Author's Note: Probably not posting next week. My life's a bit chaotic at the moment, so I'm a bit behind on writing.

Chapter 66

Pyrrha and Yang set up the chairs in a triangle beside the shrine, and the trio sat down. The chairs were not terribly comfortable, but better than nothing. Pandora opened the wine, taking a swig before passing the bottle to Pyrrha who did the same. "This is the same wine we had with lunch." Pyrrha noted, passing the bottle to Yang.

"No wonder you always drink us under the table." Yang shook her head. "The stuff we usually drink is pretty much water by comparison." Yang took a sip and laughed. "Remember Nora's birthday party? The rest of us could barely stand and you were fine."

"That was wine?" Pyrrha asked. "I thought it was non alcoholic."

"You mean grape juice?" Yang asked. "No, that was the real deal." Yang sighed. "It's a shame really, us being so drunk ruined all of Nora's other plans."

"What plans did she have?" Pandora asked.

"She wanted to play poker, and Twister." Yang replied. "I mean, she really wanted to play strip poker and naked Twister, but Pyrrha was not down for that, sober or drunk. We just ended up watching some stupid movie I can't remember. It was still pretty fun...I think, everything about that night's kinda' hazy."

"I had my share of wild nights in my youth." Pandora admitted. "Can't say I ever played strip poker or naked Twister though. I did drunkenly set a fire while trying to cook at a friend's party."

"Ruby didn't need to be drunk to set the kitchen on fine." Yang chuckled. "She was having her old girlfriend Penny over for their anniversary, and she was trying to cook a big, complicated meal for them. Well, Ruby started too late, and was trying to do everything at once, and she got behind on the chicken she was frying while she dealt with the stuff in the oven. The oil overheated and caught fire, and she panicked. She knew not to use water to try to put it out, but when she tried to douse it with baking soda, all she managed to do was splash burning oil all over the kitchen. That's about when she ran out of the house screaming 'fire!' Mum - uh, her mum - just sighed, grabbed the fire extinguisher, and put out the blaze in a few seconds. The area around the stove was pretty wrecked, and Ruby was totally freaked out, but it worked out alright. She and Penny went out to dinner instead, and the kitchen was back to normal in a few days. Ruby's actually a pretty good cook when she's paying attention too."

"We all have our kitchen blunders." Pandora smiled. "Pyrrha almost cut off one of her fingers." Pyrrha huffed and traced the faint, old scar on her left pinky. "Anyway, you said Ruby's mother put out the fire, she's not your mother?"

"It's kind of complicated." Yang noted. "Ruby's my half sister, and her mother raised me. When I was born, my mum Raven wasn't ready for a kid, and Summer, Ruby's mum, raised me in her place. She married my dad and they had Ruby, and I didn't find out that Raven was my birth mother until I was thirteen. Until then she was just Aunt Raven."

"That must have been difficult." Pandora observed.

"Yeah, it was." Yang confirmed. "I kinda' freaked out. Pyrrha had to chase me into the forest and help me calm down. I had trouble trusting people, my parents in particular, after that, but it all worked out, and we're one big, weird, happy family now...well, except for dad, he's not around anymore."

"Did he-" Pandora started.

"No, he's not dead, just divorced." Yang preempted. "We had some...issues and eventually it got out of hand. He lives in Vacuo now, apparently he put his life back together...which is good for him. I just wish we could all be a family again."

"It's never too late." Pandora declared. "Perhaps you should get in touch with him."

"Oh, I wanna' patch things up, that's not the problem." Yang explained. "Summer and Raven are just...well it hurt them a lot more than it hurt me, kinda'. But we'll try someday, Ruby'll make sure of it." Yang paused. "But sad stories are boring. I didn't mean to unload. We should talk about the fun and happy!"

"There's no need to apologize." Pandora waved her off. "Your troubles are my troubles now. We are family."

"Yeah?" Yang asked, taken aback. "That quick? I mean, we only just met, and I've only been with Pyrrha for a few months-"

"We've always been family." Pyrrha interrupted. "We've probably been closer than we realized for a while. Remember that trip to Vale with Glynda?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Yang asked. "We just went to the mainland to pick up some equipment, and went to a few shops."

"A few?" Pyrrha scoffed. "You dragged me through two shopping centers. I was dead on my feet!"

"They were good shopping centers!" Yang protested. "You've still got that bikini."

"Anyway, we ended up at a seaside cafe, we watched the sunset together." Pyrrha added. "It was cool, and I was tired, and I ended up dozing off against you. It was very romantic."

"Oh man, I nearly forgot about that." Yang remembered. "Went straight over our heads...we should go there again some time."

"That would be lovely." Pyrrha agreed. "We probably don't need to include Glynda this time."

"Glynda?" Pandora asked.

"Our boss." Yang replied. "Business partner soon. I got a ton of cash from the settlement for my accident." Yang flexed her prosthetic. "Glynda's wanted to expand her company to a second location for a while now, but with my money she can finally do it. I'll own the new place, and Pyrrha will be the manager. I've never really had a head for all that business stuff, before my accident I was just a personal trainer, but Pyrrha knows it and has the education. She's perfect for the job."

"Oh, I guess you won't be taking over the bathhouse then." Pandora frowned. "I always imagined leaving it to you."

"Actually, the bathhouse isn't terribly far from where the gym will be." Pyrrha noted. "The new gym won't have a pool or any aquatic therapy, so perhaps the bathhouse can fulfill those needs."

"As your boss...I like the idea." Yang decided.

"Well, it's good to know your futures are secure." Pandora smiled. "Not that I ever doubted you Pyrrha." She paused. "So, do you have any other fun stories? I'd love to make up for lost time."

"After years of hanging around with Nora?" Yang smirked. "Oh yeah, we've got stories."

Several hours, innumerable stories, and three bottles of wine later, the morning sky was beginning to show some light. Exhaustion coupled with alcohol to leave Yang a wreck. She tried to pack up the chairs but kept stumbling around until Pyrrha helped. Pyrrha then blew out and put away the candles, and Pandora snuffed out the bonfire by putting the lid on the metal cylinder. The trio retraced the steps they had taken the prior evening, making their way back to the house just as the sun was clearing the horizon. Along the way Pyrrha had to carefully guide Yang, lest a misstep send her careening off the path. They expected to find the others enthralled by - or rolling their eyes at - Theus' many tall tales, but the house was eerily silent.

After disposing of the wine bottles and shedding their heavy coats, the trio headed for the longue to find out what was going on. There they found several silent and sleeping forms arrayed on the various couches, along with Jaune who was on the floor. Ren was not asleep. He looked up from the book on Mistrali religion he had been reading. "Welcome back." He whispered.

"Where is Theus?" Pandora asked. He was conspicuous in his absence.

"He never came out of his room." Blake replied. She too was reading, a book about Faunus history in Mistral, with Ruby curled up in her lap.

Pandora nodded and motioned for Yang and Pyrrha to follow her out of the room. She quietly closed the door behind them, not wanting to wake anyone. "I need to have a talk with Theus. You two should go get some rest. I'll wake you for the feast."

"Yes mother." Pyrrha nodded. She and Yang headed to her room as Pandora slipped into her own. Pyrrha and Yang shed their ceremonial garb and laid down on the bed. The mattress was far firmer than Yang would have preferred, but she was too exhausted to care. The pair would have fallen asleep quickly if not for the sounds of an escalating argument emanating from the room next door. It was impossible to make out exactly what was being said, but it was clearly angry and loud.

"Pyrrha, I feel like shit." Yang mumbled. "Your mum's so nice and...fuck, I don't wanna' screw up your parents'-"

"They may fight, but in the end father will do what mother tells him to." Pyrrha cut her off.

"Are you sure?" Yang pressed.

Pyrrha hesitated. "I...yes. They'll be fine."

A dull throbbing met Winter as she awoke, not unexpected considering the events of the prior night. Someone had had the bright idea of breaking out a bottle or two of Ev's liquor, and now they were all paying for it. The warmth of her pillows helped soothe the pain however...pillows?

"Win?" Raven whispered, and Winter opened her eyes.

Ah, 'pillows.' "Mornin'." Winter mumbled into Raven's shirt, and by extension, her breasts. Lacking a bra to boot.

"Shhh, look." Raven said quietly.

Looking upward, Winter followed Raven's gaze across, to the sleeping forms of Summer and Glynda, the little and big spoon respectively. "Aww, cute." Winter whispered.

"Win, how much do you remember?" Raven asked shakily.

Winter looked back to see a fearful look on Raven's face. "Everything...I think, you?"

"Yeah...everything." Raven replied.

"Ah...well...we should make some breakfast and...talk." Winter blushed.

Raven nodded. "Yes...let's."

"I'm sorry." Raven apologized.

Winter paused, pulling back from pouring boiling water into several mugs. Raven was pulling ingredients from the pantry. "Raven, nothing happened."

"Stuff did happen, we both know where it was going." Raven countered, pulling out a bowl. She began filling it with eyeballed measurements of ingredients.

"But it didn't, and frankly, if it did, it would have been completely understandable." Winter persisted. "We were drunk...and…" She hooked her thumb into her pyjama pants and pulled them away, just enough to peer within. Black, she did not own black. "I'm still wearing your underwear. Didn't dream that, and it was Summer's idea, remember?"

Raven peered into her own boxers and sighed, noting the white and lacy panties she wore. "No wonder I had a wedgie."

"Normally I don't wear underwear to bed." Winter noted.

"Normally I don't wear anything to bed." Raven responded.

"Now there's an image." Winter smirked.

"Shut up...you saw enough when we went shopping." Raven huffed. She began mixing the ingredients.

"I saw enough at the pool." Winter added.

"Let's please not talk about that." Raven sighed.

"Oh now you're being modest?" Winter scoffed.

"Now I'm being more than a little freaked out waking up with two of the women I love snuggled up together with the third burying her face in my chest!"

"The third?" Winter asked, taken off guard.

Raven tensed, pausing in her mixing. "No, forget it, slip of the mind."

"Raven-" Winter started.

"I didn't mean it Winter." Raven growled, but there was no bite to her bark, just desperation.

"Raven." Winter laid a hand on her shoulder, which slumped as she turned.

"I didn't...mean to...please can we just forget it?" Raven begged with watering eyes.

"It's okay-" Winter insisted.

"No, it's not okay." Raven cut in. "It's not right. It's not fair...Glynda deserves better."

"Glynda deserves your love, and you give it to her, day and and day out." Winter reached down and took Raven's hands in her own. "But you have more love than that, and that is okay Raven." Smiling, Winter gave Raven's hands a squeeze before letting go, returning to the kettle and mugs. "We don't have to talk about it, not until you're ready. But I'll be there for you when you need me, okay?" She spooned specific amounts of coffee and sugar into each mug, adding milk to Summer's and her own, and handing a black glass to Raven. "We've got all the time in the world to figure ourselves out, and besides, Glynda looked comfortable with Summer in there, and they looked really comfortable last night."

Winter waggled her eyebrows, and she and Raven shared a laugh, Raven wiping tears both new and old from wet eyes. "Nope, no way, doesn't make a lick of sense. It was a fluke, drunk, heat of the moment shit."

Winter shrugged, taking a delicate sip of her coffee and relishing in the sensation of it running down her throat. "I guess we'll find out...if they remember."

Raven sighed. "God, I fucking hope not."

Blake kept a close eye on the ham in the oven while Ren ensured his dumplings were ready to eat. The pair had put their books aside to assist Pandora in preparing the celebratory feast. Jaune had initially stopped in as well, but Nora had awoken and needed someone to occupy her attention, and Jaune was the man for the job. Ruby was busy comforting a hungover Weiss, and Yang and Pyrrha were still asleep.

"I think it's about ready." Blake announced.

Pandora walked over and peered into the oven as Blake opened the door. "Yes, perfect." She turned and searched for potholders.

"I can handle it." Blake noted. Pandora turned back to her. "I think Ren and I have everything under control." Ren nodded his agreement. "We can set up while you gather everyone."

"Thank you." Pandora smiled. She quickly rinsed off her hands before departing the kitchen.

Most of the food was already on the table, so all Blake and Ren had to do was move the ham from its pan to a large plate, and carry it and the dumplings to the dining room. Ren could not help but add some finishing touches to the ham in the form of some garnish and slices of pineapple. When Ren and Blake reached the dining room, everyone was already gathered, sitting in the same seats they had occupied the day before. Beside Pandora, Theus looked decidedly downcast, though that was an improvement from his belligerent mood during the prior meal. Ren and Blake positioned the food on the table, then took their seats.

Pandora stood and cleared her throat, signaling everyone to quiet down. "The Maidens have blessed us this day with a bountiful feast. In addition, they have blessed me with another daughter." She smiled at Yang and Yang smiled back.

As Pandora sat, Theus stood, his gaze cast at the floor. "I must apologize for my behavior yesterday. I treated you, our honored guests, with disrespect. Worse, I showed my daughter that same lack of respect. Pyrrha, it's past time I stopped trying to tell you how to live your life. What is important is not what I want, but what brings you happiness. I hope you can forgive me."

"Of course I forgive you." Pyrrha responded. "I only ever wanted to make you proud."

"And you have." Theus managed a weak smile. "You're the best daughter a father could ask for. I wish I'd said it sooner, and more often."

"We both do." Pandora added, taking Theus' hand and giving it a squeeze. Theus nodded and sat down, and once again an uncomfortable silence descended. "Come on now, eat! Drink! Be merry! This is supposed to be a celebration!"

"I can do that." Yang smirked. She took a gulp from her glass of wine.

There was some idle chatter as the group ate, but after almost a full day without food, the focus was most definitely on eating. What had seemed an overabundance of food at the start of the meal soon turned out to be insufficient. Theus ducked into the kitchen and returned with leftover bread from the day before, which soon solved the problem. The bread was much better when slathered with peanut butter, but also very filling. Pandora surprised the guests with a store-bought ice cream cake for dessert, capping off what had been a very enjoyable meal.

"I was looking through your book on the history of Faunus in Mistral, and I came across a reference to the Belladonna clan." Blake noted. "I'm a Belladonna, and I was wondering if I might be related."

"It's possible." Pandora responded. "They were once quite powerful and prominent in Signal, but fell on hard times. I don't think they've done anything noteworthy since the Great War. There are still many places in Signal that bare the Belladonna name, mostly church-related. They started out as warriors, but during the period of peace that followed unification, most shifted their focus to religious callings."

"Is there any way you can help me find out more?" Blake asked. "Even if I don't have any close relatives left, I'd like to learn more about my heritage."

"I'll make some inquiries." Pandora agreed. "We should trade e-mail addresses or phone numbers. Is there anything else you'd want to know?"

"Well, I saw some pictures of their traditional clothes." Blake noted. "Some of the attire was just breathtaking. Do you know anywhere I could get something similar?"

"That depends on the particular items of clothing." Pandora replied. "If you point out the pictures I'll see what I can find."

"Thank you so much." Blake said. "I never really cared about Faunus stuff, but I guess that's because, coming from Atlas, there really wasn't anything to be proud of. We were always just persecuted. Mistral sounds like another world."

"In a lot of ways-" Pandora started.

"The baby's coming!" Nora shouted, one hand grabbing at her stomach. Everyone looked at her, Ren and Jaune leapt to their feet. "Wait...no...false alarm." She laughed. "Just the food settling. Oops."

Ren just rolled his eyes and sat down. Jaune was more perturbed. "Don't scare me like that Nora. You're taking years off my life."

"Hehe, sorry." Nora apologized.

"So, Yang, Pyrrha, when do you want to have your wedding?" Pandora asked. "And where?"

"Mother, we're not even engaged yet." Pyrrha cautioned.

"Oh, it's never too early to start thinking about it." Pandora insisted. "Have you considered Maidens Peak in autumn? I hear it's just breathtaking that time of year."

"Mother, please, we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves." Pyrrha suggested.

"But it's just so exciting." Pandora continued. "And you should really get married as soon as possible."

"Which one of us would wear the dress?" Yang asked.

"Yang." Pyrrha admonished.

"Pyrrha would wear traditional matriarchal attire, and you would wear a robe of the finest Mistrali silk." Pandora replied.

"Would it be as baggy as this thing?" Yang stuck a thumb into her tunic, pulling the loose fabric for emphasis.

"In the winter, yes." Pandora admitted. "But in the autumn it would be just warm enough for something lighter."

"Do I get a cool circlet too?" Yang asked.

"Of course!" Pandora confirmed.

Pyrrha sighed. "Weiss, please pass me the wine."