

"I-"

The tears came. He comforted her. He held her tight as she sobbed into the crook of his shoulder. He could feel the slight swell of her stomach against him. He tried to hold back the tears. He couldn't.

"Just… Don't ever tell me. If you ever know. If the doctors tell you. I… I couldn't survive that."

She didn't say anything. She just stayed there, equal parts warm and ice cold in their last embrace. He could slowly hear her mumbling something, growing in volume between the sobs. He knew what she was saying.

"Don't be. I… I left. This is on me."

She squeezed him tighter. He was going to do the same, but he was overly conscious of the third party present.

"What's her name?"

"Ruby. Ruby Rose." Not Xiao Long.

"It's a beautiful name."

"…"

"She going to be beautiful. One way or another."

"…"

"You take care of her, alright?"

"I…"

He knew what she was going to say.

"I lo-"

He silenced her by pressing his lips against hers, one last time. Fear, pain. Love, hurt.

He broke away.

"Don't. You can't. You've got two little girls now. And if you say it…"

Then I'll never leave again.

Silent understanding.

"Goodbye," She whispers, the tears coming again. But this time he couldn't hug her close. "I'll see you again."

"Yeah…"

The lie hung in the air. She wouldn't see him again. Not the real him.

Because he could never show her he loved her again.

And he could never stop loving her.

A/N

I can't help but love the idea of Qrow and Summer.

I also can't help but love tragedy.

First of my self proclaimed one-shot challenge to write a story a day.

Cheers,

Unjax