The wine glass she had been holding fell to the floor with a terrible crash, startling everyone present except herself. While Willow had barely flinched, her twin sister grimaced and glanced to her other teammates which included their brother. Shattered glass and abject horror were certainly not the reactions she had hoped for, and the stone-cold look their father was giving her only made it worse. Since Willow had married Jacques just a few years prior, Nicholas had been relentless in trying to find a suitable spouse for each of his other two children. Angelica had loathed it to the nth degree; where her younger brother (if only by a year), Emmett, had taken the opportunity to spend ridiculous amounts of money on things he claimed motivated him, Angelica had spent all of their later Academy days studying.

Happy as she had been, too, when her teammates — Glynda and James — had gotten married several years before or when her brother had married Emmeline Ciel, a young member of military who had been two years ahead of them at the Academy, Angelica felt the pressure only mount. Team JGAE had changed — Angelica found that those eight years had been all it took for her to become a godmother to Glynda and James' eldest daughter and then also an aunt — and every day had made her parents more and more antsy. Now she had finally found the man she loved, they disapproved categorically.

"Damn it," Angelica muttered under her breath, only loud enough for her fiancé to hear.

"Seems like they thought you would become the family spinster," He teased. "Want a drink?"

"Of whatever you keep in your flask?" She shook her head. "No, Qrow, I'll be —"

"I'm sorry," Willow cut in, regaining her composure. "But you're really — honestly — engaged to him?"

Angelica sighed. "You could do to say it without being so condescending."

"You have been...shall we say...putting it off," Lillian Schnee countered, frowning at her daughter and her fiancé. "I thought if you were going to wait until you were thirty to settle down that you would find someone suitable to our position."

"Our position?" Angelica scowled. "Just be glad I didn't elope! Just be glad I'm not a prostitute! Just be glad I finally found someone I love! For God's sake, just be glad that I'm not pregnant —"

"In that case, have a drink," Emmett suggested, handing her a bottle of wine. "It sounds like you need it."

"If I may," Jacques said, sending Emmett a decidedly nasty look. "I believe Lillian is merely concerned for your well-being and lifestyle."

"Glynda, help me," Angelica pleaded. "You and James aren't rolling in it and you are doing just fine with a seven year old and a two year old! Plus Zoey is adopted —"

Glynda raised an eyebrow but nevertheless glanced warily towards Lillian and Nicholas.

"With all due respect, Madame Schnee, I think Angie is more than capable of deciding for herself who she wants to marry."

"Thank you!" Angelica exclaimed, completely exasperated.

Lillian pursed her lips and tried to not seem disdainful when two-year-old Zoey Ironwood all but jumped onto her mother, giggling while Glynda picked her up, and still giggling when she managed to playfully tug on Emmett's hair. Her feelings towards her daughter's teammates (including, as it happened, Emmett) were not particularly positive and Lillian grew more and more irritated with them as time wore on. She wasn't a fan of Emmett's wife, either, nor that he spent most of his time at home taking care of their baby girl, Brittney, and their six year old daughter Lexi. It seemed they all wanted to flout the expectations she and Nicholas had always had for their children and those close to them — something which made her glad Willow was the eldest and would be the one to inherit the company which Nicholas had worked so tirelessly to build.

"You are a Schnee, Angelica," Lillian said after a moment, cupping her daughter's cheek. "And a woman of status. Your only job here is to marry rich."

Angelica crossed her arms. "Unlike you, I don't need nice things to help me sleep at night."

Qrow affectionately squeezed her hand and smiled effortlessly at Lillian, who seemed less than amused.

"You don't?" Lillian snorted. "Well. In that case, you can consider yourself and your brother out of the will."

"Lila —" Nicholas started, horrified.

"Mother —" Willow protested.

"What did I do?" Emmett exclaimed.

"Are you out of your mind?" Emmeline added, trying to calm down their hyper eldest. "I thought we had an agreement."

"How cruel are you?" Angelica snapped. "I know you've —"

"I will tolerate nothing less than perfection from you," Lillian said haughtily. "From all of you. Also," She said, angrily looking to Glynda and James. "The two of you are not part of this conversation."

Glynda muttered something to the effect of where the Schnee matriarch could stick her opinions while she and James scooped up the girls and walked out of the ballroom. It was close enough to their bedtime, anyways, and they knew their seven year old daughter would be cranky if they didn't get her to sleep soon — or, worse, their little Caitlin would fall asleep at school. She was only in the first grade, after all. This left the family among the noise of the other party guests, most of them being associates or business partners of Nicholas. Tensions high, Lillian did not move and simply stared her children down. It brought back memories of when they had been young and how she had controlled almost every part of their lives. Willow and Jacques shared a nervous look and glanced over to where their five year old daughter playing with her eldest cousin. Emmeline had set a hand gently to Emmett's shoulder, knowing he could easily lose his temper, and Qrow and Angelica simply said nothing and tried to mask their anger.

"If you want to do that, then fine," Angelica said, her composure more than regained. "I don't think you've ever given a damn about our happiness anyways."

She stormed off and Qrow quickly followed; not only concerned but sure that her words to her mother had been a long time coming.

"Hey…"

Qrow awkwardly hovered in the doorway to the apartment of his quite soon-to-be brother-in-law. Emmett shrugged and let him in without question, despite having been the first to say he thought Qrow was strange and despite being pretty annoyed with him for apparently being the reason his mother had decided to write him out of the will. Still, he had bigger concerns than being a petty bitch and he was as sick as the rest of them with the cycle of their mother's nonsense. It didn't help that Nicholas rarely said anything about it, let alone step in on their behalf. Emmett couldn't even remember a time where his father had truly defended him or his sisters. Sighing, he pulled a beer out of the fridge and pushed it over to Qrow, who was more than willing to take it. Things were uncomfortable enough. A few minutes passed in grudging silence. Qrow slowly sipped on his drink and Emmett kept looking at his scroll, praying that Emmeline would be home soon to help Lexi get ready for her kindergarten show in the morning. It was a joint event between the kindergarten and first grade classes, and Lexi was hyperily excited to be doing something at school with Caitlin Ironwood, her best friend who just so happened to be a year ahead.

"Okay, listen, Schnee," Qrow eventually said, breaking the silence. "Is your mother always like that?"

"You mean a demon of shadow and flame?" He chuckled for a second and then nodded. "I can't believe Angelica didn't tell you."

Qrow sent him a strange look. "See, Angel said she was difficult, not that she was a tall, thin woman that wants to make a coat out of the neighbor's dalmatians."

Emmett fidgeted with his glasses. "I wouldn't say that."

"Then what would you say?" Qrow put his hands up in exasperation. "That she's a great woman that means well I'm everything she does?"

Emmett scoffed. "I would go that far. I'm just saying she's not crazy."

"She seems crazy," Qrow remarked. "And Angel and I get married in...what is it, three weeks now? I swear, your mother has been harping on us since we started dating, which was why we waited so long to —"

"Just a second," Emmett said, running across the room to pick up his baby girl who had just, by the sound of it, woken up from her nap. "Shh...Brittney, it's okay. Let me get you a bottle."

"And, uhh…" Qrow shook his head. "Sorry about getting you written out of the will."

"No problem," Emmett said dryly, bouncing slightly to try and soothe his crying baby girl. "You love my sister...you're the reason I'm going to be broke and need to get a more reliable job than just taking the occasional hunting mission...it's all good."

Qrow rolled his eyes. "See, Angel told me you're a diva. Doesn't seem like she was kidding about it."

Emmett sighed and took a bottle out of the fridge. Quickly, he started to feed little Brittney, who started to calm down considerably.

"I'm not exaggerating this time," Emmett told him. "Emmy's job only pays so much and my income is irregular at best. Also, I studied history at the Academy. Do you really think I'm qualified for much?"

"I thought Atlas Academy was short a history professor this year," Qrow sent him a funny look. "Since, you know, the last prof lost his marbles and started showing up to work in his underwear. Did you even consider that you could be, I don't know, a teacher?"

"No," Emmett admitted. "But — hey, Emmy, look who's here!"

Emmeline, who had barely set foot in the apartment, raised an eyebrow when she saw Qrow but shut the door before she spoke.

"Good to see you," She said shortly. "I didn't think Emmett wanted to see your face after the ball but it seems you've managed it."

Qrow smirked. "I've always liked you, mainly because you can take a joke."

"I'm just glad you met Angelica at the Vytal Festival during your last year," Emmeline replied. "Because, without her, I honestly believe you would have become a hooker."

Emmett laughed. "Make that joke at the wedding, it'll really spice things up."

Emmeline smiled faintly at him and hung up her coat. She started off down the hall to their eldest's room, but paused to say hi to her baby girl. The second she was gone, Qrow started again.

"I know Angel said you're a dumbass, but come on," He said, trying not to show his amusement. "You should apply. You already give plenty of lectures. Why not get paid for it?"

"Alright, alright," Emmett said, setting the now-empty bottle aside and patting his daughter's back. "I will. Besides, I'm sure my wife will be thrilled and, just as well, it will give her father one less reason to judge me."

"Everyone judges you," Qrow said with a smirk. "It's not that hard to."

"What are you talking about?" Emmett fluffed his shoulder-length white waves over his shoulder indignantly with his free hand. "I'm a perfectly reasonable human being."

Qrow snorted. "Is what Angel said about you massacring a raccoon to make it a hat true?"

Emmett hesitated awkwardly. "Well…" He started. "Yes, but it was rummaging in the alley! That's my rummage territory! Hell, Emmy and I got a free, decent TV because someone left it out there and we were ingenuitive enough to bring it up two flights of stairs!"

Qrow laughed. "Sorry," He said with a grin. "I say that proves my point."

"Bitch please," Emmett sassed. "At least I know what a comb is."

"At least I know what a hair cut is," Qrow replied, matching his tone flawlessly. "We can do this all day, if you've got time, Schnee."

"I have a lot of time right now," Emmett said. "And you're about to get screwed. I'm not above being childish, you know."

Qrow chortled. "Sounds about right coming from the baby of the family."

Emmett smirked. "Yes," He agreed. "And sometimes the baby wins."

Qrow rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."

"You sound like my father in law," Emmett teased. "Bet you two would get along."

"Me and a snobby Atlesian Senator?" Qrow laughed at the absurdity. "Not a chance in hell."

"Still sound like him," Emmett said sassily. "Oh, I cannot wait to be the most inappropriate person at your wedding."

Qrow scowled, not wanting to dignify Emmett's childish words with a response and, in all answer, Emmett only grinned.

Angelica felt like she was floating, and seeing the way Qrow smiled at her from the other end of the aisle only made her smile. She felt brighter than the sun, though her family was still at odds. Even now, they kept a palpably cold distance. Lillian did not so much as glance towards her daughter when she started down the aisle and Nicholas, who was guiding her, was tense. Angelica tried not to worry about his cough, knowing that his health was failing after so many years working directly with the expeditions and mimes. Gently releasing her tension, Angelica chose to focus on the happiness. There was no one else she would be happier marrying, and she knew Qrow felt the same. A small thrill traveled down her spine as she remembered at the remembrance that later that night they would be able to become intimate for the first time.

Emmett was taking photos of her and everything, Emmeline was sitting with Glynda and James, and all of them were smiling. Even baby Brittney Ciel-Schnee and two year old Zoey Ironwood seemed excited. Walking just in front of Angelica was her very dolled up god-daughter. Tiny seven year old Caitlin Ironwood was humming to herself as she tossed the rose petals to every side with a vibrant grin, but, almost without fail, Angelica stopped upon her six year old niece breaking the happy moment with a protest.

"Caity, stop!" Lexi yelled, reaching down to grab rose petals and stick them into her small play-purse. "You're making a mess!"

Caitlin turned around irritably and set her hands to her hips with the flower basket over her left arm.

"Hey! She replied. "I'm just doing what Angie told me to do!"

Sure enough, she resumed her tossing with a smile and humming. In response, Lexi abandoned carrying the rings and started to shove rose petals away, deciding her best friend was wrong. Nicholas laughed quietly and picked the rings up off the floor and held them in his hands while they made their way to the end of the aisle.

"I'm very happy for you," He whispered, handing the priest the rings for safe keeping until it was time for the vows. "But just remember that little kids are also little question marks."

Angelica watched him sit down next to her mother, but she quickly looked away when she saw her mother scowl. She barely heard another word for so long. Her stomach was churning and her mind was racing in fear. She knew if her mother objected and made a scene that she would only feel worse and she hated how weak her knees were becoming. After trying to break away for so long, she was overwhelmed by fear of the woman who raised her. Silently, Angelica swore that she would never make her parents' mistakes. She and Qrow were not perfect, but they would be better. The idea of being her own parents, after all, was utterly nauseating. Her father cared so much about his work that he had no energy to fight his (overbearing) wife when he returned. No, it would be better, they would be better, things would never be so awful for any children she had only recently begun to hope for and it would never —

"Angelica Andromeda Schnee," The priest said, drawing her from her fearful thoughts not a moment too soon. "Do you take Qrow Jasper Branwen to be your lawfully wedded husband and to remain by his side in love and harmony and in good times and bad so long as you both shall live?"

Angelica smiled and, her hands shaking from an anticipatory buzz, slipped the ring onto his finger.

"I do," She affirmed.

"Qrow Jasper Branwen," The priest continued. "Do you take Angelica Andromeda Schnee to be your lawfully wedded wife and to remain by his side in love and harmony and in good times and bad so long as you both shall live?"

"I do," He said without hesitation, gently pushing the ring onto her delicate fingers.

"If anyone present knows of a reason not to bond these two in holy matrimony, I ask that they speak now or forever hold their peace."

Silence followed and, much to the relief of the bride and groom, not even Lillian Schnre dared move a muscle to even raise a hand.

"With your vows made before your family, friends, and Almighty God, I pronounce you to he husband and wife," The priest closed his book with a smile. "You may kiss."

Softly, Qrow brushed his lips against hers. Everyone applauded happily, and, for just a moment, he was sure that his semblance would no longer harm him. He was no longer alone, he had the only person he had ever truly loved by his side, and his new mother in law hadn't taken her threats to action. It seemed things were as they should be and that the world could be wide enough for them all to find their way. Angelica, every nerve in her body electrified, felt the same as him.

The looming thunderheads above should have been a warning before any other. She was a Schnee, after all, and nothing that glittered was ever gold when it came to her family.

Author's Note: More will be to come! Welcome to another wild ride!

~xoxo Semblance