It is nearly seven and Yang is bundling Ruby out the door before their father notices them. He's in a bad mood today and while neither of them has ever been hurt, Yang still doesn't want Ruby to see him like this.

It's cold out and Ruby is shivering against her side. Yang makes them walk a little bit faster and sighs with relief when they make it inside the school.

I have to get more cereal today, she tells Ruby, so you'll be walking home with Ocean, okay?

Ruby nods her assent and hugs Yang around the middle. Love you, sis, she chirrups as she scampers off to class.

Love you too, Yang murmurs to her retreating back, her lilac eyes sad. Take care.

…

Ruby is frantic when Qrow makes it to the house at a quarter to six.

Yang didn't come home, she tells him, clinging to his shirt. Her pale, heart-shaped face is tear stained and her silver eyes are red. Taiyang, the useless son of a bitch, isn't downstairs with her or out overturning every damn stone on the island. Qrow manages to mostly banish the anger in favour of comforting his niece.

He pulls the story from her between hiccoughs. Yang walked her to school this morning just like always and said to walk home with their neighbor Ocean because they needed more cereal. Ocean walked her home but Yang never showed.

Qrow gently strokes her hair and quietly simmers. He'd given her plenty of chances to reach out but Yang hadn't said a word. Why? Isn't that just the question of the day.

They curl up on the couch together for about an hour until Ruby finally calms, speaks up, and breaks his heart. Is Yang with Mommy now?

Qrow pulls her even closer, tucking her head against his chest, right over his heart. Let's hope not, kiddo.

…

Downstairs Uncle Qrow roars and Daddy is so very quiet. Ruby huddles under Yang's blanket in the hollow her sister's body has worn into the mattress over the years.

The bedclothes still smell like woodsmoke and dried summer grasses. But the one to whom the scent belongs isn't here. Might not ever be here again. Ruby whimpers softly as a door slams down below. She doesn't want to think about that and Uncle Qrow's words from earlier this evening come back to her. Let's hope not, kiddo.

When he knocks on her door a few minutes later, she comes out bundled in the cloak Mommy made her and her arms reaching up in a silent request.

They sleep through Friday together on their missing family member's bed, heedless to the world around them in their loss.

AN: Last chapter of Miners Cut. There is a sequel eventually. But, considering the character list and the summary I already put down for this story, that is better left as a separate post.

This will get worse before it gets better. It will get better in the end.