RWBY Through Worlds (End)

236: How did You Love?

Oscar had thought he'd missed his aunt, but somehow she was at the hotel where Theo's reception was.

Most of the team had made it there already by the time he got there.

"Oscar!" Emily grabbed him before he even really saw her coming. "I can't believe it! Why didn't you contact me!" She hit his arm.

"I... didn't have the chance." Oscar rubbed his arm.

"Did you really help save the world?" Emily lifted up the medal. "I can't believe it. Why would they even let you go with them? Oh, my gosh. I'll skin Theodore alive."

"Oh, relax, Em." Theo saw her and put an arm around her shoulder, to her chagrin. "It's time to celebrate. I got married yesterday. We saved the kingdoms. Life is good."

"And this young lady is the one?" Emily eyed Vara. "I suspected as much when you stopped by before. And you didn't tell me you were taking Oscar into the Grimm lands!"

"Well, at the time I didn't know." Theo shrugged. "But it worked out. He's fine now."

"This is why we never visit you," Emily said severely. She jerked Oscar's arm like he was a much younger kid. "Does he seem ready for this to you?"

"Couldn't you just be proud of him, lady?" Vara frowned and folded her arms, blowing her hair in annoyance.

"Of course I'm proud of him, but I want to strangle you both!" Emily said. "He shouldn't be doing things like that. He's not even learned to fight."

"Actually, I kind of did," Oscar tried.

"What? How?" Emily said. "You seem different than before though." She grabbed his face and looked at him closely. "Hmm..."

"He seems happier, right?" Theo said. "A little less down in the mind."

Vara snickered.

"Oscar, please tell me you're coming home now." Emily glared at Theo. "Enough of these heroics. You've had your fun, right?"

"Uh... the thing is..." Oscar didn't really want to go back. He knew he didn't fit in on the farm anymore. He wasn't sure where he fit.

"Okay, there you are." Ruby walked up. "Hey, can I borrow Oscar? We were all going to have fun with the Shade students."

"Fun? Like pick-pocketing?" Emily said.

"Don't be ridiculous, Emily, that's a job," Theo said. "Not fun. They're just going to celebrate the Deliverance-Day--whatever they called it."

"I suppose," Emily relented. "Just don't go too far. I still have some words for your cousin." She frowned.

"Way to bring down the mood," Vara said.

"I'll stall her," Theo hissed to Oscar. "Run while you can."

Oscar didn't think this was going to help in the long run.

But Ruby took his arm and burst into rose petals, dragging him away. Then she stopped.

"Whew," she said. "Your aunt is worse than my dad."

"Heh... I kind of brought it on myself." Oscar rubbed his arm. "I knew I should have called more. Thanks though."

"No problem. Want to go watch the fireworks? Uncle Qrow said not to stick around this reception," Ruby said. "Apparently he thinks people are going to get pretty drunk."

Since it consisted of mostly Theo's friends and other adults visiting Vacuo for the first time, and alcohol was more common than water in the desert, Qrow was probably right.