Heeeelllloooo everybody! How's it going? Hope y'all are enjoying the new year so far. So, I was REALLY struggling with what to name this story. Hell, I'm still having trouble piecing together the whole damn thing all together. But what the hay; I'm just winging it as usual. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy the newest chapter in the the story of Team SHLD. Take care, and I'll see y'all later!

Two years have passed.

What was left of Team SHLD was holed up in Al's Tavern, planning their next course of action. Any given missions were now specific to each person's abilities, etc. It was beginning to drive Sierra nuts since said leader was mainly the one that was going on them solo. Lima and Hotel very seldom tagged along, though they did go on their own missions from time to time for the usual expenses.

In the months that had passed, Lima had gotten engaged to Windsickle, and Hotel and Yang had a proper wedding, though Yang kept her maiden name. Sierra, being closest to Hotel, was extremely happy for them, having visions of her upcoming wedding with Echo. Lima's ears wagged happily, seemingly reading Sierra's mind as they hung out in the private room that they used as a meeting room. However, as they turned to face the chair that Delta would usually sit at, the light mood suddenly turned stale, having remembered that said member was currently out on a mission.

Lima's ears immediately drooped as she looked down at her cup of juice. Hotel kept his eyes on the empty chair for a couple minutes before taking another swig from his beer cup, setting it back down on the table. Sierra simply played with a knife, sighing as she tossed it up in the air, landing directly in the middle of the table. However, she was quick to try to lighten the mood as she said, "Hey, let's not worry. This is Delta, after all. I'm sure he's fine."

Just then, a knock on the door caught their attention. The team's attention turned to the door as it slowly opened, revealing a red-haired woman. Sierra's eyes immediately widened as the woman casually entered the room, taking Delta's empty chair and turning it around, sitting on it and leaning on the back rest. There was a tense moment of silence before Sierra ushered, "Scarlet…!"

Immediately, Lima and Hotel jumped out of their chairs and reached for their weapons, alarmed. However, Sierra immediately raised her hands, calling them off, catching them off guard as Scarlet turned to the door, an unknown man entering right after with a cup. He very quickly gave Scarlet the cup, of which she quickly downed the contents, then said, "I see you've caught on, sis."

"What're you doing here…?"

Sierra's gaze just as quickly narrowed as she kept her hands tense, ready to pull out knives at a moment's notice.

"Okay, never mind," Scarlet stated, sighing as she put the cup down and continued, "I've got some news regarding your boy."

"My…boy?"

"Yeah. That teammate of yours."

Immediately, dread snuck into the team's very beings.

"Delta Ordance," Scarlet stated, "per order of General Ironwood, and the consent of Ozpin, has officially been listed as M.I.A."

Ruby took the news harshly. She began holing herself up in the apartment, not coming out for days to the point where Sierra, Hotel, Lima, Yang, and other friends and family would take turns watching over her. Some nights would be nights where all she would do was cry herself to sleep, wishing that Delta was there with her. Wishing, no, knowing that, somewhere out there, Delta was still alive. He could be alive. He had to be alive.

Despite the news, the team had tried numerous times to contact him, often leaving voice mails in a faint hope that he was still alive.

However, life moves on, as does the team.

Hotel sparred on with Yang, both of them exchanging blows as Lima continued playing with their child, a year old baby girl who was essentially a baby image of her mother. Lima couldn't help but smile as the parents both locked weapons, Yang's right fist firmly planted on the shaft of Hotel's spear, both of them smirking at each other before a gunshot, followed by a lightning fast right hook, sent Hotel flying straight for Lima. The man slid painfully on the ground, coming to a stop just in front of his kid, his eyes scrunched in pain. The child simply stared at her father, blinking in surprise, then began crawling all over him, thinking it was some sort of game. Hotel simply laughed, picking the child up and holding her in the air. Yang let out an exhilarated shout, then walked over and sat down on Hotel's stomach, taking the child from his hands.

"I win again, babe," Yang stated, smirking again as Hotel chuckled and replied, "Yes, I know."

"Hotel," Lima called out, catching his attention. He turned his head to look at her, seeing her stand up and pat herself off. He smiled at her, then said, "See you later, Lima. Thanks again for watching Flare tonight."

Lima simply turned and smiled, then continued on her way as she began making her way back home.

From a nearby tree, Sierra watched as Lima began making her way home, walking down the somewhat beaten path that led to Vale. The former then let out a sigh, walking away from the tree, knowing all too well that her lifestyle couldn't differentiate more from her former team's own lifestyles.

"That was quite the move you pulled off."

"Go to hell," Sierra replied as Scarlet approached her from behind. Sierra continued walking the opposite direction of Lima, Scarlet following along.

Team SHLD had officially been disbanded.

Without Delta, Sierra felt that the team didn't quite feel like it used to be, with Delta's flexibility to fight alongside any member missing from their strategies. Could she have worked around it? Possibly. But it was better that way. Now she didn't have to worry about any of them getting hurt because she messed up.

"Not even gonna say hi to them?"

"No. There's really no reason to when I'd only have so long to talk."

"It isn't a bad idea to see your team from time to time."

"…Scarlet."

"Yes, yes. 'Stop telling me how to live.'"

"And you'd best remember that."

*beep beep beep*

"…another new one…."

*click*

"H…hi. I…don't know if you're even hearing this, but I got a new house! Well…Dad helped me with the process and everything, but I've settled down now and…well…I'm only waiting for you to return, hehe."

"…"

"All of your stuff is still boxed up in an empty room. I'm not gonna touch it because I want you to lay it out."

"…"

"…Del…I miss you…I…*sniffle*…miss you…so much…."

"…"

"…I…*sniffle*…love you…*sniffle*…see you…later…."

*beep*

"…hah…."