I don't own RWBY but the OCs in this story are mine.

Update: I got a new beta and we edited this chapter and the ones to come a little. Big thanks to Conna McCanna.

The little girl balanced at the edge of the fountain, her hands held out to her sides and tongue poking out of her mouth in concentration. She swayed and let out a squeak as she lost her footing, falling towards the water before a pair of hands stop her fall.

Blake was sitting at a table in the cafe when she heard a small squeak, turning her head in the direction of the noise she saw a small blonde girl as she stumbled and fell. Thanks to her excellent reflexes from years working as a huntress, and a bit of a boost from her Semblance, she managed to catch the girl before she fell into the water.

"Careful there, girl." She said as she put the blonde on the ground. Blake stayed in a crouch to be more on eye level with her.

"Thank you, Miss!" Said the blonde and turned towards her savior. The way the small girl lisped a little when she said that was quite endearing and put a smile on Blake's lips.

The girl gasped and took a step back. Her red eyes widened when she saw the scar that ran from Blake's right brow over her nose and ended just above the left corner of her mouth.

Blake's cat ears lay down and her small smile vanished when she saw the reaction. It was what most people did when they saw her face.

But the shock left the girl as fast as it came. Her focus was brought to the head of the black haired woman. More accurately, to the pair of equally black ears that had just moved.

"So cute!" She exclaimed.

The complete change in her attitude stunned Blake. She noticed the girl was focused on her second pair of ears and let them twitch. The blonde squealed in delight. She looked like she wanted to touch them. Her hand had reached out a little but was put back down. She glanced at the scar on the noirette's face but curiosity got the better of her.

"What Faunus are you?"

"I'm a cat Faunus."

The girl's eyes shined and she smiled brightly, a tooth missing. Somehow she reminded Blake of someone with her blonde hair, red eyes and bright smile. Though, the little one's hair was a little darker and not as golden.

"A cute kitty cat!"

If someone older had said that, Blake would've taken it as a insult. But the girl couldn't be older than five. She didn't mean harm.

"You know, I'm not a cat. I'm a cat Faunus. You shouldn't call me that." Blake tried to keep her tone as gentle as possible as she chided her.

The smile left the girl's face and she looked a little guilty. "Sorry."

The Faunus smiled at her. "It's okay. As long as you don't do it again."

"'kay." The answer was still a little sullen.

"Say, where are your parents? Are you lost?"

Red eyes widened. "I have to go back! Mom gets upset when I'm not there! Bye!" She hurriedly explained and ran back, weaving through the legs of other people into the shop next to the café. She quickly vanished from Blake's view. The Faunus just hoped the girl would find her mother quickly and without problems, as she went back to her tea.

The blonde woman looked around her quickly. She just got out of the cabin after trying on some cloths and now she couldn't see her daughter anymore. The girl decided to wait outside for her.

"Summer?" The mother called for her, worry lacing her voice. After she got no answer she was about to call out again, this time louder, when she saw a blonde shock of hair run up to her.

"Mom!" Summer sprung into her mother's arms.

The woman had crouched down and picked her girl up after she caught her in her arms. The girl was not in the slightest bothered by the metallic arm.

"What did I told you about running off on your own?"

Summer looked down. "Are you mad at me?"

Her mother sighed. "No, of course not. I just worry. I'm glad you're okay and nothing happened."

Her daughter looked away from her again and worry filled her lilac eyes. She shifted the little one on her right, metallic arm.

"Summer, what happened? Are you alright?" Her mother asked as she pushed a strand of hair out of Summer's face.

"I played at the fountain and tripped. But the scary looking cat woman caught me before I hurt myself."

"The scary looking ca- you mean a Faunus?"

The little blonde nodded.

"Did you thank her?"

"Mhm. She looked scary but was really nice!" Summer told her excitedly.

Her mother looked around the people in the mall. A pair of black cat ears caught her attention. A cat Faunus with long black hair sat at one of the tables. Her face wasn't fully visible from their position but she looked familiar.

It couldn't be! That was too big of a coincidence to be true.

"This one?" She asked Summer.

The girl looked where her mother pointed and nodded. "Yes, that's her!"

The blonde set her daughter down and took her hand.

"Come, let's thank her again."

With all the people walking by Blake didn't notice them approaching. She only looked up from the novel she was reading when she heard a voice from behind her. It sounded surprisingly familiar.

"Excuse me?"

She turned around to face the person who disturbed her and her jaw nearly dropped when she saw the beautiful blonde behind her.

She was tall, the orange shirt fit her snugly and the jeans hugged her curves. Both emphasized her muscular but very feminine body. Her left arm was quite toned but her right was made of metal from just above her elbow downwards. A prosthesis. But the most prominent features of the woman were her golden mane and striking lilac eyes.

"Yang?" Blake uttered her name in complete disbelief as she sprung to her feet.

Yang was just as shocked. She didn't expect to be met with golden eyes when the noirette turned around. And she certainly didn't expect to see a large scar to run through the once so familiar face. She made a step forward and pulled the still stunned Faunus into her arms.

"Blake!"

The tugging at the hem of her shirt brought her attention to her daughter and she let go of her former partner.

"Mom, you know her?" Summer questioned.

"Yeah, I do. I told you about her before. That's Blake, my old partner."

Blake seemed to notice the girl at Yang's side only now and her eyes widened.

"She's your daughter?" She was shocked. They hadn't seen each other in over six years but it was still a shock.

Yang turned back to her. "Yes, her name is Summer. I've heard you met her before?"

The Faunus finally found her composure again.

"Yes, the little adventurer was wandering around alone and nearly fell into the fountain. I managed to prevent her from getting drenched. She reminds me a lot of you, actually."

The girl blushed at the telling of her near misfortune while the older blonde laughed.

"I get that a lot but her wanderlust reminds me more of Ruby. She just has to run around and explore every little corner."

Yang looked at the table Blake was using. She took in the half empty cup of tea and the still open novel.

"Mind if we join you?"

Blake shook her had. "Not at all."

She watched as Yang addressed her daughter.

"Want some hot chocolate, sweetie? And maybe something to eat?"

The girl beamed back at her. "Yes!"

"Can I leave our things with you while I get us something?" The older blonde asked Blake.

"Go ahead." The noirette told her as she put her book away.

"Thanks."

Golden eyes followed Yang, mostly the sway of her hips, as the pair made their way to the counter. It had been so long and the blonde was still drop dead gorgeous and Blake couldn't stop the butterflies that filled her stomach since she saw her again.

Nearly nine years since they had ended their relationship and became friends again and just one look in lilac eyes brought old feeling crashing down at her. Blake bit her lip. Yang had a daughter. She looked happy. The Faunus shouldn't feel that way.

It was nearly impossible to avert her eyes before the two blondes made their way back to her, but she didn't want to be caught starring.

Blake's eyes watched as Yang put a tray with two cups, one with coffee and one with hot chocolate, and a plate with cookies on the table. She also noticed that the blonde wasn't wearing a ring on her finger. Strange, she knew for a fact that Yang had gotten married.

Blake noticed how Summer looked at the plate of cookies with a small smile. "It seems her wanderlust wasn't the only thing Summer has from Ruby." She commented.

Said girl was eying the plate with a look that resembled said cloaked woman's when she looked at cookies.

The brawler laughed again. It was a heavenly sound that Blake had missed more than she cared to admit. She wanted to hear it more.

"You're right. Ruby made sure to always share her cookies and her excitement for them with Summer. Much to Weiss' dismay. She wants them to eat healthy. It's worse with their own son now."

The noirette needed a moment to process the new information. "Wait a moment. Their son?"

"Yes! Aunty Ruby and Weiss got a baby! He's two now and I'm his big sis." The slight lisp of the girl was really cute, just like her enthusiasm at being an older sibling.

Blake raised a brow at her former partner.

"They got a cute little boy two years ago. With how Weiss and Ruby always doted on Summer I'm surprised they didn't get a baby sooner."

"I should visit them soon. It's been so long since I was in Vale, the last time I saw you all was at their wedding."

"Yeah, I remember. You missed the ceremony and came to the party looking like you just got run over by a pack of Ursi. You said you got attacked on your way back and hadn't had time to get a dress." Yang laughed again. The disheveled looking Blake barging into the party full of formally dressed people was a sight to see. Especially some of Weiss' more… higher class guests weren't happy over the display.

Blake looked at Yang apologetic. "I'm sorry I didn't make it to your wedding."

The blonde woman gave her a sad smile. "It's okay. I know how the job as a huntress can be. I understand."

At the time Blake was on a mission on a small island on the other side of the world. There was no signal and she had been there for over three months. A new town was being built and she needed to protect it until they had enough defensive measures in place.

She only checked her scroll after she had a room for the night in an inn from some village back on the mainland.

The moment she read the messages of Yang getting married, her sight had become clouded by tears. She barely managed to type out an apology for not being there and not messaging sooner. It took her way too long with how her hands had shook and not being able to see clearly. After she sent it Blake had broken down, crying. The next few months had been a blur to her. She recklessly took on dangerous missions, even some that requested a team. Blake got many new scars in that time, the one on her face included. She just hadn't cared enough anymore.

"Do you know where they live now?" Yang's question brought her out of her reflecting. "They moved after they came back from their honeymoon."

"No, would you mind giving me their address?" The Faunus was glad for the change of topic.

"Normally I wouldn't but I'm sure they won't mind if it's you. They'll be happy to see you again, Blake. They missed you, we all did." The 'I missed you' wasn't said but the words still hung between them.

Blake couldn't pull her eyes away from the sad look Yang was giving her. Her heart arched. She had often thought about visiting but just thinking about Yang together with her husband had been enough to keep her away from Vale.

She wasn't sure how long she and Yang locked eyes but Summer's voice brought them back to the here and now.

"Miss?"

Blake let out a breath she didn't realized she had been holding and looked into red eyes.

"You don't have to be so formal. Just call me Blake, okay?" She smiled at the girl.

"Blake, how did you get the scar?"

Her smile fell.

"Summer, you shouldn't ask such personal questions." Yang told her daughter before turning back to Blake. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."

"It's okay, I don't mind telling." She gave Yang a small smile before she told them how she took a mission to protect a small village in Mistral and bandits attacked. She had pushed herself between a bandit and a small boy while the village got evacuated. The slash of the sword meant for the boy had cut her face but she still managed to take care of the bandit and bring the boy to his parents. After that she had to fend off some Grimm that got attracted by the emotions from the fleeing villagers.

Blake exaggerated the tale a little to make it more appealing to Summer but most of it was still true. While telling the girl the story Blake sometimes stole glances at Yang, who watched her with a soft, fond smile and an interest that nearly equaled her daughters. The noirette's heart wasn't racing because of the memories she recalled.

"What brings you to Vale after all this time?" The brawler asked after the story.

"I had a mission close by and thought I could use a small break. I haven't had one in some time."

They talked some more but it wasn't long after that, that the blondes had to leave.

"Right, Ruby's and Weiss' address. I can send it to you later if you give me your number." Yang was about to say good bye when she remembered that she hadn't given Blake the address.

"I never changed it, so if you still have my-"

"I still have it." Yang cut her off with a slight blush on her face. She could never bring herself to delete it, even after years without contact.

As a huntress it was easy to break or lose a scroll, that's why they had special contracts so they're still available for their employer under the same number, even after they got a new scroll. They also don't save their data on the device but on a cloud so they don't have to worry about that either.

"Please don't tell Weiss and Ruby I'm here. I want to surprise them. It was really good to see you again, Yang." Blake smiled at her old partner and Yang returned one of her usual bright ones.

"Okay, but promise to contact us again before you leave for your next mission."

"I will." Blake turned to Summer. "It was nice meeting you."

"Please come visit mom and me sometime." She looked at her hopefully.

"If your mom doesn't mind." Blake looked back at Yang who was still smiling at her.

"Not at all."

They embraced each other before the noirette watched them leave for as long as she could. Yang's golden mane was easy to spot in the crowd.

Yang had a child now. It was still hard to wrap her head around it. Of course Blake knew that her former partner had wanted children. It was never hard to image her as a mother with how often she took that role for the team and her friends.

Blake had never been good with children when she was younger. She somehow got used to dealing with them because on her missions she had to deal more often with children than she had thought or wanted. But they tended to cling to her after they got separated from or lost their parents at an attack.

Her thoughts went to Summer's father, Mars. They had meet Mars and his team on their quest against Salem. He had shown interest in the busty blonde from the beginning. He was a nice guy, but Blake never liked him. The reason was obvious. But Blake and Yang hadn't been together anymore when they met him and the brawler had included in his flirting.

Blake's and Yang's break up, and later Yang's relationship with Mars, was the reason for a lot of tension between the black and yellow pair. They could still work together, their teamwork in their fights was proof of that, but otherwise the air between them had been awkward. It took some time before they acted like friends again, but even then things had been strange.

Blake had never stopped loving Yang after things went south for them and she couldn't stand seeing her with someone else. So Blake started to take more and more solo missions after the whole Salem thing was over. The distance between her and her team and friends grew with the time and at some point there wasn't any contact at all anymore.

Nora and Ren had gotten married soon after everything was over, with Weiss and Ruby not waiting long either. It wasn't unusual for huntsman and huntresses. Their job came with a high risk and many died young. They tended to tie the knot early or never. There were only few in between.

The scroll in Blake's pocked vibrated and she looked at it. She got a message form Yang with the address she asked for. The Faunus sent a quick reply and left.

It was still early when Blake left the hotel she had stayed at. Yesterday Yang had assured her that Weiss and Ruby would be home today.

Nine in the morning wasn't an usual time to visit but her former team mates were early risers and she couldn't take the waiting anymore. Blake missed her friends during her self-imposed exile.

She got more and more nervous as she neared the house at the outskirt from Vale. It had been years after their last contact and she wasn't sure how they would react.

Her hand rose after she reached the door but she hesitated. She could hear voices from inside. They were at home.

I started writing this not long before 'The years caught up'. It was planed to be a one-shot but when I finally finished it, it was over 17k words so I split it into chapters after.

This is also the last work NightLocker beta read for me, so I'm in need of a new Beta.

The good news is all chapters a written and edited and I will post them regularly, so you don't have to wait for months for an update.