A/N: Bet you all weren't expecting the end to come so soon, huh? Well that's a common thing for a lot of stories I'm afraid, I'm personally just really anxious to get started on Volume 2.

This last chapter is the shortest thus far, but the content alone will more than make up for it. I intend on ending this first arc of the series in style.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Adrian looked at the comfortable two story house set in the middle of the small forest. He couldn't explain it, but standing outside the home made him feel unusually tense.

Perhaps it was because of the one that lived there, who was also the one who was related to the one he had grown close to over the last six months.

"Relax, Adrian." Yang said, coming up behind him and clapping him on the shoulder. "Dad's usually pretty cool. He may not even hurt you that bad." she sent him a wide grin as she walked ahead toward the house.

Ruby came up beside the soldier and shook her head at her sister, "Ignore her. I sent a lot of letters to dad and told him about you in most of them. He just wanted to meet you, nothing's going to happen."

Even though her words were meant to be comforting, Adrian could tell that some small part of her was unsure about how her father would react to meeting his youngest daughter's boyfriend.

Taking each other's hands, the young couple made their way after Yang.

It had been a week since the end of the semester at Beacon, it had also been a week since Adrian had told Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch about his past.

FEAR's mission to Fairport to stop Paxton and the Replica army, only to discover that the psionic mad man was his own brother. He also told them everything he had discovered about Project: Origin, what he had his brother had been put through, and what Armacham and Harlan Wade had done to their mother Alma.

Both professors were appaled at what they had been told, and the lengths the people of the ATC would go to do keep their secrets. Having destroyed the Origin facility, and over a third of a thriving city, doing just that.

Needless to say, Adrian left Ozpin with a lot to think about as he sent them on their way. Even more so when he informed him about the man in power armor that had taken Torchwick at the end of the fight at the docks. For now, the only thing they could do was wait and see how things turned out.

As for the situation at hand, when the semester came to an end more students started arriving from the other kingdoms in preparation of the Vytal festival, and with classes over for the time being everyone was just spending their time either training or going home to visit family.

Two such students were Yang and Ruby. Blake and Weiss both opted to stay at Beacon, but the two sisters wanted to head back to Patch and spend a weekend with their father after having been away for so long.

When everyone else was told, Ruby wasted no time in giving an invitation to Adrian to join them with the intention of introducing him to her dad. Not seeing the issue with it since he had nothing going on during the break between semesters, he accepted.

Now here he was. After a brief introduction to the peaceful community, Ruby and Yang led him to their home which was in a more quiet part of the forest that covered the island. It even seemed to have an inviting atmosphere surrounding it to anyone who got close.

Just as the trio reached the front porch, the door opened to reveal what could have been considered an older, male version of Yang. Blonde hair cut short to his scalp with a rugged appearence that was overshadowed by the beaming smile he gave when he saw his daughters approaching.

"Well, if it isn't my two favorite girls!" he exclaimed jovally.

"Dad!" Ruby and Yang called out at the same time as they ran up and tackled the man to the ground with tight hugs.

Taiyang laughed as he embraced his girls back with equal enthusiasm. "How was the travel, girls?" he asked as they all got back up.

"Boring. But it's worth it to be home again." said Yang, sending a look over her shoulder at their guest briefly, "Hope you don't mind, but Ruby brought a 'friend' with us."

The older blonde shifted his gaze to Adrian who had remained where he was as to not get in the way of the family moment. Despite his happy demeanor, the ex-FEAR operative could see a subtle shift in the man's eyes. An aura of protectiveness coming forth as he looked at the one dating his youngest child.

"Dad, this is Adrian." Ruby introduced the two with a bright smile.

Taiyang reached his hand out, "Taiyang Xiao Long, it's nice to finally meet you. Ruby talks about you a lot."

[Adrian Wade. Likewise, sir.] Adrian signed back after they shook hands.

An awkward silence filled the air, Yang and Ruby looked between their father and friend/boyfriend as if waiting for something to happen. Though the feeling was broken by excited barking, a moment later a small black and white corgi came bounding out of the house.

"Zwei!" Ruby shouted happily as she dropped to her knees and swept up the small dog in her arms who then started licking her face. Her older sister coming over and scratching the animal behind the ears with no less joy.

After the tender moment, the cloaked girl let Zwei down. The corgi noticing Adrian a couple feet away and trotted leasurly over to him, sniffing at his boots for a moment before jumping up and putting his front paws on the soldier's legs.

Hesitant at first, Adrian reached down and pet the dog gently on the head between his ears. The warm and soft fur foreign beneath his fingers, but not unpleasant.

Zwei yipped happily, tilting his head into the ex-FEAR operative's hand with his tongue hanging out. After about a minute, the dog dropped back down to all fours and went back over to the girls.

"Why don't you two head in and get settled, let us boys have a little chat." Taiyang said to his daughters.

"Dad..." Ruby warned him, looking between her father and Adrian again.

The blonde man smiled at her, "Everything will be fine, Ruby. I promise."

There was brief hesitation, but both Ruby and Yang eventually nodded and headed inside. Zwei trotting along behind them leaving the two males alone outside.

"Do you love my daughter?" Taiyang asked, his face becoming serious with his arms crossed over his chest.

[I do.] Adrian signed back, just as serious.

"Would you do anything to keep her happy?" asked the man again.

[I'd kill for her if it would keep her safe.] replied the soldier, Taiyang having no idea that the teen had done just that not too long ago as proof of the testament.

There was a long pause before the blonde man smiled, knowing that the younger man meant every word. "Good, I can tell that your a good one. And if all the letters Ruby sent me telling about you are anything to go by, I know that you make her very happy. Just remember, if you break her heart, Yang won't be the only one gunning for you."

Adrian smiled back, [You have nothing to worry about, sir.]

"Enough of the sir stuff, call me Tai." Taiyang said, clapping the ex-FEAR operative on the shoulder before leading them both inside. "Welcome to the family."

The soldier couldn't help the warm feeling that came with the words as they entered the home. The feeling of belonging that he hadn't felt once in his life.

Like he was finally part of a family.

X

In his office at Beacon, Ozpin stood looking out the window at the view of Vale. Recent events had him thinking a lot about the present and future of the kingdom as well as his students.

Things certainly had taken very sudden turns in recent weeks, some he had been expecting while others would require more careful planning to handle. And with the Vytal festival quickly approaching, time was of the essence.

With Adrian's permission, he contacted General Ironwood and informed him of what the young soldier had told him.

To say the man was surprised that one of his best was still alive as a bit of an overstatement. James always had a strong feeling that Wraith was still alive, having seen the boy's skills since he was 13, he had faith that he managed to get through the events of his last mission with his life.

However, the rest of the information regarding the Fairport mission, and the discoveries that had been made along the way, made the General very tense.

Apparently there had always been animosity between the Atlatian military and the Armacham corporation. Rumors about illegal experimentation and weapon testing had been spreading for years, but given their ties to the Schnee Dust Company it was hard to garner any concrete evidence against them.

Knowing that not only Wraith was alive, but had been a witness as well as a victim to the ATC's corruption, the General believed they had a strong chance to finally put the corporation down. He was intending on meeting the young man and getting a full debrief of what had happened from him when he and his forces arrived for the festival in the next couple of weeks.

From what he had been told about Armacham, and the acts they committed along with their advanced weaponry, Ozpin grew worried about one of their men taking Roman Torchwick. If he was working with the ones truely pulling the strings against the kingdom, and Armacham was offering their aid, things were far worse than any of them first believed.

The headmaster blew out a slow breath, as much as action needed to be taken, he needed to wait for everyone to get to Beacon before any more steps could be taken. Picking up his cane, he turned to head to the elevator...but paused when he found someone standing in the middle of his office.

A little girl, no older than eight wearing a long red dress with a curtain of black hair covering her eyes.

Momentarily surprised about the sudden appearence, Ozpin set his cane before him and rest his hands upon it. Having been told in detail about this particulat person, he knew he had nothing to fear as long as he bid no harm toward her or her children.

"Alma Wade." he said casually to the powerful apparition, "I had a feeling you and I would meet."

The girl raised her head, her glowing eyes boring into the headmaster's. Searching and calculating.

Ozpin felt a presence push onto his mind and knew that she was digging through his thoughts, gauging him on whether or not he was a threat to her family. As much as he wanted to keep his secrets, both his achievements and his mistakes, to himself, he knew that fighting the intrusion would lead to his demise. So he allowed the vengeful mother see what she wanted.

In a matter of seconds she withdrew, "I will be watching..."her voice seemed to echo from everywhere before she faded away in a burst of ashes. Ozpin remaining where he was as he watched the woman vanish completely, knowing then and there that this current year was turning out far more interesting than he had first believed.

But whether it was good or bad had yet to be determined...

X

Cinder and her followers arrived at the location that had been sent to her a week prior. Turning out to be an old storage facility on the outskirts of Vale that had been abandoned for years.

Emerald and Mercury were both on guard. After the last encounter with the unknown caller's forces and how they had gained the upperhand so quickly, they didn't want to take any chances.

Looking around at the many vantage points that worked against them, Cinder checked the time on her scroll as it finally reached the designated hour of the meeting. Right as the hour changed, all of the storage lockers around them opened, heavily armed soldiers stormed out and surrounded the trio, weapons drawn and aimed at their vital points as if daring them to make a wrong move.

Feeling her two followers prepare to attack, Cinder held up her hand, stopping them before they made a wrong choice as she looked at the last locker ahead of them that had yet to open.

When it did, she was greeted with the sight of an older woman in a dark-blue business suit. Flanked by a Phase Commander on either side as she strolled toward Cinder with calm, deliberate steps.

"Ms. Fall. I'm glad you agreed to our meeting." the woman said, putting her hands behind her back.

"You made a very compelling offer." replied Cinder, not at all threatened by the armed escort she had surrounding her and her followers. "But I believe you have us at a slight disadvantage..."

The woman nodded, "Indeed," she made a hand motion and all guns were lowered. "As I said in our phone conversation; I believe the two of us could greatly help one another with our goals, but a deal has to be made to ensure mutual cooperation."

"What sort of deal?" asked Cinder, curious.

"A very valuable asset has escaped our custody one too many times. My resources managed to track them to this city, and I full intend on reaquiring it" said the unknown woman, "However, me and my forces lack the proper layout of Vale. But you and yours have such data, but lack the numbers and resources needed to achieve your own goals."

The younger woman narrowed her glowing gaze, "What do you propose to fix these 'problems'?"

"Simple. I will offer you the resources and manpower needed to take this kingdom, in exchange, you and yours help us take back our missing asset...alive."

Cinder looked around her in thought, the armed soldiers looked more advanced and combat efficient compared to the White Fang, and looked to have a better chance of success in helping her in her plans. But the woman leading them, something about her put her on edge.

She was clearly one that got what she wanted, no matter the cost and no matter who she betrayed. She would have to keep a sharp eye on her incase of a double-cross, but for now, she couldn't pass up the chance for the additional help in her plans.

"You have a deal, Ms..." Cinder answered finally, trailing off waiting for an introduction to her new benefactor.

The woman smiled, a blade-like look resembling a predator. "Genevieve Aristide. And I believe this is the beginning of a wonderful partnership..."

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: How's that for an ending. It will take some time before Volume 2 is ready to be posted, but when it does make its appearance you all will know it.

Also, as promised, it is time to reveal my Co-Author for the Rogue series. And that person is macjack662.

After the two of us messaged over the course of Volume 1, and bouncing an array of idea's back and forth, I decided to take him on in helping me bring the next parts of the story to life. And given that he has taken such a strong interest, I intend to give props that are truly deserved.

So, ladies and gentlemen, macjack662 and I will bring the next arc of the Rogue together. So until then, this is Wraith002 signing off!