#i'm dooooone

Finally, after a few more days, the holidays came to an end. Weiss had to return Penny to Dr. Polendina and Blake would return to Menagerie. Ruby and Yang had an assignment together that started soon in Vale proper, so they had to take the next flight out to get there in time. None of the four would know when they would all meet up again, but they all promised that they would, so that meant it was going to happen.

Qrow and Winter, however, stayed for one more day before returning to their own side of the island, helping get the house ready for one more event. Tai said that they didn’t have to stay, but the both of them insisted. Together, they seen both the best and worst in family, and for what was planned, they wanted to be there.

To be honest, neither of them were sure how it would go for Tai. The blizzard had passed, but that wasn’t what they were afraid of. If anything the blizzard might have been preferable, but he was steadfast in his goal. And so in the end they decided that they would be there with him.

But it looked like everything was going according to plan. While Penny was unexpected, the children (they weren’t really children anymore, but it was a habit that refused to die) were on their way home, meaning that the other guest was now clear to arrive.

---

The silence in the house was deafening in comparison to the noise that was in it not even a day ago. But that was all there was until there was a knock at the door. With a final breath, Tai stood up and moved to open it. With one last pause, he pushed the door open and grew stiff.

“Hello Raven. Come on in.”

With Salem done and dealt with, there was no more need for Raven to keep herself separate from Tai or the rest of the family anymore. But the scars were still there. Qrow was unsure if it would be a good idea, and Winter herself wondered if it was even something she could speak upon. And it would have been the end of the world had Yang found out. But in the end, both conceded that it if Tai felt that it was something worth pursuing, then as friends and family they would be there for him.

She looked older than when she made an appearance in the final battle, catching Salem’s forces off guard. But she had the luxury of her mask at that time. Here, where it was just her, everything came into view. And with her back against the white backdrop of snow, she seemed small for once in a long time.

Her eyes scanned the house, as if checking for traps and memories, both one in the same. But finally she stepped through the doorway, gently setting her sword down.

And with that, it was time to eat. It would be an early supper - a thick and hearty soup and freshly baked bread. One of her favorites, actually. Qrow and Winter put it together as Tai was starting to get a little nervous. The dinner conversation they had was a little strained. They had all promised that they would avoid the hard conversation for now and simply enjoy a meal together. There would be time for that later.

It was after the meal was completed when things got complicated. Perhaps uncomfortable with being treated as if nothing was wrong, Raven had offered to help with cleaning the table. Not wanting to cause a conflict, they did. But as she started to wash the dishes, seeing things that had changed, family photos without her in it but someone else, she froze up.

Winter was the one to speak up. “Raven? Are you doing alright?”

“Thank you for letting me have this gift,” she stated, “But… I think I need some time alone right now.”

---

In the end, she had stepped outside. But her sword was still in the house, so Tai wasn’t worried. And while it was cold, Raven has proven her resilience time and time again in many ways. A bit of cold air wouldn’t do her in.

And Qrow and Winter still weren’t sure if this was the best idea in the end. Raven had once threatened him, after all. But times and circumstances change, and it wasn’t a reality the two of them had to be worried about anymore. Especially not tonight.