Winter Break 11

After his 'upgrade' Ruby drilled forging, mechanics, and weapon-grade programming into the blond knight's head. Of course, Jaune got hooked on it pretty quickly, especially since it allowed him to spend time with his girlfriend.

Jaune made sure to put a lot of effort into learning about it. So, when he came back to the past, his knowledge of weaponry put him pretty much on the same level of the current Ruby Rose.

However, Jaune thought that with time Ruby would recover more of her memories and easily surpass him, not to mention those teaching moments she saw in the transplanted memories covered a lot of technical subjects.

"Jaune?" Ruby called out while waving her hand in front of his face. Once she snapped him out of his stupor, she titled her head in worry as she asked, "You okay?"

"Sorry, I was thinking of our first date. Not the one we went on a while ago, but our other first date," Jaune said rubbing the back of his head.

Ruby blushed and the girls gushed.

"I have to hear about this one!" Gwen captured Ruby again and held her like a doll.

Ruby wanted to escape, but she started to realize Nora and Jaune's mom had something in common, they were both back-breaking hug-monsters. 

"Well, at least she isn't breaking my spine completely." Ruby thought as she looked over at Jaune with pleading eyes with a little bit of curiosity about their date.

Jaune coughed and shook his head, "No spoilers." 

Jaune gave Ruby a 'boop' on the nose. "Besides, she'll remember if I keep using my title before bed."

Ruby's silver eyes widened as she thought, "How did he know what I was thinking...? Ugh, I wanted to know, darn it!"

Jaune lifted up the sword and said, "Well, on to the next test."

Putting his aura into the blade, Jaune's eyes widened, unlike all his previous attempts, the steel didn't immediately explode. 

Jaune almost jumped up in excitement, surprised by the improvement, Jaune continued to slowly fill the sword with his Aura.

Bit, by bit, the sword began to glow from the bottom up. Everyone was shocked when the entire blade radiated with the same color as Jaune's Aura and started to light up the room.

The blond knight nodded his head before he held the blade out and said, "Now to activate my Semblance."

Jaune began to sweat as he slowly activated his Semblance. The sword shined brightly for a split second, blinding everyone in the room.

After the light dimmed down, Jaune held the new sword in his hand and frowned.

"Is it done!? You did it, Jaune!" Ruby jumped over and looked at the blade.

Jaune shook his head before sighing, "No, it's a failure."

With a simple flick of his fingers, the metal started to fracture like a dried-up lake bottom baking under the sun. 

Then, with a loud snapping noise, the entire shattered into thousands of pieces.

Everyone shook their heads in disappointment while Jaune knelt down and stared at the broken parts with an inquisitive expression.

"Well then, back to the forge for you," Jaune stated as he started picking up dozens of metal fragments. 

Gwen held her hand up and patted his shoulder as she said, "When we get back from the Hunt, we'll ask again. I am a bit eager to discover what some of these techniques I spent my level tokens on will do, and a group of Crow Grimm sound like the perfect targets to test them on."

Jaune nodded his head and asked, "Ren and Nora going with you?"

"Yep, Blake and Weiss are coming as well. Blake said she needed to vent a bit, and Weiss wanted to add the Nethermores to her summoning sigils." Gwen explained as she gave Ruby another hug.

"Weiss wanted to go with brown, but got final say! We're team Brawn! BRWN FTW!" Nora shouted as she threw her hands into the air.

Jaune chuckled and said, "Good luck and stay safe."

Gwen ran up to Jaune and hugged him. She then kissed her son on the cheek and said, "Have a good time Bun-Bun!"

Jaune blushed as Yang and the rest chuckled at his expression.

"Momma's boy," Yang said as Gwen suddenly hugged her and Ruby together.

"You're my daughters now too. So have a good time while mommy's away!" Gwen gave them a peck on the cheek and laughed as she saw their embarrassed looks, "Little Rose and Wildfire suit you two as nick-names." 

Yang wanted to protest, but honestly, she missed the feeling of having a kind mother. Ruby, on the other hand, didn't know how to react. She loved her mother and was rather young when she lost her. However, she couldn't deny that she liked the feeling of warmth and love Gwen so freely gave. 

Jaune was speechless. He never thought his mother would be able to make thee 'beat you down if you so much as look at me wrong' Yang Xiao Long show such an expression. 

Seeing Gwen and Ruby's happy yet embarrassed looks made Jaune want to punch himself in the face for not bringing her to meet with her family sooner. However, to be fair, they didn't really start dating was after the death of his parents. 

Shaking his head, the blond knight relaxed and was just glad that she could experience this.

Jaune took a picture with his scroll and immediately earned the scorn of Yang as she said, "You better delete that."

"A-n-d sending it to Taiyang...now!" Jaune said as he sent the image.

Yang struggled to get out Gwen's hug, but no matter how hard she tried to escape the Huntress grasp, she couldn't move an inch.

Giving up, the blond bombshell looked at Jaune and said, "I will get you back for this!"

Jaune grinned and said, "What do you think I'm doing? A-h-h…Sweet dish that revenge stuff is. It's warmer than it would be."

Yang pointed at Jaune with an open mouth and bulging eyes, "Damn, that pun was so smooth, I almost didn't catch it. Get it, because revenge is a dish best served cold."

Ruby chuckled at their antics as Gwen finally let go, "Now Yang, Ruby, you two watch over my family for me while I'm gone. Can you do that for mommy?"

Yang's face turned bright red as she mumbled, "I'll do what I can."

Jaune took another picture and said, "A-n-d sent."

Yang growled at Jaune and shouted, "That's it! You're dead!"

Yang chased after a quickly retreating Jaune when Ruby started laughing at their behavior. 

While she watched as Jaune continued to avoid Yang's attacks, Gwen waved goodbye and team BRWN walked with her to her car. 

It took Yang a while to calm down and stop chasing Jaune, but when she finally tired herself out, Jaune decided to go back to training.

He stoked the forge and started to work on the metal while preparing twigs and branches to pour his Aura into and practice.

Ruby stayed by his side and even helped Jaune out with the forging process.

The two started to improve their Blacksmith Skill levels like crazy and didn't even realize that it how it late was into the night when Jaune's father knocked on the door.

When Jaune opened the workshop, Lance saw the debris and metal shavings covering the floor and said, "Not bad. Some of the pieces haven't turned completely into dust."

In response to the lack luster praise, Jaune smiled and said, "Thanks, father. I'll keep going." 

Ruby, who was holding onto a piece of burning steel looked it over began hitting it a few dozen times with the hammer before putting it back in the forge.

Lance grinned at her work and nudged his son's elbow as he stated, "It appears that I have a capable daughter in law. Good eye, son."

Jaune blushed and nudged his father's elbow back as he said, "I know."

"I contacted Ozpin, James, and even Qrow. They'll be waiting for you when you get back," Lance followed as he continued to watch Ruby inspect the metal and work her magic.

The blond knight smiled at his father and said, "Thanks dad. I appreciate the help. You know what to do next."

Lance sighed, "I'm not gonna enjoy this one bit."

"Grandma will be with you, and as much as you gripe about it, I know you want to see Arcadia again," Jaune replied.

"Still doesn't make me feel any better about it," Lance looked to Jaune with a sorrowful expression before continuing, "Are you sure about this?"

Jaune nodded his head, "Yes! Have some faith, dad. You're talking to one of the best Hunters in existence. We defeated Salem, and we'll beat this Nosferatu too."

Lance rubbed Jaune's head like he was still a child, "No matter how much faith I have in you, it will pale in comparison to a parents worry." Lance gestured his eyes in Ruby's direction, "When you guys have kids you'll understand."

Once again, Jaune's eyes showed profound pain, and although it was only for a split second, his father caught the expression.

"Wait, did you two have a?" Lance's question was stopped short by Jaune. 

"No dad, but..." Jaune paused, "I'm sorry, I just don't want to talk about this, not now anyway."

Lance pulled him out of the workshop without Ruby noticing, he placed his hand on Jaune's shoulder and said, "Tell me what happened."

Jaune wanted to push him away, but seeing his father's earnest expression, "Damn, so this is what it like when it's not coming from me. Ruby did say I had a way look that gets people to open up."

Jaune let out a sigh and with a depressed tone said, "Ruby was...she was...we were...sigh... Ruby was pregnant, but something happened..." Jaune's eyes showed an unbelievable amount of pain as tears filled his eyes.

Hearing his tone, Lance pretty much figured out what happened. He hugged Jaune and said, "I'm so sorry son, how did you lose..."

"We lost our kid due to a potent scorpion poison from a very bad man." Jaune thought back to that fateful day when Sanctuary was infiltrated by Salem's people.

"While the barrier protected us from Grimm, it also gave us a sense of false security. We were so happy, dad. Ruby was eleven weeks in. Her belly was even starting to show." Jaune then thought of the combined attack of Salem's strongest.

"We fought and managed to win against Salem's human forces, but Ruby, she was poisoned during the confrontation. I managed to stabilize her with my Semblance, but we had to rush to the hospital for anti-venom. Ruby made it through alright. However…our..." Jaune just cried and fell down as his legs went weak.

Lance held on to his son and felt the embers of rage burning inside him, "Who was it."

"A Scorpion Faunus, he is known as Tyrian. I took his head during their invasion, along with Cinder's too. I got my revenge, but Ruby." Jaune looked back into the workshop, "I don't think she ever got closure for the loss of her child. I never want to see such an expression on my wife's face again."

Lance nodded his head as Jaune wiped his tears away with his sleeve, "Don't worry, son, this time you'll have me."

Lance suddenly thought of something and said, "Hey, do you mind if I let Qrow in on this?"

Jaune lifted his head, "Dad, this is kind of...sensitive, ya know? I didn't want to tell you."

"Qrow is her uncle and he has a really big info network, but motivating him is a bit of a challenge. If we can find him with Qrow's help, we can take care of this Tyrian fella before he gets anywhere near my new daughter in law," Lance replied.

"He hasn't been filled in on the situation yet though. I think he's traveling right now," Jaune tilted his head and said with a look of frustration.

"I know, I plan on heading to Beacon after you leave. I meet up with Ozpin there, and since Ironwood owes me a favor, I can use both Qrow and Atlas tech to help in the search," Lance replied, proving that the Arc tactician specialty ran in the family.

Seeing the look on his father's face, Jaune nodded his head, "Fine, but let me do it, Qrow... Qrow was a mentor to me. He was a good friend during tiring times." 

"That's fine by me," The Arc Patriarch nodded his head.

"However, Qrow isn't exactly a people person, it's hard for Ozpin to summon him, how are you going to track him down?"

"I have my ways," Lance said with a grin.