20 Familial Additions

It hadn't taken long to say goodbye to their friends but Raven did want them to spend time with them. She wasn't sure they'd ever return. She spent the time giving modern ideas of governance, agriculture and laws to the Emperor and Budo. While it wouldn't be a Democracy as she was used to, there would be city representatives and government officials checking on the more remote towns and villages.

Though, to prevent corruption from springing up again, there was an internal investigative bureau that looked into government officials, nobility and other powerful and influential people. They answered to the Emperor and Generals themselves. It would prove a tumultuous time period as the Empire made drastic changes to itself under the Emperor, who had the help of Budo and a rather long list of ideas left by their once General, Raven.

Thankfully, the Revolutionaries and other disgruntled people who had been harmed, directly and/or indirectly by General Esdeath's actions were appeased when the Empire stated that she was exiled. Though in truth, that too was Raven's idea, who was taking Esdeath with her.

Over the years, the situation in the Empire brought about a new golden age and the Empire was generally known as the best place to live. But all this was unknown to the one who helped bring about such change.

-Remnant, Patch-

The moment Raven returned to Remnant, she realized where she last was when she was transported over. She was on the porch of the Xiao-Long/Rose house. She wasn't alone though, as Esdeath, Kurome and Akame had joined her and were taking in the view.

~Aaaah.... How will I explain the new additions to them..?~ Raven pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh.

Any thoughts on how she'd introduce the three came crashing to a halt when Yang ran out, holding up a picture.

"Horny Mom, look! I drew a picture!" Yang ran into Raven's waist, the name prompting a flinch from Raven.

"Please don't call me that, Little Dragon.. What's this?" Raven took a look at the stick figures sketched by her daughter.

Raven took in every scribbly detail. The tall stick figure looked like it had long black hair. The small one with long yellow hair was next to her with a smaller one with reddish hair. It looked like Yang drew her adventuring with herself and Ruby. On top of it was a messily drawn heart.

"Ya..-Oh.. it's such a good drawing.. I have an artist daughter" Esdeath, Akame and Kurome watched her overly joyous reaction in confusion.

'Why does she sound so genuine?' They all had that thought as they watched Raven look at the drawing like it was made by a famous artist.

"Actually wait.. Did she call you 'Horny Mom'?" Esdeath asked with an amused grin.

"Yeah! Because of the horn! You know?" Yang answered due to Raven being too distracted with analyzing her drawing as a tear of happiness rolled down her cheek.

"She's cute.." Akame admitted as Kurome and her knelt down to Yang's level.

"Hey you kinda look like Horny Mom.." Yang pointed out, finally getting Raven's attention.

Then she looked at Esdeath's chest.

"You too... kinda!" Yang looked between the two and nodded to herself.

"How precocious.. I like her and her naming sense" Esdeath smirked at Raven, who just sighed and scooped up Yang in a hug.

"Thanks! Uncle Qrow helps me come up with them" Yang admitted as Raven's happy expression froze.

"Hmmmmmmmmmm...? What was that? My dear Brother helped you come up with your names..?" Yang felt a weird chill as she looked at her Mother's 'happy' expression.

"Er.. yeah?" Yang threw her Uncle under the bus and was promptly handed over to Akame, who watched in horror with Kurome as Raven walked inside the house, menacingly.

"Oh hey- What's with that look...?" They heard a gruff man ask inside.

"Wait, Rave- NO! NOT THE FLASK!" Accompanied by his yells was a loud crash.

"Wait, Raven let's just talk this- AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" After that was just a pattern of crashes, screams and frantic pleading by Qrow.

After a few seconds of silence, when they thought it was over, came Raven. Who was suplexing a black bird out the front door. Behind her was a younger child than Yang, clapping as Raven beat up her Uncle.

Raven stood up and dusted herself off with a now happy expression.

"I'm sure our 'friendly' talk convinced you how bad teaching Yang those words is, right?" Raven asked the near unconscious bird, who just responded with a pained 'caw'.

"Good. Now come inside, everyone. I have to explain and introduce you all" Raven took Yang back and nudged Ruby back inside.

"Againagainagain!!" The young Ruby chanted with Yang as they were carried back inside.

"Only if your Uncle acts up again.." Raven replied as Esdeath, Kurome and Akame followed her inside to see a surprised Summer and Tai.

"Raven? Ah.. your friends?" Summer asked as she glanced over the three females she brought inside.

"Yeah, I'll explain. PG mode, of course.." Raven gestured to Ruby and Yang before sitting on the couch and setting Yang down beside her.

Esdeath remained standing but kept close to the couch while Akame and Kurome both sat next to Raven. Summer immediately noticed how similar the two looked to Raven and her eyes lit up. Though her expression quickly scrunched up in confusion before she guessed their age. Meanwhile, Tai was sweating from the strange look Esdeath was giving him.

"So I guess you noticed Akame and Kurome here. Look a lot like me, don't they?" Raven cut Summer's train of thought and explained with a small smirk.

"OhmygodyestheylooklikeminiRavens!!" Summer gushed and appeared right in front of the couch.

"Um.. hello" Akame, confused, decided to properly greet Summer with a small bow, followed by Kurome, who silently did the same.

"Oh.. my... god..!" Summer barely contained herself from hugging the two.

"And the one glaring at Tai is Esdeath. My friend" Raven introduced Esdeath and side glanced at her.

"Oh apologies.. I was wondering if HE was the one you were-" Esdeath stopped her question as Raven shot her a warning look.

"Esdeath, it's fine. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. I adopted these two. They had.. rough lives, to put it lightly and I took it upon myself to help when they mistook me as their biological Mother" Raven explained.

Summer understood and gave the two sisters a look of sympathy with Tai. Though Tai also looked concerned. Ruby and Yang, as children do, got excited when they learned they had new siblings.

"Sisters!? Cool! Aww.. I won't be the oldest.." Yang realized and pouted.

Akame, wanting to make a good impression and seemingly happy to get more sisters took out candy to give to Yang and Ruby. Kurome did the same, looking content in not being the youngest anymore. (Regular candy, not drugged super steroid candy)

""Thanks, big sisters!"" Yang and Ruby said before stuffing their faces with treats.

"Right. Well.. I don't mind them staying here but there's the issue about room. I don't think this house can hol...d.. Oh no.." Tai slowed his speech and looked at Summer, who had a mad glint in her eyes.

"REMODELING TIME!! Come on, Tai! I'll make the blueprints! You go chop down a few trees in our backyard!" Summer yelled as she rushed out into the shed.

"Go..sh darn it.. Raven, you and Qrow are helping us remodel the house" Tai lamented with a defeated sigh.

"It shouldn't be that bad.. it's not like we're building a house from scratch.. again.." Raven replied with a shiver.

"Hm? What's so bad about remodeling the house? Shouldn't be that hard. You have builders here, correct? Machines to help?" Esdeath asked, seeing Tai and Raven's shoulders droop as she continued.

"Urgh.. no.. Summer manages our money and hates... HATES.. spending it on things we can do ourselves. We build this house with our bare hands. Me, Summer, Raven and Qrow. Oh.. speaking of Qrow.." Tai sighed and walked over to the front door.

"Hey Qrow! Summer's remodeling the house.." Tai said with a defeated sigh.

Raven had the good idea to cover Ruby and Yang's ears the moment Tai told Qrow.

"Oh son of a BITCH!!" Qrow shouted and they heard him groan some more.

"Would you.. like some help?" Esdeath asked, and three of the four members of team STRQ's eyes shone menacingly.

"""YES AND YOU CAN'T BACK OUT NOW!""" All three of them shouted as they placed their hands on Esdeath's shoulder.

"Eh..?" Esdeath seemed confused as all three began to drag her out the backdoor.

"Akame, Kurome please watch over Ruby and Yang? Just let them watch the television. I'll go over more things with everyone while we work. Oh and get comfortable, this will be your new home" Raven stopped and smiled at them before dragging Esdeath outside to work with them.

-5 hours later-

A number of trees were cut down by now. But more than that, many of them were cut into boards fitting Summer's exact specifications. They had to go out and buy woodshop supplies and paint as well. Even despite Summer's insistence that they could create paint with what they could find in nature.

Summer had gone through multiple designs where the new bedrooms should be and some extras like a children's playroom. Though she was dissuaded from that when Raven insisted that Akame and Kurome were in their late teens and wouldn't care about it. Instead, she made designs for a weapon's workshop.

They were finished for the day and though the work was only a quarter finished, they were all sweaty and tired. Even Esdeath, who was hauling heavy tree logs with Raven and Tai for hours while Qrow had to make very precise cuts and shave off the bark.

"Yes... I see why you dreaded this so much.." Esdeath said between pants as Qrow handed all of them a beer.

It was late evening now and Summer was making dinner while Qrow, Tai, Esdeath and Raven sat outside in the back.

"Just be grateful Summer didn't go through fourty different designs before changing her mind.." Qrow complained hoarsely, eliciting a groan from Tai and Raven.

"Besides that.. You're a General, right? I bet you and Jimmy would have interesting stories to tell" Qrow commented while taking a drink.

"Hmm... Ex-General. I have no desire to rejoin any army. I am a warrior now, just that. I admit.. in my world I was not very happy until I met Raven. I wasn't content at all. Now? There are so many possibilities before me. These "Grimm" monsters to fight. Ones to test my skills on. I would also like to see this world. The kind of place Raven became who she is.. I'm curious. I plan to travel for a while" Esdeath took a drink herself, exhaling softly as she looked over at the three of them.

"As long as you don't cause too much trouble" Raven commented as Tai and Qrow shot each other a look and got up.

"Well I'm takin' a leak. See you inside, Rae" Qrow walked inside, leaving the two.

"Yeah and I have to get Yang and Ruby washed up before dinner" Tai shot Raven a smile before walking after Qrow.

The two were left in silence for a while, drinking the rest of their beer peacefully before Esdeath broke the silence with a snort.

"I think they have the wrong impression of us" Esdeath spoke, finishing her drink.

"Hmph.. meddling little shits" Raven smirked.

"I can see you love them. I... This is a very warm place you have here, Raven.. You're lucky to have them" Esdeath quietly admitted.

"You can be a part of this as well, Esdeath" Esdeath blinked and looked at Raven, who had been looking right at her.

"I wasn't lying when I said you were my friend. You may be a pain in the ass sometimes with you aggressively going after me to seduce me but I think you'd be welcomed here. After all, Summer made the remodel design with four bedrooms. Whatever your past, you can have a place here" Raven only heard a soft gasp and a small sniffle in reply as she stood up.

"Just lay off the aggressive seduction stuff, okay? I'm not telling you to just deny your feelings or forget them. Love is a fantastic thing to experience but going about it this way.. It'll ruin what we have right now. I've been patient and passive until this point but-" Raven stopped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand. I'm not giving up but I won't burden you by continuing like this. Thank you, for offering a place in the family you built up here. I'll need to think about this. About.. everything, while I travel. Thank you" Raven felt herself wrapped up in a quick hug before it was broken off by Esdeath.

"Now that all the emotional talk is out of the way, let us eat. I'm absolutely famished from this hard labor you put me through.." Esdeath complained dramatically.

"Hey, you offered" Raven responded as they walked inside.

"Yes.. so you and the others kept saying to me all day" Esdeath quipped sarcastically.

As they returned back inside, they saw a table full of food. Everyone about to sit down. Akame and Kurome were talking to Ruby and Yang. Summer was taking about a hundred pictures of their interaction with her scroll. Finally, Tai and Qrow were looking at both women, highly amused and both were throwing their brows up and down suggestively to try and tease them.

Esdeath just took the sight in and smiled to herself.

~Yes.. it makes sense this is why you are who you are. What a loving place..~