Pollinated Juniper Berries
PART 11
The whole of the Arc family had descended on the aisle of Patch and the sisters were…everywhere.
Yang: “Which one is that again?” Blake just shrugged.
Blake: “I wish Weiss were here instead of me. She would be able to remember their names.”
Yang: “The one with the baby and hot wife is named Saphron.”
Blake: “The hot wife’s name is Terra.” Nora dances by, Adrian in her arms.
Nora: “And I’m Nora! This adorable little guy is Adrian.” Adrian was giggling as she swung him around.
One of the girls was bending Ruby’s ear. A pilot, if Yang remembered correctly. She and Ruby hit it off as tech heads.
The twins were monopolizing Pyrrha. Six years younger than Ruby, they were fascinated by Pyrrha and Weiss. They regularly asked Weiss to sing with them, or tried to follow Pyrrha on a run. Yang kinda found them annoying but they didn’t hero-worship her so it wasn’t that bad. However the one Yang was asking about was rubbing something into the back of Jaune’s foot. He wasn’t healing as well as he should and THIS daughter was in medical school. Top of her class, her dad bragged often and loudly.
Tai: “That’s Xanthe. She’s the third oldest. Flavia, the oldest, is the one that went to town with Ren, Weiss, and Jaqueline. Caltha is Rube’s new friend and a fighter pilot for the Atlas military. Amber and Aurelia are the super-fans, and Orla is the youngest…”
Nora: “That hates all of us for taking her big brother away.”
Blake: “Wow, sir how did you remember all their names so quickly.”
Tai: “Don’t call me sir. And remember I’m a teacher with a whole gym full of new kids every year. Also, I’m a combat instructor, they have to trust and respect me. It keeps them safe from themselves and each other. So I gotta remember their names, it helps EARN that.”
Pyrrha: “Well sir, if you don’t mind me interrupting, Beacon will be needing a new combat instructor. Have you considered applying?”
Tai: “Pyrrha, don’t call me sir, and no I’m staying here. I’m happiest here, at least for now. Especially when my two girls are home…and their…what do y’all call it again?”
Ren: *walking over with several bags of groceries* “Octuple.”
Tai: “Hey everyone! Groceries are here! Help bringing them in and putting them away means you get to eat later.” Nora and Adrian both pout up at him. “Nora’s exempt from this she’s on Adrian duty.”
Orla: “Jaune’s absent too! His foot still hurts. Oh and Pyrrha, she’s got a baby in her tummy!”
Jaune ruffled his youngest sister’s hair as he limped towards the truck.
Jaune: “Actually helping them will help me heal quicker.” Orla beams up at him like he just said the smartest thing ever.
Pyrrha: “And staying active will help me when it’s time to give birth.” Orla scowled at the tall redhead.
…..Dinner…..
Several large blankets were laid out and people were sitting wherever to eat their meals.
Weiss: “I will miss you when you’re gone.”
Winter: “And I you, sister. However my leave is used up. Have you considered taking up Ironwood’s offer? With Beacon’s first year dorms and classrooms still under repair Atlas Academy has offered to let anyone who wants finish their first year there.”
Ren: “We will not.” Everyone stopped eating to stare at the Mistralian.
Pyrrha: “Ren, honey, is there something you’re not telling us?”
Orla looked across at Pyrrha in disgust.
Ren: “Yes, but I was hoping to hold off saying anything until it was just us.”
Ishmael: “Don’t trust us yet son?”
Ren: “It isn’t that. But what prompted my answer isn’t anything I have proof of and…it’s bad. “
Weiss: “What’s the matter? Why would you need proof?”
Ren: “Your father sent an extraction team to Beacon.”
Winter: “Yes we are aware. I was told they were killed at the forge.”
Ren: “I spoke to them before they were killed. Their team leader strongly implied that Mr. Schnee had put a bounty on any member of our octuple that wasn’t Weiss.”
Jaune: “So we won’t be going to Atlas then. Haven and Shade have made the same offer. How safe would Weiss be there from her father, and the rest of us from Adam?” Yang’s glass shatters in her robotic hand, startling all the Arc girls except Caltha.
Yang: “Sorry, sorry. Still getting the hang of this thing.”
Ishmael: “I studied at Shade. It’s fairly easy for anyone to get in and around there. But anyone recognizable as a Schnee employee would have a hard time.”
Weiss: “So I might have to dye my hair black and start acting quite unlike myself Nora.”
Nora: “HA! Pass this to Weissy.” She gives Ren a kiss on the cheek. He then leans past the oldest Arc daughter to kiss Jaune’s cheek. Jaune scoots Orla aside to kiss Ruby’s. The kiss makes its way to Weiss who smiles in delight.
Weiss: “Thank you Nora.”
Orla: “I’m confused. Who’s dating who?”
Pyrrha: “What was that sweetie?” Orla scowls at the champion again. Pyrrha’s face falls.
Jacqueline: “I told you, Orla, they’re all dating each other. They’re all equals in the relationship.”
Orla: “But whose is it?”
Jaune: “Is what, ‘La?” Orla rolls her eyes and points at Pyrrha’s stomach.
Orla: “The BABY! Whose is it?”
RWBYJNPR: “Ours!”
