‘Mmmm...cabbage...cabbage...’ Qrow thought, searching for one of the many ingredients on Summer’s errand list at Patch’s farmer’s market.
“I’m so sorry to ask you to do this, baby, since you just got back last night, and if I could go by myself I would, but--”
“Short-Stack, calm down! Don’t worry! It’ll give me a good excuse to look for some maintenance supplies and dust cartridges for myself. Besides, you could use a break from the girls.” He winked, grabbing his wallet and shoving it into his back pocket.
“Thank you so much, Qrow. This way I can get things cleaned up and have the house in order! It really hasn’t been, since...” Summer trailed off, glancing over to Taiyang, and formerly Raven’s, door. Her eyelids heavily hung on her face, and Qrow could see dark circles starting to show on her face.
An ache grew in his heart, feeling the crushing absence of his twin sister. It had been three months, and his brother-in-law still refused to come out of his room, leaving Yang in the care of Qrow’s wife, Summer. Muddles, negative emotions began to fester in his chest. How Raven could just abandon poor, sweet Yang and her husband was beyond him. Matters were only made more stressful with Qrow and Summer’s own offspring, Ruby, coming into the world. He tried not to blame Tai, but when he entrusted his ‘Short-Stack’s safety into the blond huntsman’s hands, along with his tiny ‘Petal’, a sense of regret and hate resided in his chest. His family was in the hands of his depressed, recluse of a brother-in-law, and though he sympathized with him, had grown increasingly bitter towards him in the last few weeks.
Two children for a new mother was just too much to handle by herself, especially a ball of energy like Yang, and Summer’s frantic exhaustion was the evidence for it. Blinking back his hurt feelings and building anger, he simply stroked Summer’s head and allowed her silky hair to run along his palm. She moaned in response to his touch and leaned her head against his chest.
“Feels good...” She mewed, which elicited a chuckle to rumble against her head.
“Well, we will be back in a few hours. Clean the house, and then why don’t you relax? Take a nap.” He leaned in closer to her, voice growing husky and deep, “Then maybe we can share a warm, stress-relieving bath tonight.”
Summer whipped her head to meet illuminated, maroon eyes and a crooked smile; his crooked smile. Her cheeks flushed and a similar smirk laced her lips in response.
Planting a quick kiss against her soft lips, Qrow walked over to Ruby’s crib and picked up his sleepy, quiet daughter. Her feathery, thick hair brushed up against his neck, tickling him slightly. Qrow wondered if she would keep her feathery hair, a trait from her father, or if it would turn to silk like mommy.
“Yang,” Summer called. ‘Go with your uncle to help him with the errands, okay sweetie?’
A thunderous clap of feet against hardwood raced toward Summer. Turning the corner into Summer and Qrow’s bedroom, Yang jumped up and down to see her Uncle.
“WE GO OUT?” She hollered, excited to leave the house she had been cooped up in for the past week.
In unison, Summer and Qrow put a finger to their lips and shushed the loud child. Yang cupped her mouth in response. Qrow giggled at her, his adorable little firecracker of a niece, whose hair was as blonde as Tai’s and yet ever wild, like her mother’s. She was the best blend of the two.
“Yes, sweetie,” Qrow nodded, “you have to use your inside voices around Ruby, though, Yang. She’s sleeping right now.”
Yang nodded, mouth still covered by her hands. Together, the trio left the house, with Yang leading the way in a display of cartwheels, jumps, and “UNCW QWOW! WOOK! WOOK WUH I CAN DO!”
‘Ah, there it is.’ Final item on the grocery list done, Qrow heard a loud yawn come from his shins as he payed for Summer’s dinner ingredients. He turned to see his niece leaning up against a wooden beam that held the vegetable stand up.
A half-lidded, groggy face turned up to him, only yawning again in response. Shifting her weight, Yang threw herself against his leg, tugging on his pants.
“No more. No more walking. Sleepy.” The little three year old had done spectacular while on their outing, and Qrow knew that soon after the exhaustion would come a tantrum. Yang and tantrums usually caused major destruction, breaking and burning everything within a 5 mile radius.
Shuffling his bag, he leaned down to be level with Yang. “You’re doing great, Firecracker. We need to pick up just a few more items. How about I carry you and you can take a nap like Ruby?” The infant SEW shifted in Qrow’s arms, nuzzling under his chin and seemingly trying to get even closer to her Dad. Yang eyed Ruby, starting to look jealous of all the attention she realized the little baby was getting, and furiously nodded her head.
“UP!” She bounced on her heels, and mid bounce, Qrow caught her. A giggle escaped the girls lips as she snuggled up against her uncles chest. Throwing her arms around his neck and wiggling her legs, she found a comfy position, and cued Qrow that he could pick his bag of food back up, and continue to shop.
Looking at his list, his legs began taking him towards the weapons shop. A few new gears and some dust cartridges would be coming home with him, along with some more dust ammunition for his wife.
Feeling both daughter and niece rub their faces against his neck, Qrow’s heart warmed, overjoyed and feeling very blessed for his tiny, perfect family.
I will color this sometime tomorrow. For right now, it is just a line art.
As always, Ruby clings to Daddy’s necklace. I haven’t done a piece with Ruby, Yang, and Qrow in a few weeks, so I hope you all enjoy this!
You are free to color this if you like. Just please give me credit.
