Pyrrha jogged along at an easy, loping pace, her athletic legs eating up the ground as her long red ponytail swayed behind her. She was, as expected, covered in a sheen of sweat from the early heat and humidity, even though the sun had only just risen at the start of her jog, Granted, that was an hour ago, but it would seem that today, the Saturday before the girls returned to Beacon, was going to be an especially brutal one.

She stole a quick glance over her shoulder. Blake was still doggedly keeping pace, though the bow atop her head looked to be practically wilting, and her dark tank top and shorts were as wet as if she'd been swimming in the ocean.

Which I'm sure, at this point, she'd have easily preferred…

About a quarter of a mile back, Ruby was still gamely carrying on. The petite girl was adamant when they'd started out that neither of her girlfriends should ease their pace for her, to simply keep on and she'd catch up if she fell behind. Even if it meant her using her semblance to do so.

From the looks of it, however, she had been drawing heavily on her aura just to stay within sight of the others. The petite brunette, her sleek muscles working hard, was just as drenched with sweat.

Letting out a short, amused huff, Pyrrha took note of where they were. It wasn't exactly taking it easy on them, per se, but a little shortcut in her usual route wouldn't be noticed…

She turned at the next junction, cutting through the backyard of one of her childhood friends (who no longer even lived in Mistral anymore, from what she'd heard) and into her own neighborhood once more. Only another ten more minutes saw her once again in her backyard, slowing down to a fast walk and swinging her arms about. She noticed her father watching from the kitchen window and waved to him merrily.

Blake arrived soon on her heels, halfheartedly trying to keep moving, though the Cat Faunus looked ready to collapse.

"You alright, kitty cat?" Pyrrha asked breathlessly.

The raven-haired girl merely nodded, holding up one thumb before standing still and leaning over, her hands on her knees as she gulped down great lungfuls of air.

Ruby had no such compunctions once she arrived, and after staggering into the back yard, unceremoniously collapsed into a heap on the grass.

"Ruby, sweetie…" Pyrrha laughed lightly as she crouched by the puddle of red-clad brunette. "If you don't keep moving, your muscles will lock up, you know this."

"Ruby Rose is no longer present," the petite girl panted. "There is only pain. Pain, and sweat. That's all that's left of me."

Blake let out a groan as she abandoned any pretense of dignity and flopped down next to the brunette, propped up on her elbows. "How… can you… even stand… still…?" she asked, chest still heaving.

"What, in this weather?" Pyrrha smirked ever so slightly. "It's not all that bad out this early. A relatively nice day, compared to others I've experienced."

Blake tiredly turned her head to regard the redhead, her amber eyes peering out from under the bangs matted across her face. "You will have to imagine me glaring at you. I don't have the energy to actually do so."

"But we were supposed to spar next!" Pyrrha exclaimed humorously. She knew there was no way in all of Dust-loving Remnant either girl would be up for any more training that day, but still, it was fun to tease them a little bit.

"Fluffy fox," Ruby mumbled, her face still in the grass. "I love you… but I kinda wanna hurt you right now…"

Pyrrha giggled as she sat down on her haunches. "Well, I am very sorry to hear that… I mean, if you were to hurt me, then I couldn't take you both to get ice cream…"

Both the other girls perked up at that. "I propose we hold off on any grievous injury until further notice," Blake murmured with a wry grin.

Ruby lifted her hand up slightly. "Seconded." She let it drop back again with a flop.

"Besides which," Pyrrha added. "For being such good sports, I could always… take special care of the both of you tonight."

Her brunette girlfriend finally rolled over at that, silver eyes sparkling at the notion. "I like the sound of that," she sighed dreamily.

"Mmm," Blake agreed, her own amber eyes anticipatory.

"Come on then," the redhead said with a grunt as she levered herself up. She leaned back over, her hands extended towards her lovers. "Let's go get you two treats."

"Yes, ma'am," Ruby grinned, accepting the help to her feet.

o o o

Epirus watched from the kitchen, his arms crossed, as his daughter accompanied her girlfriends down the street, presumably towards the ice cream stand just on the other side.

"You're pondering quite loudly, dear," his wife mentioned mildly from where she sat at the kitchen table, perusing a home decorating magazine.

"I'm not pondering, Lena," he replied quietly. "Just… thinking."

"Pondering."

He let out an amused huff of air as he turned from the window once his daughter was out of sight. She'd kept hold of her girlfriends' hands as they walked away.

"I'm just still struggling with the concept."

Helena smiled without looking up from her magazine. "Which one, Epi? The fact that our daughter has two girlfriends? Or that she is an adult now and able to make her own decisions?" She did glance up then, spearing her husband with a knowing look. "Or is it the... other activities that the three of them engage in behind closed doors?"

Flushing slightly, Epirus took a seat across from his wife. "I don't know how you can talk about that so casually," he grumbled.

"Because we raised our girl to be able to make her own choices, and make them wisely," Helena replied levelly, turning the page. "Ohh, this one is nice. Really, though, if our daughter is as in love with Ruby and Blake as she seems to be, who are we to question her level of intimacy?"

"We're her parents!"

"Yes, Epi, and she's an adult."

He sighed heavily, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. "As usual, you're correct."

"I know dear," she replied with a very small smirk. "But it's nice of you to admit it."

"I've had a lot of practice."

"Again, very true. So then, what is left for you to ponder over?"

Epirus sat back and crossed his arms. "Two girls, Lena?"

Sighing herself, Helena closed her magazine and regarded her husband fully. "Have you ever, in all her years, seen Pyrrha as happy as she is with both of those girls?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Are you at all concerned about her being with a girl, rather than a boy?"

"No, of course not, I just-"

"And you've seen all three of them train while they have been home. Oum, if I wasn't happily married to you, and if I were a couple decades or so younger, the little one might have caught my eye. She has quite the physique."

"Lena!" her husband barked out somewhat scandalously. She just giggled lightly and waved his protest away.

"All I am saying is that the three of them certainly haven't slacked off any with their training, or their grades for that matter as I understand it. Pyrrha has two very beautiful, talented, and caring girlfriends. How is this any different than if she were to just be with one or the other?"

Epirus tapped his fingers on the kitchen table, mulling over his wife's words. "I… suppose you are correct."

"Yes dear," Helena replied sweetly, opening her magazine back up again. "So you accept that our daughter is happy?"

"I do, yes," he sighed. "And I accept the fact that she's an adult, able to make her own decisions, even if I cannot always comprehend them."

"And in the end, that's all that matters, Epi," she stated warmly. "Would you be a dear and make me some tea?"

Epirus levered himself up from the chair, pausing to place a tender kiss on Helena's forehead. "Of course, my love."

A/N: So, that resolves our time in Mistral! Credit for the first half of the story goes to the very excellent NobleMETA who gave me the idea. And then in the second half we see Epirus has finally accepted fully the Purruby relationship. Yay! Next up: Freezerburn in Atlas! Double yay!

I'm glad folk liked the last chapter so much, for various reasons. Fuckwaffles is definitely one of my fav cuss words now, and I think it might be Ruby's as well. Alongside shitbiscuits.

Much love for my wonderful reviewers, thankfully FF finally caught up with the reviews that seemed to have not updated on the site for a whole past week. At least none seemed to have been lost. Commando2341, Imagine Exorcist, THB4, Jack Inqu, bladewolfzic, Marauderby (smol Ruby hugs), DeamonHunter, Gorsouul, ExKage, DschingisKhan, Demonic Angel C, ILikeHotDogs, Boombox94, Kalomin, Skiptrace, kaiju62, FelipeCH98, Throthgar's bane, Silver-Wolf Lord of Order, joltflier, SamuraiShippo, ScaryGirl95 (nope right there with you girl), Lemonysuperpie (thx m8), and MakaS0ul (inbred potato, lol). Love all of you guys!

Stay shiny!