Season 3

Chapter 23

Qrow strolled into Junior's in the mid afternoon. The place was empty but for the staff and a couple seated at a table in the back. It was a rather large club, far better kept and better lit than the bars he usually frequented, and the music was too upbeat for his liking. But that did not matter, he was not there for the ambiance. As he sidled up to the bar, a buff, bearded man in sunglasses approached. "What can I get you?"

"Gin and tonic." Qrow replied.

"Anything to eat?" The man asked.

"Eh...not yet." Qrow refused.

"Alright." The man nodded. "Rave! Gin and tonic!"

"Rave?" Qrow was taken by surprise. Sure enough, Raven stepped out from a back room, taking her place behind the bar. She failed to notice Qrow as she started mixing his drink. "Shit, you work here?"

"Wait a...Qrow...shit." Raven groaned.

"I didn't know you had a job." Qrow teased. "Thought you were more the moochin' type."

"I may not need the money, but I like to feel useful." Raven protested.

"You get bored when your girl's at work, huh?" Qrow suggested.

"Yep." Raven confirmed. She slid the finished drink in front of her brother. "What brings you here of all places?"

"Just stopped by to see a friend." Qrow replied.

"Friend?" Raven scoffed. "You don't have friends."

"Hey bossman!" Qrow waved to the man who had taken his order.

"Call me Junior." The man insisted. "What do you need?"

"Is Melanie around?" Qrow asked. "She said she lives upstairs."

"Oh, you're Qrow then." Junior smiled. "I'll go get her." He left the room through the door Raven had come through.

"Please don't fuck around with my boss' daughter." Raven sighed.

"Relax, we just had a good time chatting last night, figured we could pick it up again, sober this time." Qrow explained. "I promise I won't accidentally get you fired."

"Promise me you won't get me intentionally fired either." Raven demanded.

"I have no immediate plans, but I won't rule it out." Qrow smirked.

"Have I ever told you that I hate you?" Raven grumbled.

"Only every time we see each other." Qrow chuckled. He finished his drink, then slid the glass toward his sister. "Hit me."

"Oh, I'll hit you…" Raven started.

"Hey Qrow." Melanie cut in, emerging from the back room. "You took your sweet time."

"Nice to see you too Mel." Qrow rolled his eyes. "Nice place you've got here."

"It's alright." Melanie shrugged. She rounded the bar and took a seat beside Qrow. "Order anything?"

"Just drinks." Qrow replied. "Your old man cook anything good?"

"The burgers are pretty solid." Melanie suggested.

"Alright, I'll have a burger, with fries." Qrow decided. "You get that Rave?"

"One burger with spit, coming right up." Raven responded. She punched the order into the computer behind the bar.

"She's lovely, isn't she?" Qrow joked.

"She mixes a mean cocktail." Melanie observed. "I'll have my usual."

"Yes ma'am." Raven nodded, mixing Melanie's drink.

"So, how's life at Solstice?" Qrow asked.

"It's a job." Melanie answered. "One I can't afford to fuck up, my last chance. No pressure."

"Yeah, but my niece treats ya' right, doesn't she?" Qrow redirected.

"Everyone's very nice...too nice." Melanie complained. "How's...what do you do?"

"Self-employed." Qrow said. "I've got a nice leatherworking shop on Patch. It's doin' pretty good. I was even able to hire someone to work the place so I could take a few days off. Put every dime I had and the last couple years of my life into that place. It's been a real-"

"Financially successful." Melanie cut him off. "Tick that box."

"Oh?" Qrow grinned. "Am I marriage material?" Melanie glared at him. "Hmm...where have I seen that look…" He glanced over at Raven, who was similarly staring daggers into him. "Yep, there it is."

Junior emerged from the kitchen carrying a large tray that held two plates. He set it down on the bar near Qrow. "One burger with fries." Junior placed the plate before Qrow. "And a grilled chicken sandwich." He set the other plate in front of Melanie. "Enjoy."

"Cheers." Qrow smiled. He picked up his burger and took a bite out of it. He barely took the time to chew and swallow before speaking. "Holy shit, this is good. The bars I usually go to can't touch this stuff."

"If nothing else, dad's a great cook." Melanie praised.

Qrow took another bite, this time speaking with his mouth full. "You've gotta' good thing going here. Livin' at a place like this, must be awesome."

"I hate it." Melanie sighed. Qrow could see in the way she slumped and looked down that she was not just being angsty. "As soon as I have the money, I'm moving out. Too many bad memories here. I think there are some cheap apartments on the east side of town."

"You mean where Yang used to live?" Qrow asked. "You really don't wanna' live there."

"The sooner I get out of here, the better, and the cheaper the place, the sooner." Melanie explained.

"Uh...well shit." Qrow was at a loss. He knew the pain of losing a loved one, the way memories could connect to places and bring that agony rushing back. "I've got a spare room if you're interested."

"What?!" Raven spluttered. Junior froze.

"I'm listening." Melanie responded.

"It's right by the ferry so the commute isn't too bad." Qrow added. "It might seem a bit weird to move in with someone you just met but...shit, it's really weird. I just don't wanna' see a friend go through pain like this."

"I...right by the ferry huh?" Melanie managed.

"You're not seriously considering it." Raven tried to intercede. "This is crazy, you can't-"

"Sure, what the hell." Melanie shrugged. "If it doesn't work out I could always...come back here."

"You're seriously moving in with a guy you met yesterday?" Junior finally regained his wits. "Melanie, I know it's hard, but-"

"Qrow's an alright guy." Melanie noted. "Yang vouches for him, and so does my boss...sort of. I know you're worried about me, but I can take care of myself."

"Melanie…" Junior trailed off and sighed. "Do you really want to do this?"

"Yeah." Melanie confirmed.

"Alright." Junior relented.

"I won't try anything funny bossman." Qrow declared.

"That's right." Junior got in Qrow's face. "You won't. Unless you want me showing up at your place with that." Junior pointed above the bar, to a scratched crimson baseball bat.

"Message received." Qrow nodded, eyeing the bat.

"Oh lay off dad." Melanie huffed. "Besides, if he tries anything, I'll rip his balls off and shove them down his throat."

"I believe you." Qrow shuddered.

Junior smiled. "That's my girl."

"Is that a Breachers bat?" Qrow asked.

"Yeah, you're a fan?" Junior replied.

"Nah, Tai was though." Qrow shook his head.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Ugh, don't remind me."

"What will we have for dessert?" Kali asked, holding one side of the menu, Summer holding the other. Along with Blake and Velvet, they were dining at a local pub and restaurant. For Blake, Velvet and Summer, the lunch was something of a tradition. One day a week, the couple would take the little girl to lunch at a different restaurant, then to do something fun, whatever Summer might fancy.

"They have great pavlova." Blake replied.

"You've been here before?" Velvet asked.

"Yeah, it was ages ago though." Blake answered. "They might have changed."

"Can we have cheesecake?" Summer requested.

"I like cheesecake." Kali noted.

"Cheesecake it is." Blake agreed.

"Thank you!" Summer cheered.

"Do you like cheesecake?" Kali asked.

"Hmmhmm." Summer hummed in confirmation. "Aunty Yang made some, and it was really good!"

"Yang can cook?" Kali asked.

"Aunty Yang does all the cooking." Summer nodded. "She says Aunty Winter could burn salad."

"It's true." Blake added.

"Don't ask her about it though." Velvet advised. "It's a touchy subject."

"How on…well, maybe Yang and I can compare recipes!" Kali suggested. "I like her personality. She seems like a lovely friend."

"She's my closest friend." Blake declared. "We might have ended up together if Yang was in a better place when we met."

"It never stopped her from hitting on you, or us for that matter." Velvet noted.

"How else would Yang show affection?" Blake chuckled.

"Hugs...and compliments...yeah, good point." Velvet shrugged. "She's just a little too affectionate sometimes."

"Then talk to her about it." Blake said.

"But then she'll get all understanding and considerate, but in a sad way where I feel like the bad guy." Velvet complained.

"Because you're a big jealous meany who's afraid of being seduced by the beautiful blonde bombshell." Blake smirked.

"I'm tired of Winter glaring at me." Velvet huffed.

"That's just her resting facial expression." Blake scoffed.

"It doesn't feel that way!" Velvet protested.

"Aunty Yang says she's bursting so full of love, she wants to vomit rainbows!" Summer squealed.

Kali burst out laughing. "Oh Maidens that's adorable! I need to spend more time with this girl."

"Well maybe you can stay the night when we drop off Summer." Blake suggested.

"Would Winter mind?" Kali asked.

"Probably not." Velvet replied. "Unless she's in a bad mood, so it depends on Qrow."

"Oh, he seemed nice though, talking to that frowny girl." Kali observed.

"Who knows what's going on there…" Velvet said.

"He's Yang's uncle, which means he drives Winter insane on a good day." Blake explained. "He's been staying there when he visits."

"If he's still there, will there be room for me?" Kali wondered aloud.

"You can stay in my room." Summer beamed. "My bed's huge!"

Kali smiled and held Summer's hand. "Oh thank you dear. If only my beloved daughter was so kind as to share her bed with me."

"I sleep in the nude." Blake deadpanned.

"Something popped into my head and I can't stop wondering." Kali switched gears. "Do you ever have trouble mixing up underwear? It's never been an issue with me, because Blake was so much smaller than me and I could never confuse Ghira's underwear with anyone else's. He always wears briefs, despite how amazing he looks in a speedo, and I can't stand the constriction so I either go without or-"

"Mom!" Blake roused.

"We color code, pretty much everything really." Velvet explained. "It was Blake's idea."

"Velvet." Blake whined.

"All my undies are red." Summer smiled.

"Summer!" Blake groaned.

After dinner and dessert, the question was what to do next. Summer exclaimed that she had seen a park nearby, with a long slide down the side of a hill. She was not the only one excited to try it.

"Wheeeeeeee!" Kali cried, Summer giggling in her lap as they slid down the moderate incline. A child at heart, Kali had no issue expressing her enjoyment, especially given the state of her life until recently. Any excuse to revel in her joy was taken without a hint of hesitation.

"Is your leg okay grandma?" Summer asked as they slid to a halt where the slide flattened out at the base of the hill.

Kali pulled Summer into a tighter embrace. "Yes sweetie, I've never felt better. Want to go again?"

"Yes please!" Summer cheered.

From a bench nearby, Velvet tracked the other two with her camera, capturing every smile, every laugh and every cry with professional precision. There were few things so beautiful as joy, and even fewer so easily recorded, relived and appreciated. Years from now, this video would stand as a monument to their happiness in this moment. Velvet and Blake admired Kali as she frollicked as playfully as she could with their so very nearly adopted daughter Summer. The leg brace barely seemed to phase her.

"Dad used to tell me mom always wanted children." Blake suddenly spoke up. Velvet hummed in question, not taking her eye from the camera. "Well, baby crazy he said, but the point remains. She wanted children, as many as possible. It was her dream." Velvet looked over to see a sad smile on her wife's face. "Dad wasn't as enthusiastic. Even then he was dedicated to his work, but he wanted to see her happy, so they made me. Only I wasn't the easiest birth, and the doctors said it wouldn't be safe to have more children. So here mom was with one child and an octuplets' worth of love to shower her with."

"Oh how terrible." Velvet scoffed.

"I know right?" Blake chuckled. "I thought I was gonna' die from all the smothering."

"How ever did you survive?" Velvet teased.

"I very nearly didn't." Blake sighed. "What with mom talking about the future and grandkids, and it was a rollercoaster going from weirded out and disgusted to scared shitless I was gonna' disappoint her when I started liking girls more than boys." Those last words came out as a whisper, and Velvet wrapped an arm around Blake's waist, pulling her closer, pecking her on the temple.

"So that's why you never came out." Velvet observed.

"I feel so stupid, now more than ever." Blake groaned. "I pushed her away, and I pushed dad away, and he kept trying to pull me back because it was making mom sad, and then Ilia and I broke up and things got worse. I just wanted to run away, and you know how that turned out." Blake's tone was sarcastic, but her pain was evident. Velvet had stopped recording by that point, putting the camera down to focus entirely on her emotional spouse, wrapping their arms around each other. "And now here we are, I have a second chance. I can do things right this time Velv, I can make her proud."

Blake looked at Velvet through teary eyes and kissed her. Velvet did not hesitate to melt into it. Blake was always so warm, so passionate, so genuine. She could kiss her forever and a day without tiring. Her love was like a drug, and Velvet was completely addicted, left breathless as they giggled in one another's arms. "I guess you wanna' try again?" Velvet whispered.

Blake grinned, looking to the side, towards her mother and Summer. "Look at them. Mom looks so alive, Summer is so happy, they're a family already. But at the end of the day we have to take her back home...and then we're alone again. As much as we love her, Summer isn't our daughter, a few hours a week isn't enough...so yeah, I wanna' try again. And I want mom to be there with us."

Yang answered the knock at the door and was immediately grabbed around the legs by a very energetic Summer. "Aunty Yang, we had cheesecake and went to the park and went on a really big slide!"

"That's awesome Sum." Yang smiled. "Makes me wish I was there too."

"Velvs recorded most of it." Blake noted.

"I'll send you a copy." Velvet offered.

"Professionally edited no doubt." Winter joked, walking up behind Yang. Summer detached from Yang and latched onto Winter. "Thanks for bringing her back in once piece."

"Aunty Winter, can we play a video game?" Summer requested.

"Sure, but say goodbye to Blake, Velvet and Kali first." Winter replied.

"Bye, I love you!" Summer cheered. She rushed off into the house giggling, followed by Winter as she waved to the Belladonnas.

"She's so cute." Kali smiled.

"She really is." Yang agreed.

"Thanks for sharing her with us." Velvet chuckled.

"Thanks for giving me and Winter a day to ourselves." Yang smirked.

"Um...I don't want to impose, but Yang, I'd like to get to know you and Winter better, and I was wondering if I could spend the night?" Kali rambled.

"Oh, sure." Yang responded. "We don't have a guest room, but the couch is open."

"That's alright, and Summer offered to share her bed anyway." Kali laughed.

"Wasn't your uncle on the couch?" Blake asked.

"He was." Yang confirmed. "But he showed up earlier, grabbed all his stuff, and said he had to go back to Patch."

"Any idea why?" Velvet asked.

"Nope." Yang shrugged. "He seemed excited though. Maybe he got a big order or something. He was supposed to head back tomorrow anyway."

"Well, I suppose I'll take his place then." Kali suggested.

"You can try." Yang grinned. "Something tells me you won't drink a whole bottle of liquor overnight."

"I think baking a cake would be more my speed." Kali demurred.

"That's fun too." Yang said. "Why don't you go play with Summer. She'll love to game with her grandma."

"I'm afraid I'm not very good at video games." Kali warned. "Blake had a system when she was little and I could never figure out the controller."

"That was a long time ago too." Blake added. "The controller only had like three buttons."

"It doesn't matter if you're any good." Yang looked back, then leaned in to whisper to Kali. "Summer's terrible." Yang laughed. "She'll just be happy to have another player."

"In that case, I think I will join her." Kali decided. Yang stepped aside to allow her to walk past.

"Take good care of my mom, don't spoil her or anything." Blake deadpanned. "Make sure she doesn't eat too much and get sick. Don't feed her after midnight."

"Is that what I sound like when I hand over Summer?" Yang asked.

"Exactly." Velvet confirmed.

"Hmm, maybe I should be a bit less protective." Yang thought aloud.

"You know that's never gonna' happen." Blake charged.

Yang thought for a moment. "Nope, probably not."