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Chapter Text

Chapter 1
YEAR 6 IN THE TIMELINE SUBWAY

After hours of laboriously sifting through the debris in search of anything useful or edible, Five and Lila's exhausted hands, scraped raw from the jagged remnants, finally uncovered an unmistakable object—a briefcase, its sleek exterior glinting dully under layers of dust and ash.

The stale air was thick with the odor of decay, a stark reminder of the world that had collapsed around them. They exchanged hopeful glances, anticipation mingling with the grit in their throats. Could it really be a Commission Briefcase?

Their eyes widened in surprise and awe as they hurriedly extracted it from the pile of ash that Five was certain had once been the Hargreeves mansion.

“Is that what I think it is?” Lila said, voice trembling uncharacteristically.

“Only one way to find out,” Five choked out, his voice gravelly from inhaling the dust that hung heavily in the post-apocalyptic atmosphere. He pressed his thumbs against the cool metal latches of the briefcase and snapped it open.

An eerie blue glow illuminated their dirty faces from the digital display of the time travel device within, their eyes gleaming with hope and desperation. They turned to each other with an unspoken question: where and when do we go?

Before they could make a decision, the blue light flickered ominously to a pulsating red, accompanied by an error warning flashing across the device's screen. A series of beeps erupted from within the briefcase, each sound sharper and more frantic than the last, escalating in tempo until…

A FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT.

Five lowered his hand from his eyes, from where he'd instinctively reached up to shield them in the seconds before the pair were transported to… shit, where even were they? But it just couldn't be what it looked like… A shiver unfurled from his neck to the base of his spine.

He wondered how the Commission could still be here, in this alternate timeline that had looked, from all intents and purposes, completely void of anything living. The briefcase lay smoking and sputtering at their feet, sparks erupting from its damaged circuitry.

Lila stumbled behind him, coughing and waving away the smoke, her eyes squinting until the air began to clear. When her vision adjusted, her eyes widened in disbelief as she took in their surroundings.

They were inside the Commission headquarters.

“Bloody hell! Never thought we'd see this place again!” she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the silence.

The headquarters appeared almost as it had during their last visit, when the kugelblitz spiraled out of control due to the grandfather paradox and threatened to consume all of existence. At that time, she had intentionally come with Five in search of answers. Now, they found themselves here unexpectedly after weeks of subsisting on subway rats and fleeing one apocalypse after another.

First and most obvious was the absence of people in what was usually a bustling environment filled with the sounds of hurried footsteps and clattering keyboards. Papers lay strewn across desks and the floor, the faint rustle of crumpled sheets breaking the oppressive silence.

Broken coffee mugs had left sticky puddles of dark liquid that glistened like spilled ink on the marble tiles. Filing cabinets had toppled over like dominoes, their drawers hanging open like panting dogs on a hot summer day, spilling colorful folders haphazardly across the floor, creating a chaotic rainbow of oversized confetti.

Five flicked his dark hair out of his eyes and shot Lila a determined look. “We have to find another briefcase. But first let's head for the Infinite Switchboard and check if it has any answers to what happened here. I hope it's not another kugelblitz.”

While his footsteps echoed dully in her ears as he cautiously made his way toward the hallway, Lila remained frozen in place. Her gaze had become fixated on something among the wreckage on the floor, leaving her stunned, absolutely gobsmacked. 

One of the folders that must have fallen from the cabinets lay open at her feet, its pages fanned out. The image clipped to the inside cover captivated her, rendering her utterly speechless.

It depicted a couple in their wedding finery, holding hands and beaming at the camera. Five and Lila's faces looked back at her from this photograph, representing an alternate universe where Five had not been trapped in the apocalypse for decades and Lila had not been raised by the Handler.

In that reality, they had still been born on the same day, but free from any time-related complications, they stood together at the same exact age. Five appeared slightly older in the photograph than he did now, while Lila looked precisely like she did at 22, leading her to conclude that the couple in the image must be that age.

Her voice trembled once more as she finally raised her eyes to meet his, her words emerging almost like a croak. “Five? What is this?”

Chapter Text

Chapter 2
BOY MEETS GIRL

Five’s heart raced, pounding against his ribcage as Reginald’s condescending voice echoed in his mind. The weight of expectation pressed heavily on him, fueling his determination to prove himself. “Come back here at once, Number Five!” But Five was convinced he could master time travel as easily as any normal person could cross the street. He figured he could leap forward in time, grab the first thing he could find to prove he’d actually gone to the future, and return within minutes to shove the evidence right into Reginald's arrogant face. 

With that thought in mind, he angrily strode out of the mansion’s front doors, gathering his power into his core as he prepared to jump. Suddenly, a girl’s voice rang out like wind chimes amidst the chaos of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

“Number Five? IS THAT REALLY YOU?”

On the sidewalk in front of him stood a girl who looked to be about his age. She wore a pleated plaid skirt with red, green, and black lines forming a familiar tartan pattern. Her white collared shirt was impeccably pressed, and a black vest trimmed in a shade of green that matched her skirt held her black tie neatly in place. A fitted black blazer adorned with shiny silver buttons at the cuffs completed the ensemble, while knee-high black socks mirrored the ones Five wore every day. Looking down at her feet, he suspected the chunky-heeled Mary Janes were steel-toed and could deliver a serious kick.

She peered at him through dark lashes, shyly extending her right hand for a shake. “I’m Lila,” she said, her musical British voice cutting through the noise. Her long black hair framed her dark face, and her teeth shone like ivory as she grinned broadly at him. “I’m a huge fan! So honored to meet you!” She continued to gush as Five stared dumbfounded at her outstretched hand, frozen as if caught mid-karate chop.

Finally Five took her hand, shaking it firmly, but it seemed to take him a moment more to notice the small suitcase and steamer trunk that lay at her feet. He gestured at the items and asked, “Going on holiday?”

She laughed, eyes twinkling. “No, I've just arrived! I'm joining the Umbrella Academy!”

Five's mind whirled with questions. There had never been a new student to the academy before, all the children having been adopted as babies then raised together in this militaristic hell that was the Umbrella Academy. While Five had always suspected there were more special children like his siblings out there somewhere with unknown powers of varying degree, it had been thirteen years and Reginald had never so much as hinted at bringing a new recruit for the team. Why now? What was so special about this girl? And why didn't their father mention anything about her coming?

He swallowed a huge lump in his throat, the unmistakable feeling that something terrible was coming washing over him in an instant.

The creak of the front door opening behind him interrupted his reverie. Five dropped Lila's hand and turned as Pogo stepped outside. “Miss Lila, we've been expecting you. Welcome to the Umbrella Academy.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 3
NEVER TEAR US APART

Five picked up the folder from the floor, his hands trembling as he opened it to reveal a photograph that twisted his stomach into knots. The image depicted a version of himself and Lila, beaming with joy on their wedding day—a stark contrast to the chaos that surrounded them. This version of him had so much joy in his eyes that Five was certain they had never seen the dead bodies of his family in the rubble of some future apocalypse. The Lila in the picture exuded the same happiness, a girl whose family had never been murdered by the boy who held her hand. As if that weren’t eerie enough, Five skimmed through the accompanying pages and discovered a report from the Commission evaluating potential recruits.

“Subjects both possess incredible abilities that can complement a tactical operations role within the organization. The male subject, known only as Number Five, is highly intelligent, adept at spatial relocation and can easily be taught to translate the skill into quantum teleportation. The female subject, Lila Pitts, aka Lila Hargreeves, is equally intelligent, with the ability to mimic any power. She can take on the special abilities of someone nearby and has a keen interest in hand to hand combat. As a team they can be formidable and absolutely deadly…” Five read aloud.

Lila leaned in closer to read over his shoulder, feeling as though the oxygen in the room was being siphoned away by an unseen force.

“Subsequent investigation and surveillance on the IS (Infinite Switchboard) reveal the pair almost always gravitate towards each other, becoming romantically linked in nearly every timeline in which they both exist…”

“The sole exception to this oft-repeated pattern stemmed from the interference of the rogue Commission director known as The Handler. First she left the male alone for 45 years in a post-apocalyptic landscape instead of recruiting him when he was first spotted by Agent Dot when he was still a 20 year-old (see report attached). She then forged an execution order instructing the male subject to assassinate the female's parents in order to gain access to the subject as a child as well as prevent any emotional bonds from forming between the pair. Access records show The Handler had reviewed several key moments of the couple's lives on the IS and subsequently put her plans into motion, later adopting the female subject and training her to be a formidable fighter. One hypothesis suggests Agent Handler did all this as part of her attempted coup, her ultimate goal to take charge of the Temps Commission...”

Five and Lila exchanged bewildered glances after reading the final paragraph. He opened his mouth to speak when the announcement system blared to life, a clanging alarm accompanied by an urgent message relayed by an artificial female voice.

“TIMELINE COLLAPSE DETECTED. ALL PERSONNEL EVACUATE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. ORDER 979 IN EFFECT.”

The warning repeated relentlessly, setting both their hearts racing. Order 979 meant the self-destruction of the facility in mere minutes. They had no time to waste, the operations bunker they'd found before was on the other side of the building and Five had little hope they'd reach it in time. There was really only one way out. He reached out to clutch Lila's hand and blinked.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4
6 YEARS 5 MONTHS 2 DAYS

Arriving back at the subway station, Five and Lila exchanged incredulous glances, their minds still reeling from their recent experiences. After a few seconds, Five reached into his bag to retrieve the map. With an air of finality, he crossed out the symbol representing the timeline they had just left behind. His brow furrowed as he folded the map and quietly returned it to his bag.

“Are we not going to discuss this?” Lila asked, her voice rising in frustration. Five's calm demeanor, while familiar, grated on her nerves in that moment, and she couldn't hide her irritation.

“What's there to discuss? That was obviously a dead end. We need to get some rest and catch the next train,” he deadpanned. A slight twitch in his jaw was the only indication that the recent events had affected him at all. Lila felt like screaming.

“You know very well that's not what I meant! Aren't you even the least bit curious about what we read in that file?” she pressed.

“And what good would my curiosity do in getting us back home to our families? We could camp here for the night if you're tired. I certainly feel exhausted. I just don’t want to lose track of our goal,” he shot back.

Five blew his hair out of his eyes with an exasperated huff. It was growing long again, making Lila's fingers itch to run through it. She pushed the instinct down, forcing herself to look away. She knew how Five could be and decided to give him time and space to digest everything they'd discovered before they ended up at each other's throats again. Looking around at the station, she finally asked, “Dinner?”

“I'll check the traps,” Five muttered, sauntering away.

Afterward, they set up a makeshift camp and lit a fire to cook with. Leaning against the train to keep it from leaving, Lila carefully turned the rat over the flames, ensuring it cooked evenly. The firelight danced in her eyes, causing them to water slightly, but she had trained herself long ago to hold back tears.

Thoughts raced through her mind about the file they had found. She wasn't sure if she believed in destiny, but those words echoed in her head: “...the pair almost always gravitate towards each other…” Was this why she felt this emptiness despite the life she had built with Diego? Her heart ached for her children, but she knew their marriage was over before she ever set foot in this strange subway. She couldn't explain it, not even to herself—this feeling of being an incomplete puzzle with one piece missing. Even in a house full of people, Lila felt a haunting loneliness deep within her bones.

Before the timeline reset, she'd spent countless years in The Commission as one of their most ruthless assassins. In that place, as outside of time as this odd train system Five had found, Lila didn’t age normally either. She wondered if this was how Five felt, like the skin he wore was a mask, disguising the ancient soul within. It was strange how similar they both were, she thought. Two orphans of time travel, lost in this blasted subway. Taught to kill by the same organization, one seemingly built by another version of Five. You could say he taught her everything she knew. She almost laughed out loud at the thought.

“I don't think I could eat another subway rat,” Five's voice interrupted her musings.

Lila was so relieved he was talking to her again that she tried to keep the mood light. “If you add an orange peel to it, it kind of tastes like duck à l'orange,” she scoffed.

“Care to guess how long we've been down here?” he asked,  smirking. 

“Hmm, long enough I found my first gray hair, and it's not on my head,” she grinned teasingly.

He unfolded a travel-worn calendar page he'd pilfered during one of their supply runs, studying the meticulous notes scribbled across it. “Well, according to my calendar, it's been six years, five months, two days…”

“Yeah, well, we’ll find a way home soon enough, right?” Lila said, trying to maintain her optimism, unwilling to succumb to the soul-sucking silence and the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind.

“If we don’t get stabbed, shot, or blown up next time we go topside,” Five said, holding her gaze steadily. “You know in some of those timelines we would’ve been lucky to get out alive.”

“Yeah, well, we're still kicking, so we must be doing something right.” Lila refused to dwell on the worst of those memories, but they flitted through her mind, unwanted. Like the time she was grazed by a bullet, caught an infection, and Five had to nurse her back to health. He'd carried her, bleeding, all the way to the station, begging her to keep her eyes open. The blood had seemed worse than it was once he cleaned and bandaged the wound, but their meager supplies didn’t include antibiotics. He’d had to double back to a nearby urgent care clinic to get some. She’d fallen asleep while he was gone, only to wake to Five shaking her frantically, clearly out of his mind with worry. The relief on his face when she opened her eyes was so evident that she couldn't help but tease him with the old Monty Python “I’m not dead yet” gag. Making him chuckle was her precious prize.

Lila recalled the soothing sound of his voice as he read to her from Homer’s Odyssey. She had been healing, unable to walk after he'd pulled glass shards from her foot. To distract her, he raided a nearby library for entertainment. She remembered nodding off to the sounds of trains and Five reading Greek poetry about hell, her head cradled in his lap, feeling safe and warm with a cozy blanket tucked under her chin.

Then there was the time she had been certain he’d died because they got separated, and he didn’t return to the station for almost four days. She had prayed to every god she could name for his safe return and couldn’t stop the tears from falling when she finally saw him strolling toward her, arms laden with dead rabbits. Lila had thrown herself into his arms, forcing him to drop everything on the floor and nearly knocking him to the ground. She’d screamed at him for an hour to never worry her like that again. He’d simply smirked, lips curling up on one side in that way she both hated and loved, promising sarcastically that next time he’d leave a note.

“Do you remember that timeline we found the other day? At the greenhouse?” Five's hopeful tone cut through her memories.

“And the strawberries!” Lila exclaimed, already imagining the juice exploding on her tongue as she bit into one. “What about it?”

Chapter Text

Chapter 5
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW

Lila was in the greenhouse happily gathering strawberries. She was so grateful Five had suggested this break. They'd been so tired of running, so tired of losing, and the exhaustion had crept up on them after almost seven years of trying to find a way home. The map they carried was covered in X's, all the dead ends they'd uncovered, a sad representation of their failures. It was nice to catch their breaths and finally just exist, without the fate of the world on their shoulders.

It didn't stop her from wondering why in all this time he wouldn't bring up the contents of the Commission file they'd found in that alternate timeline. She certainly couldn't stop herself from imagining what could've been if Five hadn't killed her parents, if he never got lost in time in the first place. One night when he was sleeping she snuck the folder out of his bag and just stared at the wedding photo, her eyes boring into the eyes of her own image. Lila had a million questions for that other version of herself, but the one she thought most was, “Are you happy?”

She felt him rather than saw him when he entered the greenhouse. Lila was so keenly aware of Five these days, like he was just an extension of herself, another arm or leg. He was a part of her. She knew that now more than ever, after reading and rereading that file. But he always walked the world with his guard up, and she had no idea how to break through the walls he'd constructed around himself, around his heart. She glanced over at him out of the corner of her eyes as he tilted the gardening can to water the plants. Try as he might to hide his smile, Lila could see it from across the room. Her eyes glittered with mischief as she threw a strawberry at him, then another. Then a third.

Five couldn't contain the wide grin that spread over his face as she did so, but attempted to keep up his nonchalance. Gardening can in hand, he turned to her and said, “You know if you keep this up we're not going to have any strawberries when the snow comes.”

Lila was tired of this game, tired of pretending she felt nothing for this man other than a begrudging friendship. Tired of searching for happiness when it literally stood right here in front of her. If they were really taking a break from it all she resolved to make this time worth something. She tore the wall down.

“Then we'll eat snow…” she threw two more strawberries and made her way towards him, pretending to trip over her own feet. Five caught her, just like she knew he would, just like he always had. Finally she was back where she wanted to be, in Five's arms. It felt like time had really stopped, just for the two of them to have this moment. He searched her eyes for a few seconds and must've found his answer there.

Five leaned in to kiss her, so softly, like she was something fragile he didn't want to break. Lila drowned in the sweetness of it. She wanted to say he could never break her, she had been broken before but now suddenly she felt whole. The puzzle piece clicked into place, the one she had been missing all her life.

The rightness of it startled her and she pulled away. “Don't,” she pleaded. “Don't what?” he asked. The confusion in his bright blue eyes made her want to laugh. “Be weird.”

“Was that weird?” he wondered. She didn't have the words to fully explain the strange revelation coursing through her at the moment. The best she could do was say, “No, which is what makes it weird.” She smiled, giving unspoken permission with her eyes.

Five kissed her again, more deeply this time. He had dreamed of doing it more times than he'd ever admit but the real thing was pure ecstasy. He wanted to bottle the feeling, sell it, and become the richest man on Earth. He let go of decades of loneliness and loss, pouring his whole heart into this kiss. Five knew in that moment that he loved Lila, despite every logical thought telling him he couldn't. He also knew in another world, she was already his. He felt her arms reach past his ears to entwine behind his head and pulled her closer.

And damn if the world didn't stop all over again. If it didn't Lila wished with every particle of her being that it would, that this moment could stretch to infinity. For never before had she felt so complete, like that missing piece she never knew was gone had slotted back in place and in Five's embrace finally, FINALLY, she was home.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6
AHEAD BY A CENTURY

Lila carefully placed the needle down on the record and sighed contentedly to herself as the soft strains of music came out of the gramophone. She looked up to see Five strolling in the back door of the greenhouse, wearing a triumphant grin and carrying two rabbits.

“Hey! Someone did well today,” Lila beamed at him with a bright smile stretching across her face.

“It was the snares you made,” he returned, hanging the rabbits up to dry. “Exceptional.”

Lila felt the praise warm every corner of her being, knowing Five didn't hand compliments out freely or without really meaning them. He walked towards her, head tilting to appreciate the music. Kneeling in front of her, he peered at the gramophone, which they'd found broken in the attic of their small cottage.

“I fixed it,” she said proudly, searching his face for a moment. “Hey, I know that look. Out with it.”

He often wore this expression after returning from scavenging, ready to reveal some newfound treasure—be it a can of peas, a new blanket, or a novel for her to read. Five always considered these items trivial, mere necessities, but Lila saw how dedicated he was to caring for her.

“Okay,” he said, reaching into his back pocket and withdrawing a small scrap of cloth.

“What's this?” Lila asked, curiosity piqued as she took the bundle from him.

“Look inside,” Five implored, his clear eyes fixed on her with tenderness.

A little nervously, Lila unfolded the tiny cloth bundle and was surprised to discover a beautiful metal bracelet, made of rods cleverly twisted and braided together. “Where'd you get this?” She asked, awe evident in her tone.

“I made it,” Five replied, a hint of shyness creeping into his voice. His ancient eyes held so much love and hope that it made Lila's heart thump loudly in her ears, as if to declare her identical emotions.

She couldn't believe that he had crafted this beautiful gift for her—that the legendary temporal assassin on his knees in front of her was capable of such artistry and craftsmanship. Touched by the gift and the significance it carried, Lila leaned in and kissed him quickly. “You're so full of surprises.”

Five took the bracelet and lovingly placed it on her wrist, admiring how the metal shone brightly against her light brown skin. “I aim to please, “ he said, and the happiness in his smile was mirrored in his twinkling blue eyes. He stood, reaching for his carrier bag.

“Hey, where are you going?” Lila asked, wanting to show him just how much she appreciated the gift. She had been about to make that kiss much more exciting, and now felt confused and  more than a bit disappointed as he slung the bag strap over his shoulder.

“We just ran out of scrap metal,” he teased.

“I'll join you in a minute,” she told him, giddily admiring the way her bracelet caught the light filtering through the greenhouse glass.

“Okay, love,” Five said in that reverent way that made her insides feel full of monarch butterflies.

Whenever he used that word, it felt so natural that she couldn't question it. It was the privilege of her life, to be the only woman in the world he loved like this, Lila thought. She wanted to tell him she felt the same, that she loved him so much she couldn't imagine life without him anymore. She wanted to pull him down onto the dirty greenhouse floor and show him how she felt through her touch, all the emotion she felt that words could never express, but he had already sauntered off before she could say another word.

* * *

Five returned to the subway station, searching for more metal since he had used their last pieces on Lila's bracelet. He envisioned a matching necklace, picturing it gleaming against her neck. Would it be long enough to reach her collarbones? He loved kissing along each one to her shoulders and then back up the side of her neck, behind her ear… The thought made him a bit careless as he tried to pry some loose cabling from a light fixture. His flashlight fell, rolling across the floor and into the train tracks.

Groaning at his own foolishness, Five cursed under his breath and jumped down to retrieve the flashlight. Its steady beam illuminated the tracks and something unexpected. “What the hell...?”

He grabbed the torch and aimed it at a small electrical box on the wall near where it had fallen. A notebook perched on top of it, completely out of place, as if someone had hidden it there. He snatched it up and quickly thumbed through the pages, disbelief and shock growing as he read over the scrawled entries and diagrams. It was all in his own handwriting—detailed notes on the subway system. Five imagined some other version of himself, alone and lost for years in this grim station. Thanks to this unknown double, his hands now held the key to returning to their timeline. He didn't know whether to be grateful or hate the guy.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7
HAZY SHADE OF WINTER

Lila elfishly grinned at Five, her hands held behind her back, instantly alerting him that she had something up her sleeve. He raised an eyebrow, setting his wine glass down on the table.

“What's that?”

“Now I know that we said no gifts, but…” she brought her hands around, proudly presenting him a jar half full of tiny brown crystals. “Ta-da! Here's to seven years in Shitsville with you.”

He gingerly took it from her, stupidly touched by the simple but kind gesture.

“Bloody hell. You're not going to cry, are you? It's just instant coffee,” she teased.

Five couldn’t believe it had been seven whole years since they found themselves lost and wandering this strange subway. The thought of The Cleanse destroying the world as they knew it felt distant, yet he knew that back in their timeline, the threat still loomed. Here they were, untouched by death and destruction, while elsewhere their families might be fighting for their lives. Lila’s unwavering optimism choked him, and he felt remorse wash over him, chilling his blood. While she was trying to make the most of this awful situation, he was hiding the answer to her prayers in his knapsack.

Lila and Five had thrived for months in this sanctuary they had found, only returning to the station for supplies. Secretly, he held their ticket back in a notebook tucked inside his bag, scribbled by an alternate version of himself and left behind for him to find by pure accident during one of those supply runs. He realized he couldn’t keep this from her any longer. Seven years… He swallowed thickly and made up his mind.

“Lila, there’s something I should tell you.”

- - -

Five couldn’t believe she was gone. The reality of Lila’s absence washed over him like a leaden anchor dragging him down. The weight of her departure felt crushing, and the aftermath of exposing the notebook had gone as badly as he had imagined, if not worse. What had he been thinking?

Something inside him had cracked upon seeing the joy on Lila’s face as she presented him with that jar of instant coffee, knowing full well how much he missed it. It wasn’t the gift itself that had moved him to be honest, but the fact that she had considered his wants and needs. By keeping the solution to their predicament a secret, he knew he was doing the opposite—selfishly hoarding their time together like the old miser he was. So Five had showed it to her, the notebook. And in doing so, he'd lost her.

He paced in the greenhouse, tearing at his hair, and finally slumped to his knees in defeat. “Survival,” she had said. That's all he was to her after everything. He felt shattered, even more broken than when he'd once found the corpses of his family in the rubble of their home so very long ago. He looked around and saw Lila in every part of the room, in the records she'd selected and stacked neatly by their gramophone, in the sun chairs she'd dragged out there one day so they could languidly doze together during lazy afternoons, and most of all in the strawberries that littered the floor. The cloying scent of them filled his nostrils and for once he didn't enjoy it. Five didn't think he'd ever eat another strawberry again.

He thought back to the file folder they'd found months ago. If only The Handler didn't interfere, then Five and Lila would have their happily-ever-after. Something clicked in his mind, a proverbial cartoon light bulb turning on above his head. He hurriedly began to pack his things.

Five took one last, sorrowful look around the greenhouse, the paradise they'd found and took refuge in for over half of the past year. Every inch of it made him think of her. Etching the memories into his heart, Five blinked.

When Lila reached the station, Five was already there, leaning against the turnstiles.

“Don't try to stop me,” she began.

“I won't.” It was painful to look her in the eye now, knowing she would never choose him and their life together. But he loved her enough to give her what she needed, a way home to her children. “Come on, love. We don't want to miss the train.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 8
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM

Five unironically thought it was surreal to be back in reality, sitting inside Diego and Lila's house celebrating Christmas as if the chaos of their lives had never existed. The laughter of family filled the air, but Five couldn’t shake the heaviness in his heart. The Nutcracker was playing on the television while his siblings chattered on and on about Viktor, Ben, Jennifer, the Keepers, etc. He knew they had to figure out how to stop this latest threat to the world, but in all truth Five was tired, down to the very depths of his soul. It seemed to him no matter what he did the universe was hell bent while destiny sat in the corner chuckling at his misery.

Five stood suddenly, all the emotion he had shoved down for over fifty years bubbling up to the surface all at once, until now he was a volcano ready to erupt. He paced back and forth trying to do something with all the pent up energy.

“You know what, let's do it right now. We all struck out. There's nothing better to do.”

From the couch Lila peered up at him, sensing the tension ratcheting up, as ever attuned to Five's mood. She wanted nothing more than to assure him, to calm his fear and anxiety like she had the last seven years. “Five, it's gonna be okay.”

“It's not gonna be okay,” he loudly scoffed. Here they were trying to pretend nothing happened. Like they hadn't been gone for seven years. Like they weren't soul mates who had found each other at last, only to be ripped away from each other again by the reality and responsibilities of this timeline. Five just couldn't take it anymore.

“Don't talk to my wife like that, man. Not around here, not during Christmas,” Diego angrily stood from the couch, towering over Five and glaring down at him with daggers in his eyes.

“She was my wife first!” Five shouted back, finally tired of deception. He hadn't intended to share that information with anyone other than Lila for the rest of his life. But since it was looking more and more like there wasn't much left of that Five was done keeping secrets.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Diego stumbled back a step, brows drawn together in confusion.

Everyone was staring at Five, waiting for an answer. Klaus rolled his eyes and muttered, “The old man's finally lost it.”

Lila jumped to her feet, placing one hand on Diego's chest, “You two need to stop.”

Diego's eyes narrowed at the sight of the bracelet on her wrist. “What's this?” He asked her, roughly grabbing at it. “You hate bracelets.”

She wrenched her wrist free of his grasp and stepped back, saying, “No, I don't.” Lila loved her bracelet as well as the man who had given it to her and refused for Five to think otherwise for even a moment. She didn't, however, like where this conversation was going, but she felt resigned to the fact there was no getting off this train.

“Yeah, you do. I gave you one for Valentine's Day and you traded it for a Dyson vacuum.”

Lila's eyes flicked to Five, her gaze drawn there subconsciously.

“Did you give her this?” Diego asked, turning to Five, deadly menace giving a razor edge to his voice.

“I made it,” Five said, a look of defiance flashing in his eyes as he looked up at Diego's thunderous expression.

Five reached in his pocket, drawing out an old photograph. Lila's heart nearly stuttered to a stop. It was the one from the Commission folder, the picture of Five and Lila's wedding day in some variant universe. He handed it to Diego and spoke in somber tones. “Lila and I found this in the remains of Commission headquarters in another timeline. It was included in a report they had about us, evaluating us both for recruitment. This is from a wedding that was supposed to occur if The Handler didn't get involved.”

Diego looked up, eyes bewildered, looking at Five with a burning rage reddening his face, then casting his eyes to Lila, anger turned to the pain of betrayal. Time travel stuff was always hard for Diego to wrap his mind around, but he knew his wife well enough to recognize the guilty look on her face. He handed the picture back to Five, and stormed off, slamming a bedroom door.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9
Jump Into The Fire

Lila didn't know what to do with herself. She felt adrift, unsure of her place in this family she had longed to return to. Just a few moments ago the house had been full of, well maybe not necessarily what one would call holiday cheer, but there had been the festive murmur of her family's voices coming from the kitchen as they mingled near the food. The laughter around her felt distant, a bittersweet reminder of the life she had left behind. There were the tinkling strains of the Nutcracker ballet the kids were watching on the television, slightly drowned out by the easy banter from the Hargreeves siblings as they wondered about Viktor, Ben and Jennifer. Colorful Christmas lights blinked off tempo to Tchaikovsky, adding to the semblance of an ordinary holiday party despite the danger of the Cleanse hanging over them like the sword of Damocles. It was all a bit surreal.

Lila had been trying her best to fit back into this world again since she'd walked through the front door. For seven years she'd dreamed of coming home to her children, and seeing them now she couldn't regret her choice to leave the greenhouse. Despite this, Lila was sure Five's sad eyes would haunt her nightmares for years to come as he pleaded for her to stay in their tiny Garden of Eden. “I have children, Five. Children who need me, and I need them.”

She had spoken the truth…mostly. Then she had told him none of it was real, what they'd had in that greenhouse, surrendering to the childish desire to hurt him after he'd kept the secret of the notebook for “five, maybe six” months. The wound from that betrayal had been fresh and raw, and she'd immediately known her petty blow had landed when she saw the pain in his eyes as the words left her mouth, “Survival, nothing more.” Lila impulsively wanted to snatch them back, to erase the words and the pain they caused. They were so far from the truth, uttered in anger and perhaps she was really trying to convince herself that's all it was. But instead her legs were already carrying her away, back to the station and towards the life she'd thought was lost forever.

“Stay if you want, I'm going back,” she'd said with finality and made her way to the subway, holding the shattered remnants of her own heart together with sheer stubbornness. The relief that washed over her to see Five already there, waiting for her by a turnstile, was something she didn't want to examine tòo closely. She just wanted to get back to Grace and the twins as quickly as she could.

Lila had thrown the last of her energy into manifesting that goal, hurriedly taking a seat on the train when it arrived. When Five cautiously sat down beside her, she felt her anger dissipate and give way to tentative hope. They were going home. She dropped her head to the side to rest it on his shoulder, as she'd done many times before. It was the only apology she could give at the moment. Lila didn't know she'd been waiting for it until he tilted his head to gently rest on her own. She exhaled with relief and said, “ You just had to one-up me, didn't you?”

“What do you mean?” Five asked, confused and exhausted.

“Your anniversary gift… the notebook. Blows instant coffee right out of the water.” She grinned as she pictured him rolling his eyes, then looked at his reflection in the window glass across from them to see she had guessed right. It was a truce she was grateful for.

Now, after seven long years, Lila was back with her children, back with her family, back to her husband and their home. She knew she should be bursting with happiness, but as she sat there, in the middle of a whole house full of the people she loved most in the world, a new chasm of loneliness cracked open inside of her. Lila knew then that she'd been lying to herself, that over the past seven years she'd painted her memories of life before with watercolors, softening the edges and contours until only a vague sense of perfection was left.

The more shocking revelation was that the bulk of those memories she'd blurred was of Diego. She had always thought of her children's faces, trying desperately to etch them into her memory to hang onto them longer. But now she had to admit to herself that even before she left with Five her marriage was already on the brink of collapse. After years apart the chemistry she'd once shared with Diego was gone, having already dwindled to faint embers prior to the subway. Chaos and the adrenaline of literal world-ending consequences had thrown them together, then she had become pregnant. For six years they had tried to make it work, living as normal people without their powers. Maybe Five had been right all those years ago when he had told her she wasn't cut out for a life of domestic bliss, she thought sourly. While she would always love him as the father of her children, it had been a long time since she was in love with Diego.

Unfortunately something had shifted in him during her absence and Diego suddenly seemed determined to smother her with his affection. It was too much really, every touch made her feel so uncomfortable and incredibly awkward, especially seeing Five's own discomfort out of the corner of her eye. He had picked a spot on the far end of the couch next to Luther, silently fuming and fidgeting with irritation each time Diego reached for her. She knew for Diego only a few hours had passed since they'd been together so surely there was nothing wrong with showing his wife affection. But for Lila the years weighed heavily, and she knew she couldn't string him along or pretend to have feelings she didn't have. She wondered uncharitably if he'd already forgotten their conversation “this morning” when she'd told him she wanted a break, or if he was just trying to compensate now because of it.

Either way, Lila didn't want to ruin Christmas for the kids so she just tried to play it cool, metaphorically shrinking inside herself and attempting to attract as little notice from anyone as possible, subtly pulling back from her husband’s roving attentions. She promised herself after they saved the world, again, she would talk to Diego, tell him everything no matter the outcome. She did not expect Five would be the one to crack under the pressure.

The echo of a slammed bedroom door caused all other sounds to be sucked out of the room as Diego made his dramatic exit. Everyone turned expectant faces towards Five and Lila, still standing in the middle of the living room, as if they could quickly explain everything and everyone could just go back to doing whatever.

“I didn't see that one coming,” Klaus joked in a surprised tone, never one to stay serious for very long. His words broke the invisible barrier of silence, unleashing a flood of questions from the family, as if a dam had burst.

Allison asked, “What do you mean by another timeline?” Luther chimed in, “You two got married?” Lila's mother demanded, “Lila, what were you thinking?” Grace innocently inquired, “Is Uncle Five my new dad?” And Claire, unable to contain her excitement, shouted, “HEY, STUPID GROWNUPS! Check out the TV. Isn’t that Uncle Ben?”

For a second Lila was grateful for Claire's interruption since the twins looked ready to break into tears, but one look at the television told her the reprieve would be short-lived. A reporter flashed Ben's mugshot on the screen, while describing his time in prison for a crypto currency scam. The building Ben was reported to be inside of was surrounded by Keepers carrying a variety of weapons. When the reporter expressed the concern he might have taken hostages Lila guessed Jennifer was in there as well.

“We've gotta go,” Luther stated the obvious.

Lila met Five's turbulent gaze for a moment, various emotions flitting across his face. She steeled herself to have the most difficult conversation. “I'll get Diego,” she said, regret clear in her voice.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10
Bitter Taste

Lila hesitated at the door, knocking softly before pushing it open. The familiarity of the room felt foreign, a painful reminder of the life she had once known. She felt strangely out of place in it, although it was exactly as she'd left it seven years ago. Diego sat on the edge of the bed, holding their framed family portrait, normally perched on the dresser, in his hands. He stared at it, unblinking, and didn't acknowledge her presence.

“Uh, Diego? We found Ben's location. Maybe Jennifer too… I think the others are ready to head out there.”

“What does it matter?” His somber tone took Lila aback. Diego was normally the poster boy for getting things done, forever ready to strap on his knives and jump in to save the day. Now he looked as if he couldn't care less if the world burned down around him as he sat there.

She dropped down onto the bed to sit beside him, taking the portrait from his hands and set it carefully on the nightstand, glancing at it briefly to borrow a bit of strength by looking at the smiling faces of her children. This would be hard, Lila knew, but it was necessary. She turned to face Diego, taking a deep breath and expelling it slowly, gathering the courage to speak.

“Five and I… we were lost in a subway. It's not a regular subway. It's a waypoint between alternate timelines of the same moment in time,” she began, seeing the confusion and disbelief immediately darken his eyes.

“Do you think I'm stupid? You don't actually expect me to believe this garbage…” Diego shook his head, like he was ready to deny anything that she said.

“Look, I know this is going to be hard to understand, but I'm telling the truth. We thought we could stop this Cleanse thing by going back to the original timeline and fixing it so Ben and Jennifer never met or touched. It was supposed to be an easy mission. But we got lost and couldn't find our way back.” She paused to force back tears, and choked out, “We were searching for seven years, Diego.”

Lila knew she could never properly convey those seven years of having Five as her lifeline, keeping her sane and alive, the grief she had carried missing her children, or the hopeless feeling they might never find a way home. But she knew she had to put her big girl boots on and at least try, for the sake of her children, for the sake of the world that was getting closer to its end second by second. She owed it to Diego and to herself to be completely honest, even if the truth would hurt them both. Lila swallowed the lump that rose unbidden to her throat, then continued.

“We were moving from timeline to timeline, never knowing what we'd find. We were chased, attacked, shot at… I never stopped trying to find a way home. But I got tired and I had to stop running…” She looked at him evenly, knowing the pain already in his eyes would just get worse, but she had to finish this. “That's when it happened… with Five. Please understand, we didn't plan it.”

“Do you love him?” Diego asked sadly, interrupting her.

“Diego, now isn't the time…”

“Do you love him?” he repeated, though Lila guessed he could already see the answer in her glistening tear-filled eyes.

She looked down at the floor, feeling like a coward, and nodded.

“Before we left for the subway I asked you if we could take a break, to reevaluate our marriage. I know that for you that was only a few hours ago but for me it's been seven years, Diego.” Lila turned to face him again so he could see the truth in her expression. “You are still the father of my children, and for that most precious gift I will always love you. But what you and I had was over a long time ago, years before I even stepped one toe on that subway. If you want to blame me, that's fine. I'm the one that couldn't cope. I tried to make it work Diego, I really did. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. What happened with Five… we'd been running for almost six and a half years from danger to danger before anything ever happened between us. He kept me alive, Diego. We kept each other alive.”

Lila shut her eyes against the tears threatening to fall. Her heart felt like it had split right down the middle. “We never meant to hurt you.”

“So what was with that photograph Five showed me out there? Are you trying to say you guys were destined to be together or something? Because that's crazy, Lila. And I met you in a loony bin so I know crazy…” Diego's frustrated tone had the bite of sarcasm.

This part was more difficult for Lila since she didn't fully understand it either, but she attempted to explain. “I don't know about destiny, but apparently in the original timeline we might have gotten married if The Handler didn't have my parents killed. According to the report Five and I found, we would've met as young teenagers the day he eventually went missing. Anyway, that didn't happen since she basically stole me when I was just a kid and then the timeline was reset…” she trailed off, not knowing what else was left to say.

Lila didn't want to tell him that in almost every other timeline the Commission looked into Five and Lila were a couple. She definitely didn't want to tell him that Five was like her missing half, her equal in every way, and that being with him made her feel whole for the first time in her life. She would never tell him there was a secret, selfish part of her that had wanted to burn the notebook when Five showed it to her, so they could live together in paradise forever. She thought grimly he probably wouldn't appreciate that much truth.

Suddenly, Diego stood, startling Lila right out of her insane inner ramblings. Too many emotions were surging through his body at the moment to sit still for another minute. He desperately wanted to punch something or someone, or throw some freshly sharpened daggers. He could think of at least one target currently standing in his living room. “Ok, I can't pretend to understand all of this. It's a lot to take in, Lila.” He walked to his walk-in closet and came out holding his dagger harness in one hand, making Lila's eyes widen in surprise.

“So you've decided to murder me then?” Lila asked, tone as dry as Death Valley. She knew Diego wasn't great at processing emotions but she had not banked on him flat out ignoring everything she just said.

He began to methodically buckle the harness on, refusing to meet her eyes. “You said they found Ben, right? Well, if we can't stop the Cleanse none of this is going to matter.” He waved his hand back and forth between the two of them and continued, finally looking at her with a fierce determination. “Back in the Hotel Obsidian you made me choose between saving the world or being with you. Now there is no second choice. “

It was a shockingly rational argument for Diego to make. Not knowing it was possible, Lila's eyes widened even more. If she knew anything about Diego, he would be itching to throw knives at the first opportunity. She started to get back on her feet when the low battery sound came from the twins’ baby monitor.

Wait, why was the baby monitor in here? And had it been on this entire time broadcasting every word they'd said?

She threw Diego a bewildered look that clearly conveyed both questions to him while an involuntary shiver went through her. This was officially the weirdest break-up ever.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: Total Eclipse of the Heart

Five was about to jump out of his skin, tension coiling in him, ready to snap. The moment Lila had left the room his siblings had turned to him expectantly,  accustomed by now to Five taking charge of end-of-the-world matters. But the urgent need to stop the Cleanse (Really, couldn't they come up with a better name for a world-destroying event than something that sounded like an off-brand diuretic? Five thought somewhat hysterically to himself) or plans to go after Ben and Jennifer all fell away when Lila's voice began to transmit from a baby monitor sitting on top of one of the tea tables. 

He reflexively sat back down near the monitor, his heart racing. Klaus, Luther, and Allison gathered around, their expressions tense. Five was relieved the kids had returned to watching ballet and Lila's relatives had resumed their holiday celebrations, laughing and talking together merrily. It was as if everyone else had chalked the strangeness of the evening up to the usual Hargreeves sibling drama and tuned out, returning to their celebrations out of habit.

Five's heartbeat was thumping too loudly in his ears, muffling Lila's words as they quickly turned to their time in the subway. It felt like watching a car crash in slow motion, listening to Lila rationalize away their time together until Diego asked the question Five desperately wanted an answer to. “Do you love him?” Unfortunately Five didn't hear her answer but could easily picture Lila shaking her head as their voices stalled to silence. He had wondered the same thing for years, and while she never said those three magic words, he thought he could see love reflected in her eyes, her smile, each gentle touch. Maybe he had only imagined it, seeing what he wanted to see.

Before he could berate himself for foolishness he heard Lila speaking again, telling Diego their marriage was over years ago. Five was a bit stunned. Sure, he had known this, had seen it coming the day he'd pretended to be asleep in the van on the way back from New Grumpson and Lila was explaining why Gene and Jean were calling her Nancy. (Was that earlier today in this timeline? Five silently pondered. Time travel could be so confusing.) Then afterwards, she had flat out told Diego she needed a break to rethink their marriage seconds before shoving him under Reginald's weird memory apparatus. 

But though he knew that her marriage was doomed to fail, Five could also remember Lila's reaction when he had mentioned it back at the greenhouse, moments before she'd left him. “We both know how miserable you were,” he said, trying to reason with her to stay. A part of him wanted to hide, of course, but another part worried it would break her if they came back to another destroyed world. 

“You do not get to decide what I do with my life!” she had angrily shouted, shoving him aside while racing around to pack her things. Five knew how determined Lila was when she set her mind to something and she was a hundred percent focused on getting home to her children. So, he stepped back, letting her decide, even though her choice felt like a dagger to his heart.

While he knew her main concern had always been her kids, Five had assumed she also wanted to try to work things out with Diego when they came back.  After all, she didn't spare Five a second thought once she had the solution in her hands and ran as fast as she could back to her family, back to him. Sure she looked uncomfortable as hell every time Diego leaned into her, anxiously throwing glances at Five when she thought he wouldn't notice. But she probably would've gone on pretending if Five hadn't lost his temper and pulled out that photograph. All things considered Christmas at the end of the world still seemed to be a strange time for her to end things with Diego, but it appeared to be what she'd decided after all. While Five respected her for being honest and willing to take the blame he also knew how his brother must be feeling right now. Five felt like he was suddenly missing an arm or a leg, some vital part of him he'd taken for granted would always be there now that Lila had ended things between them. Maybe he and Diego could form a club, Five thought glumly. 

Then Diego asked her about the photograph. At the mention of Five and Lila's wedding, the peanut gallery on the couch turned their curious faces toward him, as if he had better explanations than the ones Lila was already providing. He shrugged, feeling the weight of their gazes. It had been a total mindfuck discovering that folder at Commission headquarters. It was still hard for Five to imagine a life where he didn’t time travel, where he didn’t get stranded in the future, alone in the apocalypse for almost half a century. In truth, he couldn’t imagine actually growing up with his siblings, much less getting married. But now, after spending so much time with Lila, he could easily envision falling in love with her in any timeline. Shit, he had been actively trying not to fall for her in the subway, and look where that got him. Falling is easy, Five thought. The hard part is landing without crashing and getting hurt.

“So you've decided to murder me then?” Lila's voice brought Five back from his spiraling thoughts. He might've gone busting down the bedroom door had he not recognized the tinder-dry sarcasm in her tone. From the sound of things his brother had decided in favor of going after Ben instead of dealing with his marital issues. Five rolled his eyes, typical. 

When Diego and Lila came back into the room they found Five, Allison, Luther, and Klaus all staring at a baby monitor, brows furrowed. Lila's cheeks reddened as she reached over to switch off the device. “You guys weren't supposed to hear all that. None of you could be bothered to turn the thing off to give us some privacy?” She glared in the general direction of the couch and avoided looking at Five.

“I set it up to listen for the twins when I took my nap before dinner,” Diego explained, looking annoyed. “Guess I messed that up too,” he grumbled, already suited up with knives strapped to his chest. Five groaned internally, determined not to let his guard down.

Allison crossed her arms, her expression one of disapproval. “This isn’t just some soap opera, you know. We’re in the middle of a crisis. You both need to get your heads in the game.”

“Okay, if this Lifetime movie drama is over now can we please get back to saving the world?” Luther said, exasperated. “We need a game plan.” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: Wicked Game

Five let out a weary sigh as he reached under the coffee table to retrieve a box from the clutter of family board games stacked below.

“Dibs on the shoe!” Klaus squealed and clapped his hands, delighted.

“I said game plan, are you finally losing your hearing, old man?” Luther joked. “This is not the time to play Monopoly.”

Ignoring them both, Five set the game board on the table. As he pulled out the pieces, he said, “I’ve had seven years to think about this problem, but since we only found out Ben’s location a few minutes ago, I haven’t had time to build a scale model. My sincere apologies, brother mine.” He flashed a winning smile at Luther.

“This is the department store Ben is holed up in.” He placed a plastic red hotel on one of the question mark squares labeled ‘Chance’.

“I think the more appropriate square is that one,” Allison helpfully pointed to the corner featuring a picture of a man behind bars, the words ‘In Jail’ in bold letters. “Looks just like Ben, doesn't he?” She squinted, tilting her head to one side.

Undeterred by her comment, Five continued to arrange pieces, placing little green houses around the red hotel as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “There are Keepers all around the building by the looks of it on that news report. They were all armed, so we'll need to tread carefully. These individuals are desperate; they yearn for the Cleanse to restore them to what they perceive as the correct timeline. They will fight fiercely to keep us at bay. However, let’s bear in mind that they are ordinary people—perhaps fanatics, but still human. We should strive to minimize casualties.”

“Says the most dangerous assassin in the space-time continuum…” Diego muttered bitterly, sarcasm dripping from his words. He leaned against the wall by the fireplace, arms crossed tightly over his chest, fists clenched so hard that his nails likely left crescent impressions on his palms.

Lila shot an irritated glance at Diego. She knew that Five didn't actually enjoy killing, had remembered him telling her all about the Commission board members and how much he regretted ending their lives just for a chance at saving his family, saving the world. He might have been a legendary assassin once upon a time, one she had strived to emulate for decades, but it was always those same two goals that drove him. Turning her gaze to Five, she spoke with a mix of sadness and fondness, “If it’s them or us, I choose us.”

“Agreed," Five replied. "But if we work together we can just make it past them to get to Ben. It would be nice to save the day without resorting to mass murder. So kindly keep your laser eyes under control unless absolutely necessary,” he gave her that infuriating smirk that she found both annoying and sexy as hell.  In that moment, he was in full battle strategy mode, and had thrown all of the messiness of the past few hours into a locked box he buried deep inside himself. Five knew if he couldn't save himself, he'd try his damndest to save the only woman he'd ever loved, along with the children who meant everything to her. He'd sort through the mess later, he promised himself, and got back to rolling his metaphorical boulder back up the hill. He was Sisyphus incarnate, having cheated death only to be burdened with trying to save the world over and over again.

Diego wanted to punch Five's teeth in, and clenched his fists more tightly under his armpits. “Seriously?” he groaned, his irritation boiling over. It had been barely ten minutes since Lila confessed her love for his brother, and now they were flirting right in front of him and the rest of their family. Or was this how they'd always been and he was just now noticing? 

He combed through every interaction in his memory, examining each one for alarms, any indication that the little punk would one day stab him in the back. She'd said whatever happened fairly recently though, within the past year. But he clearly remembered a day they both came out of the same bathroom, Five carrying two briefcases while Lila strolled out wearing only a towel. He wondered if that was the day his brother began plotting…. Even further back Diego considered the time in the 60's they were attacked by those crazy Swedish blokes and Lila went full Black Widow on the one trying to kill Five. And of course he thought of her “book club” meeting, he'd practically caught them red-handed. Maybe he was losing it but Diego felt like destiny was mocking him and it was making him see red. 

“But I've never tried to summon that many before,” Klaus was saying, waving his hands in the air and shaking his head. “I don't know if that will work.” Diego had no idea what he was talking about since his inner freak-out had made him zone out for the last few minutes, lost in his own crazy thoughts. 

“It doesn't have to be a lot, just enough to scatter the front line and give the rest of us an opening,” Five was saying, wiggling the silver shoe piece on the board. He'd set more pieces on it to represent the other Hargreeves and was explaining different entrances they could try and various scenarios of attack. Honestly Diego couldn't bother to try to follow any of it. He was just “the knife guy” and the driver. What did any of it matter anyway? His life was over, he thought sourly.

“What about Ben? What if it's already too late? That rash he had looked like something may have already started. Didn't Dad and Abigail say the process was irreversible?” Luther was unraveling, shooting out question after question between bites of an enormous turkey sandwich. Five was rather worried the big guy would choke as he was barely stopping to chew.

“If you'd please take the time to masticate, perhaps I could answer before you need a Heimlich maneuver,” Five said condescendingly.

“Ew, that sounds gross, bro!” Klaus complained, a look of disgust twisting his features before he promptly covered his ears with both hands then dramatically squeezed his eyes shut.

“What Five means is  that you should chew your food before you choke on it and need emergency assistance,” Lila translated, a wide grin on her face. “I know Five can sound like a walking thesaurus but he's right, Luther. Try to relax before you stress-eat yourself to death.”

“Yeah, that’s definitely not what it sounded like,” Allison chimed in, stifling a laugh.

Five surprised everyone by saying,“I believe Luther is correct.” He ran one hand through his unruly hair in agitation, only making it spike more haphazardly. His siblings looked at him like he had been replaced by a body-snatching alien, Allison actually voicing her concern that this might be the case. Klaus praised Five for his emotional growth in serious tones, going as far as clasping his hands in an attitude of prayer and quoting the Dalai Lama. “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness,” Klaus recited, nodding his head slowly and pasting on an angelic smile. Diego was sorely tempted to throw a dagger at him.

Lila was relieved the siblings were too busy teasing Five that nobody noticed her own involuntary reaction, her pulse quickening as she absent-mindedly bit into her own bottom lip, recalling sleepy mornings waking to see him so uncharacteristically unkempt. She'd secretly enjoyed being the one person to see him disheveled when he'd always presented such a clean-cut visage to the rest of the world. 

There were those early years wandering the subway, so busy running from one apocalypse to the next that their clothes turned into filthy rags, their faces were constantly dirty and smudged with ash, and they'd let their greasy hair grow wild. By year three she barely recognized her own reflection in the subway windows. It was Five who found the straight razor, presenting it to her with the same shy hopefulness he had shown when gifting her the bracelet he'd made, his eagerness to please. They had no mirrors so he suggested they take turns cutting each other's hair. She still remembered the silky feel of his hair in her fingers as she cut, feeling a bit reverent with the incredible trust he'd placed in her to allow a sharp blade near his head. Her fingers now itched to reach forward and smooth down a few strands that he'd left sticking straight up… Lila scolded herself to stop letting her thoughts wander and tried to focus on what Five was actually saying. 

“It's more than likely some accidental contact occurred when Gene and Jean t-boned us on the way back from New Grumpson. If the chain reaction has already begun, I think we'll need to find a way to separate Ben from Jennifer then somehow remove the Durango from his system. For that part we'll need Viktor.. ” He raised an eyebrow. “None of you happen to know where he is?”

“The last time we saw him was at that farm Ben redecorated with Keeper corpses, so he’s probably still with dear old Dad,” Luther garbled through a mouth full of food, too stressed to give up on his sandwich just yet.

“Right. Then they'll probably be on Ben's trail too. Push comes to shove I can toss Ben into the subway until we find Viktor.” Five couldn't help but look over to Lila, she nodded almost imperceptibly, eyes locking with his. They both knew first-hand how time flowed differently there. “It's not a long term solution but should at least buy us some time, which is probably the most valuable resource at the moment.”

Lila gave Five her trust in his plan, her eyes meeting his gaze, unflinching, just like when he'd let her pull a straight razor up his throat, and hoped like hell the cost of that precious commodity wouldn't be too high to pay.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: Ride Wit Me

In another lifetime, Pogo ushered the children back into the house, effortlessly carrying Lila's suitcase while wheeling her trunk behind him. He set both items down in the foyer and closed the door behind them. “This way, please,” the monkey said, gesturing for Five and Lila to follow him to the dining room.

“Master Hargreeves, may I present Miss Lila, the newest addition to the Umbrella Academy.”

Pogo waved her forward, and Lila stepped into the room, met by the curious gazes of seven pairs of eyes around an exquisite dark mahogany dining table. The clinking of silverware against plates halted abruptly, filling the room with a palpable silence, as if a record player had suddenly scratched to a stop.

As Lila walked forward, her dark eyes darted from one face to the next. Just as Five shuffled in behind her, Reginald stood. “Children, this is Number 8. I want you all to welcome her and help her get settled in before your next mission. I was waiting for her arrival to mention it, but I have an important assignment for you all. I've invited Lila here to join us in the hope that her unique abilities can help you all to succeed with that vital task. The fate of the world depends on it,” he ominously concluded. 

Allison, catty as ever, looked Lila up and down and asked, “Exactly what can she do?” Her mocking tone conveyed just how low her expectations were.

To Five's surprise, Lila had vanished from the space in front of him in a familiar haze of blue energy only to reappear next to Allison. She leaned down, cupped one hand next to her mouth like she was about to whisper a secret but instead she said, “I heard a rumor you pick your nose.”

Looking mortified, Allison's eyes grew wide as she unwillingly jammed one finger into her own nostril. Klaus burst with laughter, and the others struggled to suppress their giggles.. 

“That's quite enough showing off,” Reginald scolded, but there was a twinkle in his eye that betrayed his amusement. He cleared his throat and explained, “Lila has the ability to mimic any of your powers. I speculate that in some cases this may allow you to explore your own powers more fully and unlock your true potential.” 

He had been sweeping his gaze through the room and noted their various expressions. Luther's face wore his usual air of respectful obedience, Klaus looked bored, Diego appeared confused, Allison was practically frothing with indignation and murderous intent, while Ben shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Vanya was looking down at her plate looking glum, feeling left out as ever. But Reginald stared directly at Number Five when he spoke that last sentence, leaving the boy with an unsettling feeling that he couldn't define or shake.

- - -

Dark city streets flashed by Wanda's windows—of course, Diego named his van—as the group made their way downtown to find Ben. Five leaned his head against the cool glass and peered out past his tired reflection to look up at the moon, full and unshattered in this reality. He felt the heavy exhaustion catching up to him, not just from the long day of train travel and family drama, but from the past half century of trying to save the world. He missed the feeling of comfort and safety he'd finally had at the greenhouse, after decades of running it felt like he was getting the retirement he'd craved for so long, but Lila had been right, hadn't she? It wasn't real, just a stopover until the next world-ending problem that he needed to solve as fucking usual. 

Five looked at Diego's face in the rear view mirror and felt the full force of guilt wash over him. He knew full well he couldn't stop himself from feeling what he did for Lila, but he also didn't want to be the reason for the pained expression his brother wore now. He'd lost it back there, showing off a photograph of a wedding lost to that endless maze of timelines connected by the subway, and laid claim to a title he never had. He wasn't her husband, and she wasn't his wife, not in this timeline anyway. Who even knows how many resets and wibbly-wobbly time fuckery happened to mess things up this badly?

Though he'd chew his own foot off rather than admit it, Five was utterly baffled by it all, since the Commission was dedicated to maintaining the one “true” timeline. Every mission he'd undertaken from them, not counting Lila's parents, had been to aid in that goal, one Five himself (or at least some version of him) had set into motion. He felt sure this thread of thought held promise, remembering his old, dying body in the operations bunker. He specifically told himself not to save the world, yet here he was on attempt number four. He had the depressing thought that this vicious cycle would never end. Maybe he should've burned the notebook and stayed in the greenhouse after all. Could that be why the version of himself that wrote the thing left it behind? Conscientious objection?

When they had all first piled into the van Luther sat in the middle of the second row in the van, between Five and Lila. He made the executive decision to be the wall of separation between the two and minimize the tension that was still thick as molasses. Allison had taken the front passenger seat for a similar reason, taking the awkward choice away from Lila and Klaus had happily climbed in the back, stretching his long legs across the seat, blissfully indifferent. 

They rode on in uncomfortable silence until the van hit a pothole and they all jolted, then groaned as “Baby Shark” came back on at top volume, mercilessly assaulting their ears. Luther was contemplating ripping the radio right out of the console with his brute force, probably a move everyone would've applauded, but they were close enough to their destination that he settled for turning to glare at Klaus as he sang along. “Dude! My ears!” he complained, putting hands the size of hams on each side of his head. 

As they got ever closer to the department store the streets began to glitter from the scattered glow of Christmas lights, hanging in trees and store windows but there was an eerie abandoned quality to the city as it appeared devoid of people. But as they rounded the corner to the street the department store was located they discovered exactly where the people were. An enormous crowd surrounded the store like it was New Year's Eve at Times Square, except for the fact they were heavily armed. There looked to be hundreds of Keepers, brandishing pistols, automatic rifles, baseball bats, knives, swords and an honest to God morningstar, its steel spikes and chains glinting under the streetlights. Standing on top of the station-wagon that was parked to block the front doors of the store was Gene, hoisting a shotgun. 

Diego quickly turned again down the next street and shut the engine off, blessedly putting an end to the misery that was “Baby Shark” on loop. They had several blocks to go on foot but they'd decided earlier it would give them a chance at some reconnaissance, preferable to going in blind. Breaking the silence, Five announced, “Before we go, would you guys mind giving me a moment with Diego?” 

“Can I trust you not to kill each other in the next five minutes?” Lila asked quite seriously, obvious worry lacing her tone.

“No promises,” Diego gritted out. 

Five rolled his eyes, and said, “We'll be out in a minute.”

One by one the others filed out of the van. 

“Fifty bucks on the little one,” Klaus said, stretching his arms to the sky.

No one took the bet.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: Blood Like Lemonade 

As the rest of their family obediently climbed out of the van and moved well out of earshot, Five jumped forward into Wanda's front passenger seat. Predictably, Diego's fingers inched toward one of the daggers strapped to his harness. His jaw was so tightly clenched that he was on the verge of cracking a molar.

“Whoa! Take it easy! I just wanna talk,” Five held his hands up in a placating manner. “I'm sure you probably want to kill me, but could you at least try to listen to what I have to say first?”

Diego dropped his hand into his lap and muttered, “You know you deserve it.”

“Okay, fine! I deserve it!" Five shot back, his voice tinged with desperation. “I crossed a line I never imagined I would cross! Do you honestly believe I intended to fall in love with my brother's wife?” His wide, blue eyes begged for understanding and absolution, his boyish features twisted by grief and a deep well of pain. 

Diego was incredulous, his own eyes hard and unforgiving. “She's EVERYTHING to me man! And you knew that! We have fucking kids, Five!” He slammed his palms down hard on the steering wheel, his fury bubbling over, and didn't even feel the sting, rage making him numb. He welcomed the rage, if it meant he didn't have to feel pain.

“I know, Diego! God, I know,” Five agreed, looking more disconsolate than his brother felt he had any right to look. He took a deep breath and tried to start over. “When I was stuck in that apocalyptic nightmare for all those years, the only thing I could think of was getting back to you, to our family. I endured the crushing loneliness, the relentless hopelessness, and the self-loathing for making such a reckless mistake for decades! I was marooned there as a child, growing up amidst the ruins and ash of our shattered world, the last man alive. The moment I discovered your… bodies… will haunt me forever. To see you all, fully grown yet so lifeless… it was a shock that reverberated through my entire being. I kept thinking that if I had been there, maybe I could have stopped it, whatever it was. Nightmares plagued me almost every night. I got so screwed up by it all that I created Dolores in my mind, just so I'd have someone to talk to...” 

He paused, a mirthless chuckle escaping him. “I was alone in a dead world.” His glassy eyes held unshed tears. 

“This time around, when Lila and I got lost in the subway, each train brought us to another dead end, and the same hopelessness nearly crushed me. The only saving grace was that this time I wasn’t alone. Initially, we fought constantly, nearly killing each other more times than I could count. But after years of navigating from one timeline to another, facing danger after danger, we had to learn to trust each other just to survive another day. We took turns saving each other’s lives, and for years, we kept searching. Until it became too much—too dangerous to keep going. Each time we came up for air, there was a chance we wouldn’t make it back to the station. We had to confront the harsh reality that we might never find a way home.”

“After six years, five months, and two days I finally convinced her to take a break. We had been eating rats we caught in the subway, unable to scavenge anything else. Rats for fuck’s sake, Diego!” Five went on with his tale, his voice climbing cliffs of desperation, describing the greenhouse they'd found and confessing to the notebook he'd hidden for months until the guilt got to him. He knew it would probably just make Diego hate him more but he wanted it all out in the open, come what may. After all, they may die in the coming battle and Five refused to have bad blood between them if they did. He might never consider himself an honorable man, but at least he could be an honest one. 

Five exhaled deeply, exhaustion washing over him, and continued, steadfastly holding his brother's unyielding gaze. “Blame me if you want. Damn it, I blame myself. A part of me gave up. I've been alive for nearly three-quarters of a century and maybe I finally got tired of running. But what I want you to know is that she never gave up. Just like me when I was stuck the first time, all she ever thought about was finding a way back to her family. What we had was nothing but a pit stop to her, she practically told me so.” Five knew he was starting to sound bitter but he barreled on, “For the past seven years she was looking for a way home and the very second she found it she left me. She ended whatever we had between us and came running home to you, to the kids. Fuck, I can't even be mad at her for it, Diego,” Five's eyes were rimmed with tears as he stared his brother down. “I love her,” he quietly admitted, voice beginning to crack with emotion. “I can't be sorry for that, but I am truly sorry that we hurt you. That I hurt you.”

A muscle ticked in Diego's jaw, he sat in stony silence for what seemed to Five had stretched into the vast infinity of time, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he stared out the windshield, lost in thought. Memories of their childhood flickered in his mind, moments of laughter mingled with the pain of loss. He had never fully understood his brother's struggles or how harrowing those years had been for him, alone and displaced in a dead world. Could he have survived it without losing his mind? 

His thoughts turned to Lila, raised to be a killer by The Handler, the woman who had hired Five to do the same. A nagging doubt crept into his mind about the picture Five had shown him and Lila's vague explanation. It was all a jumbled mess, too much for him to untangle at that moment.

He sighed, slowly reached his hand out as if for a gentlemanly handshake, only to close it tightly into a fist that he drove into his brother's chin with a vicious uppercut. 

Five almost bit his own tongue off, swallowing the blood that came gushing into his mouth and cursed involuntarily. “Guess I deserved that,” he acknowledged. 

“You're damn right, you did. Now, if you're done making daisy chains and braiding each other's hair, can we go find Ben and kick this Durango's ass?” Diego asked in his most condescending tone of voice, looking rather satisfied with himself. Five grinned, flashing his bloody teeth. It wasn't forgiveness, but it was a start.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: Do You Believe in Magic?

“So, just how does that subway thing work?” Allison asked in an exaggerated whisper, tugging her winter gloves on. “I'm not sure if I understand how you guys were gone for seven years. You look exactly the same to me. ” She rolled her eyes dramatically.

They were standing in the shadows of a dark alley a few dozen feet from the parked van, eyeing the milling crowd of Keepers. Lila turned back to look at Wanda to check for the hundredth time if Five and Diego were coming out of it yet, her brows furrowed with worry. She wasn't sure why Allison was whispering, or pretending to, since they were still several blocks from the department store. Plus the whole family had already heard everything thanks to Diego's mixup with the baby monitors, having accidentally switched the receiver unit with the transmitter.

Sighing with annoyance, Lila tried to explain. “I guess time works differently there, every timeline we went to was just a different version of now. I'm not entirely sure how it all works really, but when we finally got back to this one only a few hours had passed.”

“Ok, but this thing with Five,” Allison crossed her arms in front of herself, shivering in the cold December air. She cast a judgmental look at Lila. “How could you guys do that to Diego? I know I'm probably the last person to give relationship advice but…”

“Yeah, you are! Patrick, then Ray? Not to mention what you did to Luther?” Lila spit out, her eyes flashing with anger and disgust. She was fed up with Allison and her holier-than-thou attitude. “You have no idea what it was like and I certainly don't need the Spanish inquisition. My love life is really none of your business. Can we just focus please?”

Lila stepped away before she strangled the woman and pulled out the binoculars she'd nicked from Five several years ago. She could've easily asked him to find her a pair of her own since he was brilliant at scavenging, probably from all the long decades he had to do it. He did, in fact, find another one which he offered to trade to get his back, but Lila had refused and he quickly relented, shrugging his shoulders. The truth was she enjoyed having something of his in her pocket at all times, and it reminded her of their first trip on the subway. Plus it was useful for times like these, she reasoned to herself, not just some sentimental prize. She fiddled with the zoom, methodically scanning the crowd in front of the store and taking mental notes of the various weaponry. Suddenly her jaw dropped in surprise when a couple of familiar faces came into view, possibly throwing a giant wrench in their plans.

“Speak of the devil…” Lila trailed off, then called Luther over from the wall he'd been leaning against with Klaus. “You're probably not gonna believe this,” she began, apprehensive how this news would be received, her eyes darting to Luther then to Allison. “But I think that Sloane and Ray are Keepers.”

“And what makes you think that?” Allison looked dubious.

“Because they're standing over there with the other Keepers,” Lila said flatly, gesturing to what the news had labeled a group of ‘protesters’.

“What?” Luther grabbed the binoculars from Lila and peered through, gripping it so tightly that she momentarily worried he'd crush them in his giant hands.

“She’s over there, to the right of the station wagon, wearing a puffy pink jacket and wielding a machete,” Lila helpfully pointed out, directing his gaze toward the mob. “Ray is about ten feet behind her, in a dark gray jacket and blue beanie—he’s got an AK-47 slung across his chest.”

“Holy shit!” Luther swore, shoving the binoculars roughly back onto Lila's hand, but then Allison snatched them away next. She squinted, then her eyes bulged, practically popping out of her head cartoon-style.

“Wait, Luther! You can’t just charge in there!” Lila implored, panic rising in her voice as he turned and began striding toward the crowd. “You’re like Shrek, and that’s an angry mob of villagers with pitchforks and torches. Don't be an idiot! They will kill you,” she finished, grabbing her precious binoculars from a shell-shocked Allison and stuffing them back into her pocket.

“What's going on?” Five's voice rang out and made them all turn. Lila was initially relieved that both he and Diego looked to be in one piece, but grew concerned when Five spat what was obviously blood onto the street. She narrowed her eyes.

“Diego, what did you do?” she asked coldly, menace creeping into her tone as she glared at her ex before rushing to Five’s side. She cupped his face in her hands, examining him for cuts or bruises. Traces of blood still stained his teeth, and a bruise was beginning to blossom beneath his chin. Her expression deepened with concern as she rubbed her thumb lightly over the bruise, making him wince.

“Not nearly enough,” Diego grumbled, less than thrilled at the spectacle unfolding before him—his wife fretting over his brother. He seriously considered punching Five again.

“I'm fine, don't worry,” Five gently reassured her, taken aback by her concern. It wasn’t that he hadn’t experienced this before—they had faced countless scrapes together in the subway—but the emotional weight behind her gaze caught him off guard. But didn't she say it wasn't real, this thing between them? Her troubled expression told him otherwise, but he wouldn't get his hopes up. Pulling her hands down off his face he asked again, “What's going on?”

“Sloane and Ray are part of that mob of Keepers,” Klaus chimed in, leaning casually against the wall, inspecting his nails with an air of nonchalance. “So, do we need to rethink the plan?”

“I need to get to my wife!” Luther thundered, his voice booming through the alley.

“Shut up, you idiot!” Five snapped, his tone low but urgent. “Keep your voice down. We don’t want to give away our position. I know you’re desperate to reach her, but we have to be smart about this, or she’ll get hurt… or worse.”

The chilling thought of losing Sloane again, just as he had finally found her, drained the color from Luther’s face. He nodded in resignation, his shoulders slumping in defeat. More quietly, he pleaded, “Can you at least blink her over here, so I know she’s safe?”

“We don’t even know if she’ll remember you, big guy,” Five cautioned, not wanting to dash his brother's optimism but knowing it had to be said. They had no idea how the timeline reset had affected Sloane.

“She will, she has to,” Luther was adamant.

“The other problem is that my blink is still messed up from that janky marigold. Every time I've tried to do it I end up in the subway,” Five shook his head. He glanced at Lila and suddenly realized he was still holding both of her hands in his. He dropped them and stepped back, his gaze dropping to the ground, missing the flash of hurt that crossed her face.

“Maybe I can help,” Lila said, grateful to have pulled his attention back to her face. “We just need to create a feedback loop, like when we powered the briefcase. The two of us together, I think it can work.” She realized as the words came out of her mouth that her last sentence carried more meaning than she'd intended, but there was no taking them back. And anyway, she didn't want to.

“Alright then,” he smiled that brilliant smile that Lila loved so much it hurt. He turned to say to his brother, “You're up, Klaus.”

Abruptly kicking off the wall with an unexpected burst of energy, Klaus shocked everyone by rising three feet off the ground. “And Daddy thought I wouldn’t amount to anything… If only he could see me now,” he said, holding his arms out to the side. With a snap of his fingers, a literal army of the dead materialized out of thin air, their ghostly visages suddenly crowding the small alley. “Let’s do this.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: Ballroom Blitz

“Showoff,” Five quipped dryly as he watched his brother Klaus float effortlessly in the air, surrounded by his ghostly entourage. Beneath his sarcastic facade, Five felt a flicker of admiration for Klaus's remarkable display of power. Either he’d leveled up, or this timeline's batch of marigold had left him seriously overpowered. “How long can you keep this up?”

“I have absolutely no idea,” Klaus replied, laughing gleefully, perhaps a bit maniacally. “But I can’t wait to find out!”

Klaus drifted out into the street, arms spread wide as if embracing the entire world. His legion of ghosts trailed obediently behind him, their translucent forms shimmering in the fading light. The spectral army was breathtaking—knights in rusted armor, their ancient swords glinting ominously, marched alongside tattered soldiers from the Revolutionary War, whose faded uniforms rustled softly in the breeze. Ghostly World War II soldiers moved with eerie precision, their footsteps silent against the asphalt, while modern combatants in tactical gear flitted about, creating a striking blend of past and present.

With a theatrical flourish, Klaus swung both arms down and forward, mimicking Liu Kang’s iconic fireball move. Instantly, the spirits surged past him in a shimmering, translucent wave, racing down the streets toward the department store. Floating merrily behind his spectral entourage, he waved his arms, conducting his orchestra of the deceased, loudly humming Wagner's "March of the Valkyries.”

Meanwhile, Luther’s mind was consumed with worry for Sloane, and his patience began to wear thin as Klaus and his ghostly companions inched closer to the mob of Keepers. What if they were too late? The thought looped through Luther's mind, making him feel clammy all over. Turning abruptly, he gripped Five’s shoulders tightly, his fingers digging in painfully. “Five, we have to get her out of there! I can’t bear the thought of losing her all over again,” he pleaded urgently, his voice thick with emotion, eyes shimmering with unshed tears that threatened to spill over.

Klaus had been right; their plan needed a significant adjustment. Five realized this as he winced, prying Luther’s hands away from his shoulders. “Look, Klaus will create a distraction. We have to get into that store and find Ben. That’s our top priority.” He inhaled deeply, steadying his racing heart. “The moment there's a chance, I’ll try to blink us over to her. If it works, we just need physical contact to bring her into the store with us. But if she doesn’t recognize you…” He hated to bring up the possibility again, not wanting to see his brother get hurt.

“I don’t care! Just get her, Five!” Luther’s desperation was palpable, reverberating through his voice like a drumbeat of anxiety.

Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire pierced the air, a jarring sound that sent a chill down Five’s spine, signaling that the ghost army had been spotted. Chaos erupted in the direction of the store. The Keepers, panicked by the sight of the spectral force encroaching on their territory, unleashed a volley of bullets that harmlessly passed through the ghosts, the sound of gunfire ringing like thunder. Five couldn’t see the fear spreading among the Keepers, but he could certainly imagine it. About half of them scattered in all directions, terror taking root.

The ghost army crashed into the remaining Keeper mob like a powerful wave meeting the shore. Five quickly pulled out his binoculars, eager for a closer look. He saw spirits snatching weapons from Keeper hands, tossing them aside as if they were mere toys, the clatter of metal hitting the pavement echoing through the chaos. The terror was evident on the faces he scanned as he frantically searched for Sloane.

Gene attempted to shoot one of the ghosts with his rifle, but the bullet passed straight through and struck the Keeper standing directly behind it squarely in the chest. The man crumpled to the ground, shock etched across his face, revealing Sloane hidden behind him, her expression one of sheer terror. She desperately searched for her machete, which a ghost soldier had hurled several feet away.

Gene, visibly irked, turned and aimed his rifle at Klaus, who was hovering like Mary Poppins, floating ever closer to the store entrance.

“Now’s our chance,” Five declared, putting away the binoculars and giving Lila a determined look laced with urgency. “It's our turn.” He extended his upturned palm to her, placing his other hand firmly on Luther’s arm.

Lila took Five’s hand, her gaze locked onto his ocean-blue eyes, which brimmed with worry, regret, and an indescribable emotion she couldn’t quite place. “We’ve got this, Five,” she said, forcing a smile despite the tension surrounding them. “Just focus. Tap into my energy like it’s a battery, and I’ll channel it back to you. Just let me in.”

“Everyone grab on!” Five shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a knife. He felt his energy intensifying as Lila’s fingers wove through his and tightened their grip. He thought of the last time they did this with the briefcase, how hard it had been to let her in—ultimately fueled by hate, resentment, and anger. This time, however, he opened himself entirely to her power, letting it fill him up as it spread through every vein in his body like a warm tide.

He envisioned the threads of their energies entwining like the metal rods of her bracelet, braiding together to forge something far more potent than either alone. Instead of harboring any negative emotions, he let the boundless love he felt for Lila flow through him, weaving through the cords of power and amplifying its strength exponentially. His love for her felt infinite, and he continued to weave more in until he could no longer discern where his power ended and hers began. The energy expanded, growing until it felt utterly uncontainable, filling him with an exhilarating sense of strength. He felt more powerful than he had ever imagined, as though he could rewind to the beginning of time itself with just a single blink. His hands began to glow, then his entire body radiated light, shifting from purple to blue and crackling in the air like electricity. He blinked.

Instantaneously, they materialized in the midst of the Keeper mob, right in front of Sloane. Her eyes widened as she stumbled forward, disbelief washing over her. “La… Luther,” she breathed shakily, rubbing her eyes and stepping closer to the strangely familiar group that had appeared out of thin air. Luther didn’t waste a moment; he reached out to her, and as soon as his hand touched hers, Five blinked again, just as Gene’s gun went off. He yanked Klaus out of the path of a speeding bullet and finally blinked them all into the store.

They crashed to the floor in a tangled mess of limbs, the impact jarring their bones. As they untangled themselves, everyone dizzily regained their footing, trying to shake off the nausea that accompanied Five’s teleportation. Sloane appeared bewildered and frightened, trembling uncontrollably. She backed against a nearby wall, a choked sob escaping her lips. “Is this real?” she asked, her tear-filled gaze locked on Luther, searching for reassurance.

A wide smile broke across Luther’s face as he rushed to her, lifting Sloane off the ground and spinning her joyfully. “It’s real,” he assured her, setting her down but keeping his arms securely around her. “Do you remember me?” he asked nervously, gazing down into her tear-streaked face.

“I dreamed you... You were my husband. It felt so real... but then I’d wake up,” she confessed, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” Luther admitted, his heart heavy with emotion. He tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her skin gently. “I’m so sorry I gave up hope and stopped looking for you.” Then, like two magnets drawn together, they kissed, inching closer until their lips finally met, their surroundings fading away for that brief moment.

“Aww, so sweet,” Klaus intoned, interrupting the intimate moment with playful sarcasm.

Five rolled his eyes, a hint of annoyance flickering across his face. “Yes, wonderfully romantic.” Yet only Lila caught the pleased expression that lingered on his face, a rare glimpse of genuine happiness for his brother.

Diego made a gagging sound and barked, “Anyone interested in finding Ben now?”

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: Another One Bites The Dust

The group huddled at the base of an escalator in Tatford's, a posh upscale department store nestled in the heart of downtown. The four-story building, a historical landmark, had narrowly avoided demolition during the recession—useless trivia flickering through Five's mind as he scanned their surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of dust and stale perfume, remnants of luxury that now felt absurd and suffocating. The buzzing fluorescent lights overhead cast harsh shadows, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere.

His thoughts were abruptly derailed when he spotted a body on the floor. At first, he mistook it for another fallen mannequin, but as he approached, he recognized the prone figure as Viktor, lying amidst collapsed shelves and shattered displays.

Five leaned down to check for a pulse, relief washing over him as he felt the faint heartbeat beneath his fingertips, a weak but steady thrum. Shaking his brother’s shoulder, he urged, “Wake up, Viktor. What happened to you?”

“Ben must have knocked me out when I was trying to convince him to leave,” Viktor mumbled, struggling to sit up. His voice was hoarse, as if he'd been shouting for hours. He winced at the pain radiating from his head. “But I think that thing Reggie was talking about—the Cleanse—it’s got him really messed up. It’s bad, guys. We might be too late.” Defeat crept into his voice, heavy and tangible, as he shook his head, his gaze drifting to the floor in despair.

“Can you extract the durango from him?” Five asked urgently, his heart racing. A knot tightened in his stomach. “We need to stop it from reacting with his marigold.”

Lila stepped forward, a sense of purpose etched on her face. “I’ll mimic your powers and help you do it.” She wasn’t ready to admit defeat just yet. One look at Five told her he was as determined as ever to stop the end of the world. Again.

Just then, a twisted figure limped from behind the escalator, barely resembling a man. The group gasped at what Ben had become; he looked more like a walking tumor than a human. Glowing red fissures snaked through his mutilated skin, raw and flayed, grotesquely resembling the texture of ground beef as if he had gone swimming in an active volcano. The sickening smell of burnt flesh wafted through the air, acrid and overwhelming, making Five's stomach churn. Viktor was right—this was bad.

“Don’t touch him!” Viktor fought past his pain, positioning himself protectively between Ben and the rest of the group. His stance was firm despite his injuries, fists clenched, ready to defend.

“Is that Jennifer?” Allison asked, disgust washing over her features as she took in the horrifying sight.

Another hunched figure emerged from beyond the escalator, looking even less human than Ben. A grotesque protrusion of fissured skin the size of a basketball had grown from her back, and her right eye was swollen shut from whatever transformation was altering their bodies. She stumbled forward, her breath ragged and labored, the sound echoing like a dying animal, yelling, “Get away from him!”

“Please, let me help you!” Viktor begged, frustration and fear edging his tone as he inched closer to Ben, arm outstretched. “Just look at yourselves! This is killing you both!”

“Leave now!” Ben growled, barely containing his temper. The guttural sound reverberated through the air, a chilling echo. He added more calmly, “I can’t control it. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Lila moved closer to stand with Viktor, trying to sound reasonable, though her voice betrayed her, wavering slightly. “I can help too. Whatever transformation is happening to you both, it’s going to end the world. They call it the Cleanse. Please, let us try to stop it.”

Ben looked down at himself, the weight of exhaustion pressing down like a heavy fog. In the past 24 hours, he’d found his true love, rescued her from kidnappers, and now they were running for their lives. Looking into Viktor's eyes, he saw a disturbing reflection of himself—the monstrous form he had become. With a barely perceptible nod, he acquiesced.

Viktor seized the moment, placing one hand on Ben’s arm. Lila mirrored the action, her palms pressed against Viktor's back, channeling her power to him just as she had done earlier with Five. Together, they began to draw out the durango, gritting their teeth against the resistance of the foreign energy. It had woven itself through every part of Ben, mingling with his marigold like sugar dissolved in water—nearly impossible to remove. But they pressed on, seeking out every slippery thread, pulling them one by one. Images flashed through their minds—green grass, tall trees, happy people in the park, the joyful laughter of children at play—all contrasting sharply with the horror surrounding them.

“It’s like getting gum out of carpet,” Lila joked, attempting to alleviate the tension. “Does anyone have any peanut butter—” Her humor was abruptly cut short by a bullet lodging itself in the back of her head. Surprise flashed across her face before she collapsed to the ground, a motionless heap in a pool of blood, the warmth of it seeping into the cold tile beneath her.

Several terrible things happened at once, forever engraved in Five's memory in slow motion. Unbeknownst to the group, Reginald's sniper had taken aim at Ben from a nearby rooftop and fired through a window. The bullet’s trajectory caught Ben’s eye as it came through the glass. He shoved Viktor hard out of the line of fire, sending him crashing back onto the floor. Unfortunately, this caused Lila to stumble sideways directly into the bullet's path, her hands sliding off Viktor's jacket as she fell, her fingers suddenly grasping uselessly at air.

Simultaneously, Ben tumbled backward into Jennifer, who had been shuffling closer. The two dissolved into each other, quite literally, like drops of water combining to form one. They became a nightmare, conjoined twins formed from ground beef and lava, their faces melting into one another, a macabre sight that made bile rise in the throats of those who were unlucky enough to witness it.

Allison took off running, trying to outrun the stench of their failures, racing up the powered-down escalator while Klaus, Sloane, and Luther began hooting and whistling at the monster, trying to draw its attention away from their fallen comrades.

Lila wasn’t moving. Five and Diego rushed forward, screaming her name in unison, sinking to their knees on either side of her, the cold tile pressing against their skin.

“This can’t be happening,” Diego sobbed, unleashing a torrent of profanities in Spanish, his voice raw with despair. He shook Lila gently, hoping for a response that never came.

“No! Lila, love, wake up! Please, wake up!” Five pleaded, uncharacteristically begging for God, the universe, or anything else to erase the last sixty seconds. Panic surged as he felt for a pulse at her neck, his heart sinking when he found nothing. “Open your eyes and breathe, damn it!” he demanded, desperation tightening his throat. Trying to regain control, he began CPR, pumping her heart for her and counting out loud. He pinched her nose with two fingers and tilted her head back gently.

Just as Five leaned down to breathe into her mouth for the next step, Diego grabbed him by the lapels of his suit coat, scrunching them in both fists, and violently pushed him away. “Stay away from my wife!” he shouted, taking over the rescue operation and methodically breathing air into Lila's lungs, a fragile hope pouring from him.

Meanwhile, chaos raged around them. The ‘Bennifer’ monster roared, its voice a horrific blend of Ben and Jennifer, growing rapidly before their eyes. Tentacles formed where legs and arms had been, resembling a distorted version of Ursula from The Little Mermaid, sliding across the tile floor back toward the group, the sound of wet slithering echoing ominously, a grotesque symphony of horror.

Diego continued to kneel beside Lila, cradling her head. The wound was grave, and the pool of blood beneath her grew ever wider, the metallic scent filling the air, thick and suffocating. “No, no, no! Lila, stay with me!” he begged, his voice cracking with panic.

Five squeezed Lila’s hand in his, terrified at the chilly feel of her fingers. "We can’t stay here; it’s too dangerous!" he shouted over the monstrous screeching and Luther's frantic attempts to draw its attention. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, the urgency of their choices suffocating, the air heavy with impending doom. He breathed shallowly, his eyes darting around the building, considering the safest location.

“Just let me do this!” Diego snapped, fear flooding his tone. “I can save her! I have to save her!”

Five opened his mouth to argue, but the raw, frantic hope in Diego’s eyes quickly silenced him. With a reluctant nod, he leaned back, allowing Diego more space to work, but stubbornly held onto her hand, refusing to break the connection.

“Alright, I’ll try to get us out of here,” Five said, focusing on the floor above. He concentrated, feeling the familiar pull of his powers, the energy thrumming in his veins.

With a swift motion and a flash of indigo energy, he reached out and grabbed Diego by the shoulder, vanishing the trio from the chaotic scene and reappearing on a balcony overlooking their previous position. Diego hardly noticed the change of scenery, intent on his grim task. His hands trembled as he positioned them to perform CPR again. The echo of their surroundings faded, leaving only the sound of Diego’s furious counting as he pressed down, each thud a heartbeat against the silence. “One, two, three…”

Five reluctantly released his grip on Lila's hand and began to pace anxiously, glancing between Diego and Lila's pale face, which was now ghostly in the flickering light, the shadows deepening around them. He could see panic rising in Diego’s eyes as he continued the rhythm, each compression a desperate plea to the universe.

“Come on, Lila!” Diego shouted, desperation lacing his voice. “You’re not leaving us! You can’t!”

But Lila remained unresponsive, her breaths absent, her body lifeless beneath his hands. With each passing second, Diego’s hope began to crumble. He pressed harder, his voice rising in urgency. “Lila, please!”

Moments over their past seven years together flashed through Five’s mind—a montage of laughter, courage, and a brief romance he'd never expected but was eternally grateful for. Each memory tightened the knot in his chest, a mix of fear and love urging him to act. The thought of losing her was unbearable, and a vengeful rage surged through him, begging him to find that sniper and return the favor with a bullet of his own.

“Diego! It’s not working!” Five shouted, his voice shaking with emotion.

“No! No! Lila, please!” Diego cried, the desperation in his voice turning to anguish. But with every moment that passed, Lila lay still, her continued silence making the air feel heavier, oppressive, like an anvil had been laid across each of their chests.

Finally, Diego fell back, his hands dropping limply to his sides as he stared in disbelief at Lila’s lifeless form. A wave of despair washed over him, and he felt as though the ground had shifted beneath his feet.

Five’s heart shattered at the sight. The anguish in Diego's eyes ignited something within him, a primal need to fix this—to undo the tragedy that had just unfolded. He had never felt so powerless, and it fueled his resolve.

“No!” Five shouted, his voice filled with agony. “This can’t be how it ends!”

He closed his eyes, focusing his mind as the world around him began to blur. Time itself felt like a fragile thread in his grasp. Refusing to bear even one more second of grief, Five reached into the fabric of reality, forcing it to bend to his will.

In a flash, time rewound, the chaos of battle unfurling in reverse. The bullet that had struck Lila flew back into the gun, the sounds of screams and gunfire fading away like a distant nightmare.

They reappeared once more, just moments before the fateful shot had been fired. Five stood firm, fierce determination blazing in his eyes as he prepared to do everything in his power to ensure that this time, they would succeed—and to protect the woman he loved.

Chapter Text

Chapter 18: And Another One Gone

In another lifetime, the atmosphere in the Academy was charged with tension, a palpable anxiety hanging in the air as the children gathered in the mansion's library. The scent of old books and polished furniture permeated the space, mingling with the faint aroma of tea brewing in the nearby kitchen. What should have been a comforting ambiance was overshadowed by an impending sense of doom. Five paced back and forth, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. The chaos from their last mission still echoed in his mind, but now they faced a new dilemma—one that had the potential to unravel everything they thought they knew.

“Alright, let’s summarize,” Five stated, surveying the anxious expressions surrounding him. “Our mission is to locate Jennifer and contain her antimatter before it obliterates all of reality. That last reconnaissance mission was a disaster. The moment Lila manipulated the situation, we completely lost control of the narrative.”

The kids, now teenagers, had spent months training together at Reginald’s behest, honing their skills and forging a semblance of teamwork. During that time, Five and Lila had collaborated closely, exploring ways to combine their unique abilities to travel through time more effectively. They had even begun developing a device that could facilitate time travel for the entire team—a safety net in case they ever found themselves trapped in a timeline. They had all undertaken various missions, confronting different criminals and refining their abilities, using them effectively in the field. Now, they were preparing to save the world.

Lila leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a sly smile playing on her lips. “You make it sound like I did it on purpose. I just wanted to show you all how easy it is to mess things up.” She longed to erase the worried crease etched between Five's eyebrows and sought to lighten the grim mood.

Five shot her a sideways glance, amusement flickering in his eyes. “You’re a natural at chaos, Lila. Maybe you should consider a career as a professional troublemaker.”

“Is that a compliment, Five?” she quipped, tilting her head.

Luther, his expression serious, interrupted. “This isn’t a joke, Lila. Jennifer’s life is at stake, and if we don’t fix this, it won’t just be her. That antimatter substance, the dingo… it’s killing her and has already erased a small town from existence. Dad said the entire timeline could collapse.” He used his “Number One” voice, infusing authority into his tone.

“It’s called durango, not dingo,” Allison corrected him, shooting a glare in Lila's direction. “And it’s not Jennifer's fault those weird scientists who created it were using her as a lab rat. We should try to keep her safe.”

Diego, who had been watching Lila intently while absentmindedly twirling a dagger, interjected eagerly, “I mean, if you need a partner in chaos, I could help. I’m pretty good at it myself.”

Lila raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin lighting up her face. “Thanks, Diego, but I think I’ve got this one covered.”

Diego’s expression faltered slightly, but he quickly masked it with a grin of his own. “Just saying, I’ve got your back if you ever need it.”

“Noted,” Lila replied, her attention already shifting back to Five.

Diego's interest in Lila was evident, but she seemed blissfully unaware, her focus locked onto Five. It stung a bit, but he tried to push those feelings aside, determined to contribute to the mission. A part of him wanted to scream, “She's your sister, idiot! Adoptive sister, sure, but still your sister!” But they all knew they were more like orphans in a group home or a boarding school for snarky delinquents than a real family. Their “mother” was an actual robot, and their “father” was an eccentric billionaire who bought them from their real mothers because he wanted access to their gifts.

Diego continued, perhaps still stinging from feelings of rejection, and sarcastically remarked, “We need to figure out where she is. Five, can you use your incredible skills of deduction to pinpoint her location?”

Five stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing as he considered the question seriously. “I can try, but it’s going to take concentration. If Lila’s powers disrupted the timeline, I’ll need to recalibrate my approach.”

Just as Five began to focus, Klaus, feeling the moment was becoming far too serious, broke the tension with a chuckle, nudging Ben painfully with his elbow as they lounged on the sofa together. “This is just like the time we tried to save that cat from the tree. Except this time, it’s a cat that can’t be saved and probably doesn’t even exist anymore. The real question is—can the cat both exist and not exist at the same time?”

“Focus, Klaus,” Viktor said, rolling his eyes, irritation evident in his tone as he stood from the couch and carefully placed the book he had been skimming back on the shelf, the sound of it thudding against wood echoing in the stillness.

Pogo entered the room, holding a tray loaded with steaming cups of tea for the children, along with a plate full of golden scones. “I overheard your conversation. If I may suggest, perhaps we can use Lila’s ability to our advantage? After all, she can mimic Five's powers, and in doing so, double the search effort.”

Reginald, who had been sitting at his mahogany desk, making copious notes in his journal, finally spoke up. “We need to be strategic. Time is of the essence. Lila, your skills can greatly enhance Five’s efforts. It’s crucial that you work together.”

“Together, huh?” Lila shot Five a challenging glance. “I like the sound of that.” She came closer, lacing her fingers through his.

Five’s lips twitched into a small grin, but he said nothing as he closed his eyes, concentrating on the threads of time and the familiar feel of Lila's power running through him. As their energies combined, he felt a surge of strength shoot through him, a blue glow surrounding them both, glowing brighter at the point of contact, their linked hands. He could feel the vibrations of the timeline shifting beneath him, the whispers of possibilities echoing in his mind. He saw fragments of moments, flashes of Jennifer, the choices that led her to this point, and all the other ones she might make in the future. Thanks to Lila, his mastery over time and space had increased a thousand-fold. Reginald had been right about her power helping the children explore their own individual gifts more deeply.

“Got it,” Five finally said, snapping his eyes open. “She’s at a diner on the edge of town. We need to move now.”

As the group prepared to leave, Lila stepped closer to Five, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Just so you know, if things go sideways again, I won't be held responsible for any time paradoxes. But I promise to make it entertaining.”

Five smirked, his tone light. “I’ll hold you to that. Just try not to cause the timeline to collapse.”

“Me? Never,” Lila replied, feigning innocence, though her smile betrayed her.

Diego watched the exchange, his heart sinking a little. It was clear where Lila’s attention lay, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. But with the mission at hand, he pushed those feelings aside, reminding himself that they were all in this together, his fingers finally releasing the handle of the dagger he'd been absently twirling.

With their plan set, the children stepped into the brisk autumn air, ready to face whatever awaited them. The fate of Jennifer—and perhaps their own futures—hung in the balance, a culmination of their months of training and the bonds they had forged. Meanwhile, the device they were developing remained tucked away in the corner of Five’s mind, a beacon of hope for the future they dared to build together. He wondered how to make it easily carried, in some sort of case with a handle, preferably with locks…

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: House of the Rising Sun

Viktor seized the moment, placing one hand on Ben’s arm. Lila mirrored the action, pressing her palms against Viktor's back to channel her energy into him. Together, they began to extract the durango, gritting their teeth against the resistance of the foreign force. It threaded through every part of Ben, mingling with his marigold like sugar in water—almost impossible to remove. They pressed on, seeking every slippery thread, pulling them one by one. Images flashed through their minds—green grass, tall trees, happy people in the park, the joyful laughter of children at play.

“It’s like getting gum out of carpet,” Lila joked, trying to lighten the mood. “Does anyone have any peanut butter—”

Before she could finish, Five's senses flared. Having lived through this moment before, he felt a prickling at the back of his neck—a signal that danger was imminent. He turned just in time to spot the glint of a sniper's scope aimed directly at Lila from a nearby rooftop.

“No!” Five shouted, panic surging through him. He concentrated, willing time to slow down. Instantly, he warped the space between them, creating an invisible barrier that deflected the bullet just inches from Lila.

Simultaneously, Diego, suffering from déjà vu, instinctively reached out with his power. He sensed the bullet's trajectory and redirected it, causing it to ricochet harmlessly off a nearby display. “Nice save, Five!” Diego called, his voice steady despite the chaos.

“There's a sniper!” Five warned, rushing forward to shield Lila. He reached for the loaded pistol tucked at his side, checked the barrel, and put it back in its holster. The memory of the bullet that had killed the love of his life reverberated in his mind, fueling his determination to ensure this time would be different. “Everyone, we need to find a way out—now!”

The atmosphere grew tense as Ben shifted slightly, his grotesque form pulsating with a sickening rhythm. His skin had taken on a mottled hue, veins throbbing beneath the surface, and his eyes glowed with a haunting, otherworldly light. Five felt dread thicken the air, the acrid smell of burnt flesh lingering. He pushed it aside, focusing on getting Lila and Viktor to safety.

“Run!” he shouted, grabbing Lila's hand and pulling her deeper into the store. They raced through the dimly lit aisles, Diego cursing and trailing after them, refusing to be left behind. The chilling sound of Ben's inhuman cries faded behind them, yet the horror of what they had witnessed lingered.

“Where are we going?” Lila frantically asked, breathless, as they ducked behind a row of mannequins, her mind racing to make sense of Five's sudden insistence on flight. They had been moments away from ending this—literal seconds from pulling that bloody durango out of Ben. She had already seen the resignation in Ben's expression and was sure he'd agree if the fate of the whole world was at stake. Why were they now running and hiding? She didn't know, but years of narrowly escaping danger in one apocalyptic timeline after another had taught Lila to trust in her partner's instincts. Was that still what Five was to her, after everything? Her heart screamed a resounding YES! God help me, but yes….

“Anywhere that isn’t here,” Five replied, interrupting Lila's spiraling thoughts. He turned on his heel, wild eyes scanning the area. “We need to find a back room or storage area. Somewhere to regroup and plan our next move.”

They quickly slipped through a doorway into a darkened storage room before Lila could open her mouth to protest, the musty smell of old clothes and forgotten merchandise wrapping around them like a heavy blanket. Five quickly closed the door behind them, his heart pounding as he leaned against it, listening for any signs of pursuit.

“Are we safe?” Viktor asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His marigold thrummed just below the surface, awakened by the threats around them, clawing at his mental walls, begging to be unleashed.

“For now,” Five replied, trying to catch his breath. He exhaled raggedly and brushed his dark hair out of his eyes. “But we need to think fast. I don’t know how long we have before they figure out where we went.”

Viktor, still shaky but regaining his composure, nodded. A faint glow of energy crackled at his fingertips and in his eyes, a testament to his power and potential, the marigold barely contained. “What do we do? We can’t let them—”

Diego, who would have followed Lila to hell and back despite the drama of the past few hours, stepped forward, a scowl on his face. “We can’t just wait here. If Ben and Jennifer are transforming, we need to act before it’s too late.”

“Obviously, Diego!” Lila snapped, then turned to face Five. “How did you even know there was a sniper?” she asked, still unable to make sense of the last few minutes.

““I rewound time,” Five replied, a haunted look darkening his eyes, the painful memories of her lifeless form turning them glassy with tears. He choked out, continuing his brief but shocking revelation, “to save your life.”

Before Lila could even begin to process that, a loud crash echoed from the front of the store, making them all jump. The sound of heavy boots thudding against the tile floor sent icy fingers down Five’s spine. The Keepers must've found a way in, and they were intent on making sure Ben and Jennifer could finish becoming the Cleanse.

“Five?” Luther's booming voice broke the silence. “Are you back here?”

Relieved, Five scrambled out of the way as the door swung open, revealing Luther’s hulking silhouette framed in the doorway.

“Luther!” came a more cheerful voice from the shadows. It was Klaus, arms laden with an assortment of clothes he wanted to try on. He emerged from behind the tall utility shelves lined with cardboard boxes, Sloane and Allison following him. “I'm not sure if I got the right size, but—”

“Seriously not the time, bro,” Luther groaned, eagerly pulling Sloane back into his arms. If she looked terrified before, now the horror was so vast she couldn't formulate words. She buried her face in his chest, her hair forming a curtain.

“Okay, we need to get out there again and finish this,” Five said, his voice firm. He pushed down the lingering memories of the erased timeline, all the tension in the air between himself and Diego, the confusing mix of love and loss he'd experienced with Lila, all of it went in the lockbox deep inside himself, and finally he refocused on the imminent apocalyptic threat. “Lila, Viktor, you both felt the durango in Ben. We need to extract it—along with whatever is left in Jennifer—before they fully transform.”

Lila nodded, steeling herself. “I can help Viktor with that again. We know what to do.” She wanted to prove to Five that her life had been worth saving. Considering all the years she spent trying to be the better assassin she almost laughed. She knew she was no hero, but when it came down to it, she wanted a future.

“Yes, we do,” Viktor said confidently, finding his courage in this terrifying moment. “But we'll need to get close.”

Diego stepped forward, determination gleaming in his eyes. “While you approach Ben and Jennifer, Luther and I can create a distraction to separate them and draw the Keepers away. I can handle them up close.”

“Are you sure?” Five asked, concern flashing in his eyes. He knew the burden they all carried, their relationships were strained, and the stakes were higher than ever. He tapped his gun in its holster, assuring himself he was ready for anything.

“Absolutely,” Luther said, stepping forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the group. “I can handle anything they throw at me.”

“Don't worry, big guy. We'll stay here and cover Sloane,” Klaus offered, gesturing between himself and Allison. “They can help me pick out a new outfit.”

“Alright,” Five said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose as he looked around at the faces of his family. “We’ll go back out, but we have to tread carefully. Diego and Luther, you create the distraction first. I'll help get Lila and Viktor as close to Ben and Jennifer as I can.”

They prepared to move, heart rates spiking with anticipation. Five led the way back to the door, his pulse racing as he opened it just a crack. The faint sounds of the store around them were unsettling, but he focused on the task ahead.

“Remember, stay low and be quiet,” he whispered, pushing the door open wider. They slipped out into the main floor again, the eerie stillness enveloping them like a dense fog.

As they crept through the aisles, Five’s senses heightened, every sound amplified in the tense silence. He could see Ben and Jennifer still lurking near the escalator, their distorted forms grotesque yet thankfully separated. The air crackled with energy while their inhuman moans echoed against the walls.

“Wait until he's distracted,” Five whispered to Viktor, who nodded, ready to move.

“Hey, asshat!” Diego shouted suddenly, stepping into the open and waving his arms. “Come and get me!”

Five gripped his pistol tighter and motioned for Viktor and Lila to stay behind him as the three of them crept closer to the monstrous pair, their hearts pounding in their chests. Ben turned, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Diego, the grotesque transformation still lingering beneath the surface.

“Stay back!” Ben growled, his voice low and guttural. “You don’t understand what’s happening!”

Luther stepped forward, his deep voice steady as he called out across the distance. “We do understand, Ben. We still want to help you!” He could feel the tension in the air, knowing that although this version of Ben could be a formidable adversary, they'd faced the kugelblitz with him, even drank and laughed at his wedding to Sloane at the end of the world. After Ben got out of prison, Luther opened his home to him, giving him a place to stay. It had to be enough for him to realize they all cared for this version too.

"We almost had it before. Just let us try again. Let us save you,” Viktor pressed, inching closer and reaching out his hand to make the necessary contact.

But just then, a sound echoed through the store—a loud crack, followed by the ominous sound of footsteps approaching from the back. The Keepers were really closing in this time.

“Go! Now!” Five shouted, pushing Lila forward. He raised his pistol, ready to defend them if necessary. “Start the extraction!”

“Keep it together!” Diego yelled, unsheathing a dagger from his harness as he moved next to Luther and Five. He was certain they had to protect Viktor and Lila while they worked on removing the durango and after the day he'd had he welcomed some targeted violence. He shifted into a combat stance, ready for a fight.

Lila and Viktor wasted no time, stepping closer to Ben. “Look, I know you never thought of yourself as part of this family, but you are—even if you don't like it,” Lila said, her voice firm as she reached out to touch Ben’s arm. She flashed a warm smile. “Trust me. Trust us."

“On three!” Viktor declared, tension coiling in the air. “One… two… three!”

They pulled, feeling the shadowy force resist their efforts. Ben’s grotesque form trembled, the shadows twisting around him, but Lila pressed on, pouring her energy into the connection, her fingers aglow with power. “Let us in!” she shouted, determination flooding her voice.

The chaos intensified as Five, Diego, and Luther engaged the Keepers. Five moved with the grace of a trained assassin, teleporting behind the nearest Keeper and incapacitating him with a swift strike. He followed up with a quick jab to another Keeper's midsection, sending him sprawling. “Keep them at bay!” he shouted, firing at another Keeper who threatened to slip past. He blinked from one corner of the room to the other, using confusion as another weapon.

Diego charged into the fray, utilizing his martial arts skills to devastating effect. He ducked under a swing from a Keeper and retaliated with a series of precise strikes: a spinning kick to the head, followed by a swift knee to the stomach. “I...hate...fast...food!” he called out, directing daggers to fly from his harness into unfortunate King Reg employees, all while expertly landing punches and kicks that sent Keepers crashing into shelves.

Luther fought with raw power, using his enormous frame to tackle a Keeper to the ground. He grappled with the man, throwing punches that landed with bone-crushing force. “Lila, Viktor, you can do it!” he encouraged, absorbing blows from another Keeper as he held the line. He grabbed one swinging a morningstar, raised him over his head, then hurled the man thirty feet away to crash into the last mannequin display left standing. “Just keep your focus!”

With a final push of power, Lila and Viktor felt the durango begin to yield. They pulled harder, their energies intertwining, and with one last collective effort, they ripped the dark energy free from Ben.

Ben let out a horrific scream as the durango was expelled, a translucent dark energy writhing in the air before Lila unleashed her laser eyes, striking the mass with a blinding beam. The smoky remnants twisted violently before dissipating into nothingness. Lila felt a surge of triumph as the darkness began to recede. “We did it!” she shouted, her heart racing.

“Now, Jennifer!” Viktor called, turning to the other figure still trapped in the throes of darkness.

Lila and Viktor rushed to Jennifer, who was almost unrecognizable, the transformation wreaking havoc on her system. She curled on the floor, twisting and fighting against the dark energy. “Jennifer, we’re here!” Lila shouted. “You have to fight it!”

As they reached out, Jennifer’s eyes flickered with recognition, a glimmer of hope breaking through the shadows. “I… I don’t want to die!” she gasped, fear darkening her gaze.

“On three again!” Viktor said, his voice gravelly with exhaustion but resolute. “One… two… three!”

They grasped Jennifer’s hands, feeling the same malevolent energy coursing through her. Together, they pulled at the threads of the durango, feeling the energy resist their efforts, trying to hide itself within the terrified girl. It had embedded itself deeper in Jennifer with thorny hooks at the end of each tendril of power. The shadows writhed angrily, but with Lila’s and Viktor’s combined strength, they began to draw it out.

“Keep them off us!” Five yelled, teleporting to a position where he could fire at a new wave of Keepers attempting to flank them. “Luther, we need a clear path!”

“I’ve got this!” Luther replied, using his strength to bowl over a group of Keepers, clearing a space for Lila and Viktor. “Just finish the extraction!”

With the Keepers distracted, Lila and Viktor pressed on. “We’re almost there!” Lila urged. “Just a little bit more!” Sweat beaded at her brow, and her jaw clenched hard as waves of pain wracked her body, but she couldn't stop now.

With a final, gut-wrenching pull, they extracted the last remnants of the durango from Jennifer, the alien substance bursting forth as a smoky mass that writhed in the air before Lila unleashed her laser eyes once more, striking the mass with satisfying precision. The energy twisted violently before vanishing into nothingness.

As Lila felt triumph wash over her and looked at Viktor, their victory palpable, she gasped, breathless but relieved. “We did it! We saved them!”

But just as they began to catch their breath, a low, menacing growl echoed through the store as Keeper after Keeper hummed their disapproval, causing the hairs on the back of their necks to stand on end. The remaining Keepers, now aware of their failure, were closing in. Shadows flickered and dark figures moved just beyond the aisles, their intentions clear.

“Let’s go!” Five commanded, his voice steady but urgent. “We need to get out of here!” Five commanded, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “We need to get out of here before they figure out what just happened! I'll grab the others!” He disappeared for a few seconds, only to materialize again with Klaus, Allison, and Sloane in tow.

In the distance, the unmistakable sound of heavy boots approached, sending a chill down Lila's spine. She exchanged a worried glance with Viktor, knowing that their moment of triumph could quickly turn into a trap.

“Move!” Diego shouted, pushing them toward the exit as the atmosphere thickened with tension. The team hurried toward the door, hearts pounding with adrenaline.

But as they reached the threshold, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path. It was one of the Keepers, face twisted in a mix of anger and disbelief. “You think you can just walk away after this?” he hissed, eyes narrowing.

“Ray?” Allison stepped forward, her face filled with recognition and shock as she realized the Keeper was her ex-husband.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20: Memory Bound

As Ray stepped into the dim light, his expression twisted with anger and disbelief. “You think you can just walk away after this?” he hissed, narrowing his eyes at the group, his hand gripping the AK-47 strapped across his chest.

“Ray, wait!” Allison’s voice trembled, fear flooding her expression. “This isn’t what it looks like!”

“Not what it looks like?” Ray spat, raising the barrel of his weapon slightly, the threat palpable. “You’re with them! After everything we’ve been through, you’re siding with these freaks?”

Allison, stung, shot back, “You know full well these freaks are my family!”

“Stop!” Five interjected, stepping forward, hands raised in a placating gesture. “We don’t want any trouble. We just saved Ben and Jennifer from a dangerous situation. They’re safe now.” He gestured over to the weary couple who were heavily leaning against each other. Finally free of the dark energy that had twisted their forms, they looked normal again.

Ray paused, confusion washing over him. He glared at Five, who had always seemed to attract chaos. The entire family felt foreign to him, and he couldn't shake the sense that he didn’t belong. Then the dreams started—visions of a different life, fighting for civil rights in the 1960s, still married to Allison, but not part of this modern world. He had filed for divorce, feeling like a stranger not only to his wife, Allison, but also to their daughter, Claire—and, truthfully, to himself. Meeting the Keepers had only confirmed his fears. “You saved them? But what about everything else? The Keepers told me the Cleanse would fix everything! I thought it would return us to the timeline we lost!”

Lila stepped forward, her heart aching for the troubled man before her. She understood the disorientation he faced—one moment living his life, the next thrust into a strange era, with his wife as his only link to the past. Having been lost in time for seven years herself, trying to reintegrate into a life she had left behind, she empathized with his feelings of isolation. “Ray, the Cleanse was a danger, not a solution. It was created to eliminate anyone and anything that didn’t conform to its vision of the ideal timeline. The fallout would have been catastrophic.”

Ray's fists trembled with frustration, his grip tightening around his weapon. “But they promised! They said the Cleanse would bring everything back to normal. How could that be dangerous?”

“Ray, think about it,” Five urged. “The Cleanse would have wiped out entire cities and countless innocent lives. We couldn’t let that happen.”

Lila chimed in, “We had to destroy the durango to stop it from ever being unleashed. It was a risk we had to take to protect everyone.”

Ray hesitated, doubt etched on his face, but the weight of their words began to sink in. “So, you’re telling me that you risked everything to save the world?”

“Yes,” Five affirmed, flashing his signature smirk. “It's kind of our thing.”

Ray’s expression softened slightly, confusion giving way to understanding. “Okay, but what’s your plan now? Just run away?”

“Not just run away. We need to regroup and strategize in case the Keepers retaliate. I'm sure they won't be happy we've stopped the Cleanse.” Five replied, his dark brows furrowed, fatigue evident in his posture. “If we can blink back to the van, we can discuss our next steps.”

“Blink?” Ray asked, skepticism evident as he pointed the weapon at Five.

Allison, sensing the escalating tension, took a deep breath and stepped closer, her heart racing. “Ray,” she said softly, trying to regain his focus. She had been shocked to see him earlier through Lila's binoculars but understood the appeal of a group like the Keepers for him. When she envisioned an ideal reality, her daughter Claire was central, but deep down, she remembered her husband, Ray, and the life they had been building together in the 1960s.

Six years ago, she had pressed that reset button in the Hotel Oblivion, often questioning if it had somehow comprehended her longing and crafted a new world based on her desires. Looking at Ray now, guilt twisted in her stomach for the pain and confusion in his eyes. Please forgive me , she thought. Voice cracking with emotion, she said, “I heard a rumor… that letting go of the past can help clear a path for a better future.”

Ray glared at her, bewildered. “What are you talking about?”

Before he could react, Allison reached out, her hand gently touching his arm. As she activated her marigold, her eyes glowed white, then filled with tears. “Just trust me,” she whispered, her voice quavering with a millions silent apologies. “Let go of the hurt. You’re here now. This is your life.”

Ray blinked, the tension in his shoulders easing as her powers enveloped him. “What…?” he started to say, but the words faded into a haze.

“Forget the anger,” Allison continued, her voice calm yet choked with emotion. “You don’t need it anymore. Focus on what’s ahead.”

In an instant, Ray’s expression softened, confusion fading into acceptance. The grip on his weapon slackened, and he released the gun slowly until it hung limply from its sling. “Okay,” he said, a peaceful look settling on his face. “What’s next?”

Allison’s tears spilled over as she felt the burden of her actions and her lingering love for Ray. “Now we regroup and plan our next move,” Five said, relief washing over him as Ray’s weapon was lowered. “And we need to stay alert for any attacks from the Keepers.”

Lila nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose, but the weight of their reality hung heavily. She felt emotionally drained, all the events of the day taking its toll on her. She glanced at Five, noting the way his brow was furrowed with concern. “We’ve fought too hard to lose everything again. But I know we’re not out of danger yet.”

As if the universe was intent on proving her point, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the distance, growing louder. Five's expression changed, fear replacing relief. “They’re coming! The Keepers!”

Panic surged through the group as shadows emerged in the dim light—a mob of Keepers rushing toward them, armed with an almost comical mix of weapons. One held a chainsaw, another had a large woodcutter ax, yet another with a Samurai sword, and an honest-to-God pitchfork, while most had guns raised and ready to fire.

“We need to move!” Lila shouted, urgency lacing her voice. “We can’t stay here!”

Ray's calmness shifted back to alertness as he gripped his weapon tightly. “What now?” he yelled, scanning for an escape route. He felt a fierce protectiveness for Allison and the peculiar group of people she called family.

“I’ll try to blink us away!” Five exclaimed, his determination evident despite his exhaustion. He concentrated, teeth gritted and fists clenched tightly as he focused on pushing through space-time.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint indigo glow flickered briefly from his hands, barely illuminating the darkness around them. It was weak—a mere whisper of power—and quickly faded.

“Come on!” Five grunted, frustration building. “I can’t—”

“Five, we don’t have time!” Allison urged, her voice rising in panic as the footsteps drew nearer.

Just then, the Keepers’ dark figures appeared at the entrance of the alley, their silhouettes stark against the light. “There they are!” one shouted, raising his weapon.

Before anyone could react, gunfire erupted, bullets flying through the air. But just as they were about to strike, Diego stepped forward, stretching his hand toward the gunman. The bullets halted mid-air, suspended in time before they fell harmlessly to the ground, creating a cascade of metallic sounds as they hit the pavement, like tinkling glass.

“I've got this!” Lila shouted, seizing the moment. With determination surging through her, she stepped forward and threaded her fingers through Five's, gripping his hand tightly. Their eyes met for a brief moment, a spark of unspoken understanding passing between them. “Link up with me!” she called urgently to the rest of the group, knowing they had to join together to escape.

Diego rushed over, ripping Lila's hand away from Five’s grasp. He shoved Five back a step and through gritted teeth said, “Stay away from my wife!” Adrenaline still pumped through his veins from today's battle, but he hadn't forgotten about the revelation of Five and Lila's relationship. Deja vu hit him again as he stood between the two. Irritated, he held a hand out to each of them, his gaze flickering between Lila and Five, resentment simmering beneath the surface. “Let’s just get out of here,” he muttered, linking his hand with Lila’s, then begrudgingly putting a hand on Five’s arm, internally congratulating himself for not punching his brother again.

Luther, Sloane, Allison, Klaus, Viktor, Ray, Ben, and Jennifer quickly moved closer, forming a chain, each linking to the next, all ready to escape together.

“Hold on tight!” Lila yelled, her voice filled with resolve as she thrust her hands forward. The indigo glow began to emanate from her, creating a shimmering bubble around them.

In an instant, the alley transformed around them, the sounds of the Keepers and the tinkling bullets fading into nothingness.

In a blink, they were gone, transported to the van parked in an alley down the street from the chaos.

Gasping for breath, the group squeezed into the van, its frame groaning from the added weight. Diego let out a long sigh of relief and turned the key. Wanda's engine sputtered to life, humming softly, and the night air filled with the scents of gasoline and metal.

“Get us out of here!” Luther demanded, Sloane tucked safely in his arms and on his lap.

I could really use some menudo,” Klaus chimed in. “Raising an army of the dead is hungry work.” Everyone was too tired to roll their eyes.

Five, still catching his breath, looked at Lila, his expression serious but hinting at something deeper. “I'm glad you managed to get us out, but this is far from over.”

Diego shifted uncomfortably in his seat, still simmering with anger as he watched the exchange between Lila and Five. The tension in the air was thick, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that their bond was growing even stronger amidst the chaos. Do you love him ? he recalled Lila nodding, and couldn't help but scowl.

“No, it's not,” Diego said, his hard glare meeting Five's eyes in the rearview mirror. They both knew he wasn't talking about the end of the world or the Keepers. It was a declaration of war.  Diego was a fighter, and he had no intention of losing Lila to Five, not one bit.

Chapter Text

Chapter 21: Come on In Mr. Lonely

As the van rolled down the dimly lit streets, the atmosphere felt heavy with tension and exhaustion. The aftermath of their recent battle lingered heavily in the air, though the relief of escaping the Keepers and destroying the Durango provided a small measure of comfort. Lila sat close to Five, her heart racing from the adrenaline and the unspoken words lingering between them. In contrast, Diego felt a simmering anger churn within him, intensified by the sight of them in his rearview mirror.

“Just get us home,” he muttered, sarcasm evident in his voice. “Sir, yes, sir! As fast as I can, sir!” His grip on the steering wheel tightened, frustration bubbling to the surface. The last thing they needed was to draw attention, especially after everything that had just happened. But he couldn't help glancing in the mirror, watching Lila so close to Five that his blood began to boil. With all the extra bodies in the van, she was almost in his lap, he noted sourly.

The van rolled forward through the night, thankfully devoid of any Baby Shark for once. Just as Diego settled into a rhythm, flashing blue and red lights illuminated the rearview mirror, cutting through the silence like a knife. His stomach dropped. “Oh, come on!” he groaned, slapping the steering wheel in frustration. Can't the universe give me a break for once?

“Just pull over, Diego,” Luther said, his voice calm but firm. “We need to keep a low profile right now.”

Reluctantly, Diego guided the van to the side of the road, his mind racing with thoughts of potential repercussions. He knew he had been speeding, trying to put distance between them and the chaos they had just escaped. The streets had been practically empty, but if he was honest, he had been distracted. He was glad his dagger harness was empty, every knife thrown with purpose and abandoned in their hasty escape.

Just as he was cursing his bad luck, the officer approached the van, and Diego’s stomach twisted as he recognized her. The familiar silhouette, the authoritative stride—it sent a jolt through him. When the officer stepped into the light, his breath hitched. It was Eudora Patch, but not the one he remembered. This version was slightly older, more seasoned, yet bore an unmistakable resemblance to the woman he had lost. She's still so beautiful... His breath caught in his throat.

“License and registration, please,” she said, her voice authoritative but lacking any recognition of him.

Diego felt his heart race, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over him. This was a different Eudora, a version from a timeline that never saw the tragedy of her death. Confusion clouded his thoughts as memories flooded back—her laughter, her fierce determination, the way she fought for justice with a fully functioning moral compass. But as he looked into her eyes, disappointment washed over him; she didn’t recognize him at all.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” Diego managed, his voice shaky. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the glove compartment, hands trembling slightly as he pulled out the papers. The reality of seeing her alive, yet a stranger, sent a wave of conflicting emotions crashing over him.

As he handed over the documents, he searched her face for any sign of recognition, but there was none. Eudora flicked on her flashlight and examined the items with focused intensity, her brow slightly furrowed.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” she asked, her tone professional.

“I was just trying to get home,” Diego replied, a blend of defiance and guilt in his voice. “We had a rough night.”

“Rough night or not, you were speeding. This is a residential area.” Eudora’s expression softened slightly as she continued, “It’s important to obey the speed limits, especially considering the circumstances.”

Diego nodded, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “Yeah, I get it.”

“Everything seems to be in order,” she said, finally returning the papers. “But I have to issue you a ticket for speeding. Please stay put while I process this.”

With that, she stepped back to her patrol car, leaving Diego and the others in tense silence until Luther exclaimed, “Hey! Is that who I think it was?” recognition lit his eyes. Subtle, bro, Diego thought, glancing at Lila, who watched him with concern.

“What’s going on?” she asked quietly, leaning forward into the empty space between front seats.

“She’s giving me a ticket,” Diego replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’ll explain more in a minute.” His mind whirled, grappling with emotions. The painful memory of finding her lifeless body in that motel room years ago, shot dead by the Commission agent, Cha-Cha, floated up to the surface and stung him all over again.

After what felt like an eternity, Eudora returned to the van, holding a clipboard and pen. “Here you are,” she said, handing him the ticket. 

Diego took the strip of paper, his heart sinking as he saw the fine—two hundred dollars! Eudora then handed him a pen. “Just sign here,” she instructed, pointing to the designated line, “and you're good to go.”

He complied, signing the ticket with a sense of resignation. The absurdity of receiving a ticket after everything they had gone through gnawed at him. But then his eyes caught sight of her phone number scrawled at the bottom. A flicker of hope sparked within him. Maybe calling her wouldn’t just be about the ticket; perhaps it could serve as a connection to the past—a chance to take a new path into the future.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” Eudora asked as she tucked the pen into her pocket, her tone professional but with a hint of warmth.

“No, that’s it. Thanks,” Diego replied, forcing a smile as he felt a rush of mixed emotions.

As Eudora walked back to her car, Lila turned to Diego, her expression curious. “Who was that? You looked as if you'd seen a ghost.”

Diego hesitated, unsure of how to explain the complexity of his feelings. “Something like that… Her name is Eudora Patch. She was… someone important to me a long time ago.”

Lila raised an eyebrow, sensing the depth of his emotions. “Important how?”

Diego took a deep breath, finally ready to share. “She was a detective and a close friend. We worked together on many cases. She was fierce and passionate about her job, always fighting for justice. When I lost her, it was devastating. Seeing her again, even if it’s a different version… it brought back a lot of memories.”

Lila nodded, absorbing his words. “So, she was more than just a colleague?”

“Yeah, she was,” he admitted, his voice softening. “There were feelings there. But it all ended in tragedy. I thought I’d never have to face that again, but here we are.”

Lila’s expression shifted to one of understanding, her curiosity now mixed with empathy. “That must be tough, especially with everything else going on.”

Diego sighed, trying to articulate his conflicting feelings. “It makes me wonder if this encounter is a sign. Maybe it’s time to let go of fighting for something that’s not there anymore. I love you, Lila, and you know I'm willing to fight for you.” He leveled his gaze at her. “But it’s clear you don’t feel the same way about me anymore.”

Lila opened her mouth to respond, but Diego continued. “I see how you laugh and connect with Five. It’s painful for me to watch, but I have to face the reality that things have changed.”

“Diego, I—” Lila started, but he cut her off gently.

“I know you care about me, and I appreciate that. But I can’t keep holding onto something that isn’t there. It’s just… a difficult situation.”

Lila searched his eyes, her own filled with compassion. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know. I’m still here for you, no matter what. We can figure this out together.”

Diego nodded, grateful for her support but still feeling the turmoil within him. Living through so many different timelines over the past few years had made things confusing and messy as hell, but he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the road ahead. They had to keep moving forward, even if the past haunted him.

As they drove, night gave way to day, and Diego felt a combination of hope and despair. The world was complicated, filled with different realities and choices he would never fully understand. But for now, he had his family, and, like it or not, they needed each other more than ever. They would face whatever came next, together. In the quiet moments, as the van hummed along the road, he couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps it was time to accept the truth: sometimes letting go was the only way to truly move forward.

He recalled Allison's words to Ray: "Letting go of the past can help clear a path for a better future.” With that thought in mind, he felt a flicker of possibility for what lay ahead, not for once forgetting the speeding ticket in his pocket, a reminder of the chaos they had just escaped and the new roads waiting to be traveled.

Chapter Text

Chapter 22: No More Heroes

It was nearly dawn by the time they pulled up to what had once been the Hargreeves mansion, now a rundown dump that Luther was painstakingly remodeling. They decided to go there since Lila and Diego didn't want to wake the kids, and it felt ingrained in their very bones to return to this place. Many of them had grown up there, after all, and despite the changes brought about by their time-travel adventures, a homing beacon seemed to call them back.

“There's plenty of room here,” Luther offered generously as they all stumbled through the door, exhaustion evident on each face. “You're all welcome to stay while we figure things out. Just, um, don't use the upstairs bathroom.”

The moment they stepped inside, the faint scent of damp wood and dust filled their nostrils, and the creaking floorboards seemed to groan under their weight. The dimly lit entryway felt both familiar and foreign, with peeling wallpaper and cobwebs in the corners, remnants of a life once vibrant.

The intricate wrought iron railing that surrounded the balcony above the entryway featured twisting vines that formed the words “Hargreeves Home for Wayward Boys,” where it had once said Umbrella Academy in their original timeline. Five smirked up at it, raising a brow and thinking that if it weren't for Allison, the sign would have been just as appropriate for his childhood home.

While everyone else sprawled out on the musty couches and chairs in the living room, groaning from battle fatigue as they sank onto the cushions, Five walked to the bar area and poured himself a scotch. Lila caught his eye from across the room and raised an eyebrow of her own, as if to say, Hey! Where's mine?

With an amused chuckle, he reached for her favorite merlot, poured her a glass, and blinked back over to her. “Thought you might need this,” he said, presenting the wine with a curt bow that might have appeared mocking, but Lila was familiar with his old-fashioned gesture and smiled, accepting the glass gratefully. Her expression filled with fondness as she took a sip. It amazed her how well he could read a single lift of a brow, as if she had voiced her thoughts aloud.

“Thanks, Five. I definitely do.”

Diego's stomach churned as he watched Lila's eyes light up at Five’s teasing banter, a smile blooming across her face that he hadn’t seen in ages. It twisted his insides with a sharp pang of jealousy, the realization that Five brought out a joy in her that he struggled to reach. Now, the sight of her smile was a bitter pill to swallow, stirring up jealousy and insecurity within him again. Sure, I made her smile almost as brightly once, but not like this, he grumped.

Surprisingly, however, the exchange didn't cause smoke to pour out of Diego’s ears, though he sat nearby in an extremely ugly armchair, its fabric worn and threadbare. He was lost in thought, grappling with his feelings for Lila. Is it love, or just a sense of ownership because she’s my wife? If our relationship had been strong enough, I doubt even 50 years on the subway would have led to this . Shame and regret filled him, but he pushed it down, trying to calm his racing thoughts.

Ray looked around, reflecting on all the life choices that had led him to this hellhole. There was scaffolding everywhere as part of Luther's attempt to bring the mansion back to its former glory. But a crack ran around the edges of the room and through the marble columns at eye level, evidence of the destructive power of Lila's laser vision. She had been unable to control her power initially when Ben tricked them into drinking the marigold. Luther was telling Sloane all about it, embarrassed by the state of the place and wishing he had made more headway with the renovations, muttering something about sconces.

Ben and Jennifer were slumped together on an ancient loveseat Luther must've retrieved while dumpster diving, their feet tangled, looking ready to pass out. Nobody was listening to Luther’s diatribe. It had been a long day, and it was a miracle they had come out of that fight alive, so they all appreciated the moment to catch their breath. The fireplace was lit, providing warmth and a relaxing ambiance to the exhausted team. Klaus delved into the kitchen, starving and searching for menudo as if it would appear by magic, but he settled on making a giant tray of fluffernutter sandwiches for everyone with Viktor's assistance.

As the last sandwich disappeared from the tray (Luther, of course), a momentary silence settled over the group, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the city waking up outside. The warmth of the fireplace created a cocoon of comfort, but the weight of their recent battle hung heavily in the air. Sloane snuggled under Luther's arm on the couch, feeling more at home than she had in years, even if the mansion was far more dilapidated than the one she’d seen in her dreams.

“Alright, what’s our strategy?” Diego leaned forward, his fingers digging into the worn armrests of his chair, knuckles whitening as frustration coursed through him. The whirlwind of emotions twisted in his gut—Lila’s laughter echoing in his mind, Five’s easy charm gnawing at his resolve, and the unsettling memory of his encounter with Eudora swirling like fog. He shook his head as if to chase away the thoughts, his voice sharper than intended. “We can’t just sit here, waiting for the Keepers to forget about us.”

Lila nodded, wiping crumbs from her hands. “They’re definitely going to come after us now that we’ve stopped the Cleanse.”

Five, still nursing his scotch, regarded the group with a serious expression. “We’ll need to find out what the Keepers are planning. If we can get close enough to overhear their discussions, we might be able to stay one step ahead.”

Ray, who had been listening intently, chimed in. “I can help with that. They already accepted me as part of their group. If I can get in, I can easily gather information without raising any alarms.”

Diego narrowed his eyes, assessing the risk. “That’s a dangerous move, Ray. What if they catch onto you? We can’t afford to lose anyone.”

Before they could discuss further, however, a sudden crash from outside drew their attention. The sound was followed by a series of heavy footsteps approaching the mansion, growing louder with each passing second.

“Did you hear that?” Sloane’s voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes wide.

Luther moved to the window, peering out from behind a curtain. “It looks like someone’s coming. Stay alert!” He picked up a large flower vase filled with geraniums and raised it, ready to smash it into the mystery visitor as soon as they entered.

Just as tension filled the room, the front door burst open, and in stepped Reginald Hargreeves, flanked by Abigail. The air thickened with shock as the siblings froze in place, eyes wide. Luther dropped the vase, and it smashed to pieces on the floor in front of him while he stood there, jaw hanging open in stunned amazement.

“Reginald!” Five exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and anger flashing across his face. “What exactly do you think you're doing here?”

“Gathering my children,” Reginald replied coolly, his gaze scanning the room. “We have much to discuss.”

“Your children?” Five sputtered, spraying a mouthful of scotch across the bar in disbelief. “If you recall, you've adamantly denied us that label several times!”

“Nonsense. As Abigail has pointed out, even if that's not the case in this current reality, it was ultimately me in some shape or form who brought you all together. For better or worse, I am your father. I made you all who you are.”

Reginald's demeanor remained unfazed, his expression a mask of calm. “I came to ensure your safety. The Keepers are no longer a threat. With Gene and Jean both dead, their leadership is in tatters.”

Luther finally found his voice, still in shock. “Wait, what? You mean they’re done for good? No more Keepers?”

“Yes,” Reginald confirmed, his gaze steady. “Their organization is collapsing under the weight of its own failures. Many members have fled or turned on each other. I wanted to make sure you all understood that you’re safe again.”

“Safe?” Diego scoffed, crossing his arms. “You’ve never cared about our safety before. Why should we believe you now?”

Ben sat up, echoing Diego’s sentiment. “Exactly. You’ve always put your own interests first. Why would you suddenly care about us?”

Reginald stepped further into the room, his presence commanding as ever. “I can understand your anger, but I was impressed by your perseverance and ability to work together to stop the impending apocalypse. You have become a great asset to this world, exactly what the other version of myself was training you to become.”

At this, Abigail stepped forward. “We plan to leave this world, we've caused enough problems here,  but we want to offer you a choice. We can remove the marigold from you and take it with us, leaving you ordinary and without your powers. After everything that’s happened, maybe it’s time for a new beginning.”

Reginald, nodding his head,  added, “I’ve also made arrangements entrusting all my remaining material wealth to you, my children.”

Jennifer shook her head, disbelief etched across her features. “And how do we know this isn’t just another one of your manipulations? We can’t trust you after everything that’s happened.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” Reginald replied, his tone more somber. “But I want to make amends. I fought against the Keepers and their plans. I was trying to protect you, even if my methods were flawed. However, for you to trust me there is one more important thing you must know.”

Five's brow shot upwards with suspicion. “What are you talking about?”

Reginald glanced at Abigail, who nodded. In a swift motion, they both reached toward the backs of their heads for the zippers of their human suits. With a smooth pull, the suits began to peel away from their bodies, a sound reminiscent of thick fabric being unzipped. The air shimmered around them as their true forms were revealed, shocking the group into silence.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23: Who's That Knockin'

Beneath their human disguises, Reginald and Abigail revealed themselves as tall, reptilian beings with scaly green and gray skin, textured like that of a lizard. Their bodies were both imposing and graceful, with sharp, claw-like fingers tapering into razor-like points. Most striking were their eyes—large and completely black, devoid of whites, giving them an eerie, otherworldly appearance that seemed to absorb the light around them.

“Whoa,” Klaus uttered, a mix of shock and fascination on his face. “That’s… unexpected.”

Ray, who had been on high alert since their arrival, blinked in disbelief. “Now I’ve seen everything,” he said, shaking his head, a wry smile breaking through his initial tension.

His remark drew chuckles, but the atmosphere remained thick with unease. Luther inched forward, positioning himself protectively between the aliens and Sloane, still seated on the couch next to Ray. Ben stood rigid, tentacles bursting from his back and knocking several items off nearby tables in a reflexive reaction to perceived danger. Viktor's eyes glowed with power, mirrored by Allison’s.

Five stepped back, eyes widening for a moment before narrowing in recognition. “Well, actually, that explains a lot,” he said, crossing his arms and tossing his head to flip the hair out of his eyes. “I’m not surprised at all.” His grin twinkled with the thrill of confirmation.

The others turned to him, confusion evident on their faces. “What do you mean you’re not surprised?” Lila asked, brow furrowed.

Five shrugged, grin widening. “Well, the Keepers did say that Dad was an alien secretly grooming a cabal of teenage super soldiers,” he explained, quoting a member from a group meeting he’d infiltrated during his investigation of the Keepers. “So now it all makes sense.”

“To be honest, I always thought that guy was pretty loopy,” Lila said, smirking.

Reginald's gaze held a mix of amusement and relief. “So you’re not shocked at all?”

“Please, I know how to expect the unexpected,” Five scoffed, still eyeing their alien forms with curiosity. “But let’s get back to the point. Why are you really here?”

Reginald gestured with his clawed hand, his all-black eyes steady. “The marigold is a powerful but unstable substance. It attracts chaos. If I don’t remove it, reality could unravel.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Diego stepped forward, brow furrowed. “What do you mean, ‘bleeding into each other’? How is that possible?”

Abigail exchanged a glance with Reginald before responding. “The marigold connects you to various realities, scattering your energies throughout time—like breadcrumbs. The longer you hold onto it, the closer we get to catastrophic failure as these pieces try to return to you.”

Lila, her eyes sparkling with mischief, chimed in, “So the timelines are like a bowl of spaghetti, all tangled together, and the marigold is a clumsy chef tossing them around? If we don’t act, it'll turn into a gooey mess?”

Everyone turned their dumbfounded gaze on Lila, but Abigail took a breath, her voice firm. “Think of the timelines as rivers. The marigold acts like a dam at their confluence. Holding onto it redirects the flow, creating pressure. If we don’t remove it, the dam could break, mixing identities, pasts, and futures into chaos.”

As the gravity of the situation settled over the group, an uncomfortable silence enveloped them. Klaus felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The thought of losing his powers sent a chill through him, like a cold wind sweeping through the room. He had battled addiction for years, using substances to drown out the ghosts that haunted him, then achieved sobriety after landing in this reality with no powers. Fear took hold, morphing into pan-phobia, a fear of everything. The spirits had returned with a vengeance just days ago, thanks to Allison, their constant presence unbearable. He could feel them lurking just beyond his vision, waiting to pull him under. He'd just started to gain control during the previous night's battle, summoning a ghost army to create a distraction, but he feared the constant torment would push him back down the slippery slope into drugs and alcohol.

The prospect of losing his supernatural abilities was intriguing, but it also meant losing his immortality. Without his powers, he would never return from the dead, leaving just one life to live—one filled with the constant fear of the reaper's blade. Klaus's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of the dead. “So you’re saying our powers are causing this chaos?” he asked, his voice edged with anxiety.

“Not just your powers,” Reginald clarified. “The marigold itself is a channel. It amplifies the energies of the timelines, and right now, those energies are colliding. If I don’t intervene, the very fabric of existence could tear apart.”

Lila shook her head, trying to grasp the implications. “But what does that mean for us? If you take it away, what happens to our abilities? To us?”

Abigail stepped closer, her refined British accent soothing yet firm. “You would reclaim your identities, free from the chaos and expectations of extraordinary abilities. It’s a chance to redefine yourselves, but it comes at a cost. You’ll have to sacrifice your powers and return to a life without them—back to when you were normal.”

Diego exchanged glances with his siblings, the weight of their decision looming. “So we’re faced with a choice: keep our powers, which have defined us for so long, or make the ultimate sacrifice to save reality and return to being ordinary?”

Klaus felt a surge of panic. The idea of being normal again was terrifying. Without his powers, he would lose the ability to see the ghosts that haunted him, as well as the buffer of his immortality. “What if I can’t handle it?” he blurted out, his voice rising. “I'll lose my ability to come back if something happens to me. I… I can’t go back to that!”

Luther, having lived with shame and embarrassment over his physical deformities as a part-ape man with incredible strength, shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t entirely sure how his Simian body had returned after the marigold-spiked sake bomb, but he figured the substance was trying to revert him to his previous form. He had come to appreciate his powers, finally feeling a sense of belonging and purpose. Yet, deep down, he longed for a normal body. “I’ve fought my whole life to accept what I am, but I’d trade it all for a chance to be normal,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “Being who I am has its advantages, but it often feels like a curse.”

Klaus glanced at Luther, understanding flashing in his eyes. “You know I can’t die,” he said quietly. “I’ve been through hell and back, literally, hundreds of times. But that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with what I see. I can’t escape the dead, or my own demons. My immortality feels like a burden, especially when I’m surrounded by ghosts I can’t help but see.”

Five nodded, his expression serious. “It’s not an easy choice, Klaus. But we need to think about the bigger picture. If we give up the marigold, we might lose our powers, but we could save countless lives and restore balance to the timelines. It’s a huge sacrifice, but maybe it’s time to stop running from our pasts and face what lies ahead. If we're the problem, we're also the solution.”

Viktor, who had been quietly absorbing the conversation, finally spoke up. “So what’s the plan? How do we go about this?”

Reginald’s eyes glimmered with a knowing light. “We need to access the timeline subway. It serves as a pathway to the nexus point where the timelines intersect.”

Five’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You know about the subway?”

Reginald chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. “Who do you think had it built, old-timer?”

Five blinked in astonishment, a grin breaking across his face. “Seriously? You had a hand in that?”

“More than a hand,” Reginald replied. It was hard to read his reptilian expression, but amusement threaded through his voice. “Consider it a legacy of sorts. It’s essential for maintaining the balance of the timelines. I've used it to monitor threats to the world. How else do you think I knew to form the Umbrella Academy to save the world?”

The siblings exchanged glances, a mix of apprehension and resolve. “Okay,” Lila said, taking a deep breath. She hadn’t anticipated returning to the subway, especially not so soon. But if it meant stopping chaos from chasing them through every reality, they had to take the chance. “Let’s do it.”

As Reginald and Abigail shifted back into their human forms to prepare for the journey, Five felt a rush of conflicting emotions—fear, desperation, and a flicker of hope. The air around him crackled with energy, and he reached for Lila, threading his hand through hers, seeking comfort in their connection. The warmth between them sparked a sense of unity and unbreakable trust. He sought her eyes, and although he had told himself he’d imagined it before, he now saw so much love there that he could no longer deny it. But this wasn’t the right time for any of that. So he just smiled, conveying an unspoken “I love you too, crazy lady” with his eyes.

“Everybody gather around,” Five instructed, his voice steady, grip on Lila's hand firm as everyone else reached out to make contact. He winked at Jennifer, Sloane, and Ray, still sitting on the couch with faces of utter bafflement since they had no marigold to dispose of. “We'll be back in a minute.” A surge of purple energy enveloped him as he powered up, shooting outwards from his and Lila's linked hands until it encased the whole group. Feeling the familiar pull of the timeline subway’s otherworldly essence, Five blinked.

In an instant, the world around them shifted and blurred. The sensation of movement was both exhilarating and disorienting, but soon enough they found themselves standing at the entrance of the timeline subway, at the top of the stairs leading to the turnstiles. The air was cool and tinged with the scent of metal and electricity. Five and Lila exchanged a knowing glance, grinning at each other like only two fools in love can.

Diego was apoplectic, looking around with a stunned expression. “So this is your magic subway? It's an actual place?” he demanded, his tone one of awe and wonder, maybe a hint of resignation.

Five could only nod, remaining alert for any punches Diego was ready to throw at him. When none came, he pressed on, leading his family through the turnstiles to the platform where a train already sat idle, doors open.

“After you,” Five said, gesturing to the waiting subway train. He glanced at each of his siblings, trust and determination shining in his eyes. Together, they prepared to journey through the subway, ready to confront their fate and make the ultimate sacrifice that could change everything and return them to the lives they once knew.

Chapter Text

Chapter 24: The Passenger

As the subway rumbled to life, a low hum reverberated through the platform, sending a wave of anticipation through Five. He settled into his familiar seat next to Lila, an instinctive act born from years of shared journeys. Memories of their adventures flooded back, mingling with the metallic scent of the train. The doors slid shut with a soft hiss, and the rest of the group took their places, each lost in thought about the impending journey. The overhead lights flickered, casting an eerie glow over the car's interior.

“Okay, so how does this work?” Diego asked, breaking the silence as the train began to move through the dark tunnel. “Are we just going to ride this thing to wherever the timelines intersect? I don’t want to get lost here…”

Diego’s question lingered in the air, prompting glances from Lila and Five. The reality of the subway’s existence surrounded him in the fake leather seats and worn handrails. For the first time, he grasped that this place was real. It forced him to confront the painful truth that Lila had spent seven years here with his brother, a truth he had resisted. His heart raced as he processed the weight of their shared history, evident in every charged glance exchanged.

As he studied Lila, the bracelet that Five had crafted for her caught his eye. The intricate detail shimmered in the dim light, a tangible reminder of their bond, infused with Five's love. A surge of emotion overwhelmed Diego, making it hard to breathe. Could he truly love her enough to let her go? The thought twisted like a dagger in his heart.

Reginald’s voice broke through Diego’s reverie. “Yes. The subway connects various timelines that converge at the nexus point. There, we can remove the marigold from you, ensuring its removal resonates throughout all of time. This will prevent the collapse of the timelines and save countless lives…”

As Reginald’s voice trailed off, Diego caught Lila's eye, a mix of determination and fear reflected in her gaze. A moment of silence settled over them, heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.

“Lila,” he said softly, earnestness lacing his tone. "You were right."

"Don't..." she began, shaking her head, her voice trembling slightly.

“I see you,” he continued, his gaze steady but glistening with unshed tears. “I finally see you—your strength, your pain. And it terrifies me.”

Her eyes widened, vulnerability flickering across her face. “Diego, I—”

“I didn’t realize how much I was holding on to,” he interrupted, his voice thick with emotion. “I thought I could keep you safe by keeping you close. But maybe that’s not enough. Maybe letting go is the only way to truly love you.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rumble of the train.

“I know,” Diego replied, his heart aching as he turned to Five, who had been observing them closely. “Just promise you’ll take care of her,” he urged, his voice raw with the weight of his decision.

“Always,” Five vowed, emotion thick in his throat. The gravity of Diego's words resonated deeply—a testament to their bond, a promise that transcended their past.

Overcome by Diego’s blessing, Five gently took Lila's hand. It was the first time he had done so in days without the urgency of battle. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly, a tender gesture that spoke volumes. Their fingers intertwined, and warmth spread between them, grounding both amid the chaos.

As they turned back to their companions, the tension hung heavy in the air. Klaus leaned back with a dramatic sigh. “You know, if we survive this, I’m demanding a vacation. I’ve had enough of saving the world for one lifetime.”

Lila smirked, nudging him playfully. “What, and miss out on all the fun? Think of all the stories you’ll have to tell!”

“Yeah, stories like ‘The Time I Almost Got Trapped in a Subway.’ Not exactly thrilling,” Klaus replied flatly, rolling his eyes.

Diego chuckled, shaking his head. “At least you’ll have a good excuse to skip family dinners.”

“Right? ‘Sorry, Mom, I can’t make it. I’m busy saving reality again,’” Klaus added, grinning as he thought of his Amish mother churning butter in the countryside.

“Just imagine her face,” Lila laughed, and the tension eased slightly as the train barreled down the dark tunnel toward their uncertain futures.

Meanwhile, Ben shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his thoughts racing like a torrent. He had relished the return of his powers, but the recent encounter with the durango had shaken him to his core. The fear of lingering dark energy intertwined with the marigold gnawed at his insides. What if traces of that darkness remain, threatening everyone around me?

“So there’s no going back after this?” Viktor asked, anxiety threading his voice. “What if something goes wrong and we don’t have our powers to save the day?”

“Then we deal with it,” Five replied, his tone resolute. “We’ve faced worse. We can’t let fear dictate our choices.” He leaned forward, determination etched on his face. “This is about choosing our future and standing together.” His gaze lingered on Lila, his words carrying a deeper meaning just for her.

Luther leaned back, arms crossed. “What if this is our chance to escape the chaos? To live normal lives?” His voice held a mix of hope and skepticism.

“Normal lives?” Klaus echoed, sarcasm dripping from his words. “What does that even mean for us? We’re not built for ‘normal.’”

“It means we won’t have to constantly fight for our lives or run from our pasts,” Luther countered. “We can choose who we want to be without these powers defining us.”

“I get that,” Allison said, her brow furrowed. “But we need to be sure. This decision can’t be about individual wants; it has to be unanimous.”

Abigail leaned forward, her tone firm. “Everyone needs to give up their marigold. It must be removed entirely, or this won't work. The threat to reality will remain unless all of you relinquish your powers.”

To ease the tension, Lila broke in with a wry smile. “No pressure, right?”

The train continued rumbling forward, the world outside a blur of colors and lights. As they navigated their thoughts, tension thickened in the air, each person grappling with the significance of their decision. Reginald mentioned they had several stops until they reached their destination, providing them with time to think.

“I just wish we knew what we were walking into,” Allison murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if removing the marigold is more dangerous than we realize?” She recalled her harrowing experience with the drug dealer who had kidnapped Klaus, grappling with how she would have handled that situation without her powers.

“Then we’ll face it together,” Viktor said, his calm voice trying to reassure everyone. “We’ve always had each other’s backs. But we need to be certain we all want this.” His eyes scanned the group, searching for solidarity.

As the train continued down the dark tunnel, Five looked around, noting the mix of determination and apprehension on their faces. They were scared, yet an unspoken bond of unity lingered. They had faced countless challenges before, and this was just another chapter in their tumultuous journey.

Suddenly, the train began to slow, and the lights overhead flickered. A garbled announcement echoed through the car, the voice unintelligible, sounding as if it were being played backward. “... sgel dna sdnah hctaw, nepo lliw srood, kcab pets esaelp, pots gniraen...”

Klaus clenched his fists, heart racing. “Is this it? Are we really about to do this?” His voice wavered, revealing the fear beneath his bravado.

“Let’s just stay focused,” Five urged, his voice steady. “Once we step off this train, we need to be ready for anything. But first, let’s take a moment to decide together. We all have to agree.” He looked around the group again, ensuring everyone was engaged, his eyes filled with resolve.

The train came to a halt, the doors smoothly sliding open with a whoosh. A rush of cool air swept through the car, carrying a faint whisper that beckoned them forward. The bright light from the platform outside illuminated their faces, revealing a mix of fear and determination.

“Alright,” Diego said, looking at each person in turn, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. “Do we want to give up our powers, or do we want to keep fighting?”

Luther spoke first, voice resolute. “I’m leaning towards giving them up. I’ve fought my whole life to accept who I am, but I’d trade it all for a chance to be normal. I’m tired of the chaos.”

Klaus’s expression darkened. “But what if normal isn’t what we expect? What if we lose everything, and it’s worse than what we have now?” He leaned back, crossing his arms defensively, uncertainty etched across his face.

“I understand your fear,” Allison said gently, her tone comforting. “But perhaps we’ve been fighting for too long. Maybe it’s time to redefine ourselves. I certainly could use a chance to start fresh.” Her eyes sparkled with a mix of hope and fear.

Viktor nodded. “I agree. There’s a lot of weight on our shoulders. But if this marigold is as dangerous as they say, it might be worth the sacrifice to protect the future.” He looked around, gauging their reactions, his heart pounding in his chest.

Five took a deep breath, feeling the tension in the air. “I’ve always felt like an outsider, even with my powers. Maybe letting go could mean finding a place where we truly belong.” His voice softened, revealing the raw honesty of his feelings, and he felt Lila squeeze his hand reassuringly.

The room fell silent as each person considered the implications of their words, weighing the thoughts and emotions swirling around them. The atmosphere was thick with uncertainty, the stakes higher than ever. Keeping their marigold would doom an infinite number of worlds to oblivion, but letting it go was saying goodbye forever to a core piece of themselves. 

Finally, Lila spoke up, her voice steady and clear. “Whatever we decide, we need to be sure we’re all in this together. It has to be unanimous. If one of us isn’t on board, we can’t go through with it.” Her gaze swept across the group, searching for agreement.

Diego shifted uncomfortably, mind racing. I’ve felt more like myself with my powers back, but everything is out of control—my marriage is in tatters, and I’ve lost Lila. Letting go of my marigold feels like yet another blow to my ego. “I don’t want to lose my powers, but I also don’t want to drag anyone down if they want to move on. What if I hold everyone back?” His voice cracked slightly, panic coming through.

“We’re in this together,” Lila said, leaning closer, her sincerity wrapping around them like a warm blanket. “We’ve faced too much to let fear dictate our choices. If you’re not ready to give up your powers, that’s okay too. We’ll find a way forward together.”

As the group exchanged glances, a sense of unity began to form. They understood the weight of the decision ahead and the importance of standing together.

Five looked around the group, meeting each person's gaze with unwavering intensity. “So, we need to vote. Who’s in favor of giving up the marigold and our powers?” 

One by one, they raised their hands, a mix of determination and apprehension on their faces. When the last hand was raised, the air filled with a palpable sense of resolution, though an undercurrent of uncertainty remained.

“Alright,” Five said, his voice steady and filled with purpose. “We’re doing this together.”

With that, they stepped off the train and into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them at the nexus point. The decision was made, and as the cool air enveloped them, they would confront the consequences united, no matter what lay ahead.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25: The Time of My Life

Five had to give credit where it was due. Reginald had successfully led them to the nexus on his first attempt. After years of Lila and him struggling to navigate the perplexing timeline subway system and becoming increasingly lost with each journey, he couldn’t help but feel a begrudging admiration for such an accomplishment. The moment he set foot on the platform, he recognized it was the correct one.

For starters, there were far more than just two train lines. This was not an ordinary station. It was dizzying—a terminus for countless routes. The platform twisted and curled upward, creating a surreal effect reminiscent of M.C. Escher's artwork. It reminded Five of the familiar diagram of an atom, with each train an electron surrounding this mind-bending structure at its nucleus—a spherical space that defied conventional notions of up and down. The "walls" of this sphere were composed of numerous screens, each displaying glimpses into alternate realities. From a distance, the screens resembled tiles the size of a Rubik's Cube, showcasing moving images that drew the eye closer.

The surprise that Five didn’t give Reginald the satisfaction of seeing when he revealed his alien nature was fully evident this time. His eyes bulged, darting from screen to screen, unable to begin counting how many realities were displayed here. Five wasn't alone. Everyone, except for Abigail and Reginald, stood frozen in shock, jaws hanging open in astonishment.

The spectacle before them was overwhelming. Each screen flickered with vibrant scenes from both familiar and uncharted realms. Many displayed worlds already destroyed, their skies filled with ash and smoke, making it difficult to see the details through the haze. The devastation was stark; landscapes lay in ruins, remnants of civilizations crumbling under the weight of time and disaster. Yet, many more screens depicted variant versions of themselves, each struggling to avert some impending apocalypse. They fought against monstrous forces, saved the Eifel tower, raced against time, and made desperate choices that led to varied outcomes.

Five felt a rush of curiosity mixed with trepidation as he tried to make sense of the chaotic dance of realities on display. One screen showed a bustling city where people floated effortlessly above the ground, while another depicted a serene landscape bathed in golden sunlight, where creatures of unimaginable beauty roamed. Interspersed among these were haunting images of desolation, where life had been extinguished and hope seemed a distant memory. He recognized the barren wasteland where he had spent decades surviving alone, with only a mannequin named Delores for company. His throat felt suddenly dry.

As he took a step forward, pulling Lila by the hand behind him, the atmosphere shifted. A soft hum resonated through the air, as if the very fabric of this space was alive with energy. Reginald, standing calmly at the edge of the spherical area, glanced at Five, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

“Welcome to the nexus,” he said, his voice echoing gently. “Here, all possibilities converge.”

Lila, breaking her trance, turned to Reginald with wide eyes. “So, we can access any of these realities? Just like that?” she asked, snapping her fingers, a mix of excitement and skepticism lacing her words.

“Yes,” Reginald confirmed, gesturing toward the screens. “Each one represents a different timeline, a different choice made or unmade. You can explore them, but be mindful. Not all paths are meant to be tread.”

Five felt fingers of ice walk down his spine at the implications of Reginald’s words. The potential to investigate alternate realities was intoxicating; yet, the warning loomed over him like a dark cloud. He exchanged glances with Lila, who seemed equally captivated and apprehensive. Their hands remained intertwined, a silent testament to their bond, reminding him that they were in this together. They'd both survived through more than enough timelines during their years lost in the subway.

“Can we see our own paths?” Five asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

Reginald nodded. “If you wish, you can view the ones you have taken or those you have yet to explore. The screens can form a telepathic connection to the viewer and display what you want to see if you direct your thoughts at it. But remember, some truths are not meant to be uncovered.”

Suddenly, a vivid image flashed on one of the screens in front of Five. He saw himself stepping off a subway train, following another version of himself who had walked past the smudged windows while he'd sat there, looking glum. Confusion took root as the variants neared a diner deep in the bowels of the station, its neon sign flickering and proclaiming "Max's Diner." The rest of the scene unfolded in silence, baffling Five as he took in the sight: the entire restaurant was filled with identical versions of himself—patrons, waiters, and even the cook. In a corner, a drunken, miserable variant of himself chugged a bottle of whiskey, his shirt rumpled and tie askew, lost in a haze of despair.

Five was intrigued, but Reginald’s expression grew serious, his monocle's glass glinting with the reflections of hundreds of realities. “Intervening in established realities can have unforeseen consequences. Every choice creates ripples—some beneficial, others potentially devastating. I'd highly advise against it.”

The gravity of those words pressed down on Five like a heavy stone. They were standing at a crossroads, not just in their journey, but in the fabric of existence itself. The possibilities were endless, but so were the dangers.

A heavy silence settled among them. Five’s heart ached at the seriousness of their situation when Klaus broke the tension.

“Okay, I have to ask,” Klaus said, a bemused grin spreading across his face. “Am I the only one who feels like we’ve stepped into some kind of psychedelic acid trip? I thought I was sober, but maybe someone slipped some hallucinogens into my fluffernutter sandwich!”

Allison chuckled, the tension in the air easing slightly. “If this is a trip, it’s a pretty intense one, Klaus. I can’t tell if I should be terrified or just go with it.”

Luther laughed, shaking his head. “I’m pretty sure no one slipped you anything. This is just our reality—well, one of them, I guess.”

Klaus shrugged, feigning nonchalance, still gazing at the swirling images on the screens. “Right. Just your average day, standing in a hall of infinite realities. No big deal!” He took a step closer to one of the screens, squinting at a scene that looked particularly bizarre. “I mean, look at that one! Is that a giant talking cat playing chess with a cowboy hat-wearing cactus? What kind of world is that?”

As laughter filled the space, the absurdity of their predicament momentarily lightened the mood. But the haunting images surrounding them lingered in Five’s mind.

While the group absorbed the gravity of their situation, Abigail, who had remained silent, stepped forward. “What do we want to do here? We can’t just stand around and joke forever. There’s a real threat we need to confront, and we have to decide how to move forward.”

The air grew thick with tension as everyone contemplated her question. They had arrived at the nexus with a clear purpose: to remove the marigold from their systems. The marigold had scattered traces of themselves throughout time, threatening to cause a catastrophic collapse of every timeline.

As the others fell silent, Five took a deep breath, ready to voice his thoughts. “We need to understand what we’re facing before we make any decisions. Let’s investigate these realities first. We can gather information and decide how to proceed with the marigold later.”

He drew Lila closer, feeling grounded by their connection. Their fingers intertwined, providing comfort as they moved closer to the screens. One particular scene caught their eye. It was a vivid replay of their earlier battle where Victor and Lila had tried to extract the durango.

The tension in the air became palpable as they watched the scene unfold, feeling a sense of dread wash over them. Suddenly, a bullet from a sniper came crashing through a window, striking Lila down. The horror of the moment was made all the more real as they saw her lifeless form crumple to the ground, giving way to the creation of a grotesque Bennifer monster.

Five's heart shattered anew at the sight of the variant Lila's lifeless body. The image burned into his mind, unearthing memories of loss and despair he had hoped to forget.

“Is that the timeline you erased?” Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Five couldn't speak. The memory was too fresh, the pain too raw. Instead, he nodded, tears welling in his eyes as he faced the reality of his choices and their consequences.

As they turned their attention back to the scene, Ben's gaze was drawn to the grotesque figure of the Bennifer monster—an abomination that combined the features of both Ben and Jennifer in a horrifyingly twisted way. Its body was a distorted blend of their forms, with Ben’s familiar features contorted into a nightmarish visage, and Jennifer’s once-beautiful face warped into something monstrous, smashed together with tentacles growing and whipping out from the sickening fissured skin forming the body of the creature.

The thing had grown to enormous proportions, breaking the department store to rubble and towering over the ruins, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light as it let out a guttural roar that echoed through the air.

Ben's heart raced as he tried to process the sight before him. “What the hell is that?” he exclaimed, stepping back in shock. The grotesque figure moved with a fluidity that belied its monstrous appearance, wreaking havoc as it tore through the remnants of the city.

Five, standing beside him, grimly nodded at the screen. “That is what would have happened if Lila and Viktor hadn’t removed the durango from you and Jennifer.”

Ben’s eyes widened in horror as the realization sank in. “You mean that—this—could have been me? Us?” His voice trembled, a mix of disbelief and fear.

“Yes,” Five confirmed, his expression serious. “The durango warped your essence, and without intervention, it could have led to the creation of that monster. A horrific amalgamation of you both, formed by the chemical reaction of Jennifer's durango and your marigold mixing together.”

As the image of the Bennifer monster continued to loom before him, Ben felt a wave of relief wash over him, mingling with gratitude. “Thank you,” he breathed, his voice catching in his throat. “Thank you for saving us. For saving me. I can’t imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t acted, but now I guess I've seen it.” He forcefully turned his tortured gaze away from the screen.

Lila stepped closer, her eyes filled with compassion. “We had to do it for all of us. We can’t let something like that happen—not to you, not to anyone.”

The group fell silent, the weight of what they had witnessed hanging heavily in the air. They had come to the nexus to remove the marigold, but the haunting image of Lila's death lingered, reminding them of the stakes they faced. They had to succeed—not just for themselves, but for all the versions of themselves scattered across countless realities.

Reginald's voice broke the silence. “What you see here is a reminder of the fragility of existence. The choices you make ripple through time in ways you cannot begin to imagine. Remember this as you proceed.”

While the group absorbed the gravity of their situation, Diego continued to watch the flickering screens, each displaying an image of Five and Lila together, filled with love and laughter. It began to shift something inside him, and a realization settled deeper within him. It was painful to witness, but instead of bitterness, he felt a strange sense of acceptance.

With every display of their affection, he recognized the truth: Lila and Five belonged together in a way that transcended his own feelings. The bond they shared was profound, forged through shared experiences and challenges that had brought them closer in ways he could only admire from a distance. As much as Diego cared for Lila, he couldn’t deny the depth of their connection, and part of him understood that it was a love worth celebrating, even if it meant him stepping back.

In that moment, Diego’s heart swelled with a bittersweet sense of clarity. He had always envisioned a future with Lila, one where they would navigate the world side by side. But as he stood there, witnessing the myriad possibilities laid out before him, he realized that love was not about possession; it was about wanting what was best for the other person, even if it meant letting them go. He suddenly felt the decision to do just that while they rode the subway had been correct.

He took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his chest ease. “Maybe this is how it was always meant to be,” he murmured, half to himself. “Maybe I need to accept that Lila and Five are… well, they’re right for each other.”

Lila, sensing his change in demeanor, stepped closer, her expression softening. “Diego, you don’t have to feel like you’re losing anything. You’re still an important part of my life, and that won’t change.”

He looked at her, and in her eyes, he saw understanding and compassion. “I know,” he replied, his voice steadier now. “It’s just hard to imagine what could’ve been. But seeing them together… you together…” He waved at the screens showing world after world of Five and Lila's love, transcending time and space, and finished with, “It’s made me realize that I can’t hold on to something that isn’t meant to be.”

Lila’s brow furrowed with concern. “Are you sure you're okay with this? I don’t want you to feel like you have to sacrifice your feelings for me.”

“I’m not sacrificing anything,” Diego said firmly, a newfound strength in his voice. “I just want you to be happy. That’s what matters most to me. If that means you’re with Five, then I can accept that.”

The acceptance washed over him like a wave, bringing with it a sense of relief. He felt lighter, unburdened by the weight of jealousy and longing that had clung to him for so long. It was time to embrace his friendship with Lila without the shadows of unrequited love clouding his heart.

Reginald, observing the shift in Diego’s demeanor, nodded approvingly. “Acceptance can be a powerful ally, Number Two. Embracing the reality of your situation will allow you to grow and find your own path forward.”

Diego smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Thanks, Reginald. I think I’m finally starting to see that.”

With each passing moment, Diego felt a deeper sense of belonging within the group, a unity that transcended romantic entanglements. They were a team, bound by shared goals and experiences, and he was proud to be a part of it.

As the group continued to explore the screens, Five felt an unmistakable warmth radiating from Lila as they stood close together. The connection between them seemed to pulse with an energy that was hard to ignore. Every time he glanced at her, he saw the spark in her eyes, a reflection of shared determination and unspoken feelings.

Five turned to Lila, their hands still intertwined. “Whatever happens next, I want you to know that I’m always here for you,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “We’ve faced so much together, and I wouldn’t want to do any of this without you by my side.”

Lila’s gaze softened, and she squeezed his hand gently. “I feel the same way, Five. You give me strength, and I know we can face anything together.”

As they stood on the precipice of their next adventure, Five couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for Lila. The bond they shared was tangible, a delicate thread woven through every moment they had spent together. He wanted to protect her, ensuring they would navigate this journey side by side, no matter the outcome. They both exhaled simultaneously, sensing the moment drawing them together like magnets, releasing the tension that had built between them, knowing this wasn't the time for excessive public displays of affection.

Lila stepped away to reduce the tension further before she gave in to desire, and her eyes wandered back to the screens, a memory flickering to life in her mind. “This is just like the Infinite Switchboard at the Commission,” she murmured, the recognition sparking a sense of nostalgia mixed with unease. “All those timelines, all those possibilities… It’s overwhelming.”

Five nodded, sharing her sentiment. “Yeah, I remember. Each screen was a different outcome, a different version of events. But here, it feels somehow more… tangible. Like we could actually step inside one of those realities.”

Reginald, catching their exchange, came forward with an enigmatic smile. “Ah, the Infinite Switchboard! A fascinating concept, indeed. But here, you have the opportunity to engage with those realities in a much more profound way.”

With a flourish, he gestured toward the nearest screen. “Allow me to demonstrate.” He raised his hands, and the screen began to shimmer, its surface rippling like water. As he focused his energy, the screen floated gently into the center of the spherical space, expanding as it moved. The edges glowed brighter, illuminating the room with a soft, inviting light.

“It’s not merely a display,” Reginald explained, his voice resonating with excitement. “You can interact with it. Watch.” The screen expanded further, and the hum of sound began to fill the air, a melodic blend of voices and ambient sounds from the reality it represented.

As the screen grew, it transformed into a doorway, shimmering and translucent. The images within became clearer, revealing a vibrant scene filled with life and activity. “This is how you can step into a reality,” Reginald continued. “You see, it’s not just about observing; it’s about experiencing. You can walk into that reality and engage with it as if you were truly there.”

Lila’s eyes widened with wonder. “We can use these screens to actually enter a timeline? How does that work?”

Reginald smiled. “Simply step through the doorway. You will find yourself immersed in that reality, able to interact with it. Just remember, it’s essential to keep your intention clear and your heart steady. The experiences you encounter may affect your own timeline in ways you cannot foresee.”

Five exchanged a glance with Lila, both of them feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension at the prospect. “What if we encounter something dangerous?” he asked, the weight of their previous battles weighing heavily on his mind.

“Then you must be cautious,” Reginald replied, leaning closer to eye Five grimly, his tone shifting to one of seriousness. “Not all realities are safe, and not all paths lead to favorable outcomes. But this is your chance to learn, to understand the consequences of your choices. You can always use your powers to return to the nexus.”

With the shimmering screen still floating in the center of the room, Lila felt a surge of excitement. “We could use this to our advantage. If we can see alternative outcomes, we might find a way to ensure we don’t make the same mistakes again.”

Viktor stepped forward, emboldened. “I want to see what this reality looks like—what life is like without the marigold. So we'll know we're making the right choice to give it up.”

Reginald nodded, pleased with their enthusiasm. “Then step forward. Engage with the screen, and let your curiosity guide you. But remember, the knowledge you gain here may change everything.”

With a collective breath, the group stepped forward, crossing the shimmering threshold of the screen. In an instant, they were enveloped by a warm glow, and the sensation of weightlessness washed over them. Then, just as quickly, the world around them solidified, and they found themselves standing in a lush green environment.

As they emerged into the vibrant scene, the unmistakable beauty of Central Park unfolded before them. Towering trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves a brilliant shade of emerald. The grass was a rich, inviting carpet beneath their feet, a stark contrast to the darker memories they had just witnessed. Sprinklers nearby shot faint sprays of water into the air, the droplets catching the sunlight and creating a delicate mist that kissed their faces.

Laughter filled the air, a joyful symphony of children playing and families enjoying the day. The sounds of picnicking groups mingled with the rhythmic thud of joggers' feet on the path, and the cheerful shouts of friends tossing a Frisbee back and forth echoed through the park. It was an ordinary day, yet it felt extraordinary, a snapshot of life unfettered by the chaos they had experienced.

Lila closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the warmth of the sun and the scents of blooming flowers to wash over her. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, a sense of peace enveloping her. “It’s so different from the realities we’ve seen.”

Five nodded, and without hesitation, he reached for her hand again, intertwining their fingers. The warmth of her grip grounded him, anchoring him to reality. It was a simple gesture, but it provided him with a sense of stability in the face of the unknown. Taking in the serene atmosphere, he squeezed Lila's hand gently. “This is what we were fighting for,” he said softly, gazing deeply into Lila’s eyes, full of love and resolve. “A chance for moments like this.”

Ben stepped forward, a smile breaking across his face as he watched a group of children chase each other, their laughter ringing like music. “I can’t believe we’re really here. It feels… alive.”

Reginald, now a step behind them, observed the scene with a knowing smile. “This is one potential reality, a glimpse of a world untouched by your struggles. But remember, the beauty you see here is fleeting. Every choice you make can shift the course of your lives.”

As the group took in the surroundings, Five spotted a familiar hill where he and Lila had once enjoyed a picnic of roast rabbit and strawberries in another reality. “That’s where we were,” he pointed, his heart swelling with fond memories.

Lila’s gaze followed his, and she felt a pang of nostalgia. “It’s amazing how something so simple—like a sunny day in the park—can remind us of everything we’ve been through.”

As they moved closer to the hill, they could see families enjoying picnics, couples strolling hand in hand, and friends gathered to laugh and share stories. Five and Lila exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them—a recognition of their shared experiences and the bond that had grown amidst the chaos.

“This is why we need to remove the marigold,” Lila continued, her voice steady with conviction. “We have to protect this. We can’t let our powers destroy the lives of others.”

Five nodded in agreement, a fire igniting in his chest. “We need to ensure that this reality—and all others like it—stay safe from the chaos our marigold attracts.”

Reginald’s expression turned serious as he studied them. “Then take this moment, understand its value, and use it as motivation. Each of you has the power to shape not only your own fate but also the fates of countless others. But you must be vigilant and wise in your choices.”

With the lush park as their backdrop, the group felt invigorated, ready to confront the challenges ahead. They had stepped into a reality filled with hope and joy, and it fueled their desire to fight for a future where such moments could flourish without fear.

As they absorbed the serene beauty around them, Five felt the familiar sensation of his power wash over him—the unmistakable pull of his marigold guiding him toward the train station. The energy thrummed beneath his skin, urging him to act.

“Guys,” he said, the intensity of the feeling growing stronger. “I think it’s time we head back. It's like the marigold is calling to me. We need to finish this.”

Diego and Lila exchanged glances, and a sense of resolve filled the air. “You’re right,” Diego said, his voice steady. “We can’t linger here. We’ve seen what could happen, and we have to make sure it doesn’t.”

With a nod, they prepared to leave the beauty of Central Park behind, knowing that their mission was far from over. Five concentrated, feeling the pull of his power guiding them back to the nexus. The purple energy surged around him, and he reached out, connecting with his friends.

In an instant, the world around them began to shimmer and dissolve, the vibrant park fading into a blur of colors. The familiar sensation of weightlessness enveloped them, and before they knew it, they were standing once more at the nexus, surrounded by the infinite screens displaying countless realities.

The transition was swift, but the urgency of their mission flooded back, grounding them in the present. They had a task to complete, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.

“Let’s finish what we started,” Five said, determination in his voice. “We’re going to remove the marigold and make sure our futures are secure.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 26:

The air in the nexus crackled with anticipation as Reginald prepared to extract the marigold from the group. He instructed them to form a circle in the center of the spherical area surrounded by flickering screens, encouraging them to hold hands to create an unbroken chain of connection.

Reginald raised his hands, and the air shimmered with a golden hue. The screens emitted a soft, melodic hum, resonating with the energy building in the room. “Focus on your connection to the marigold,” he urged, his voice soothing against the rising tension. “Feel it within you and acknowledge its presence. I will draw it from your very souls.”

Klaus couldn’t resist interjecting. “You could just say ‘power up,’ you know,” he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips.

The group chuckled, momentarily breaking the tension. Reginald shot Klaus a bemused look but remained focused. “While that may lack poetry, I assure you, this process is far more intricate.”

“Yeah, but it sounds cooler,” Klaus shot back, grinning at Allison across from him as she rolled her eyes heavenward.

Lila snorted, a most unladylike sound Five adored. He couldn’t help but smirk, grateful for his brother’s ability to lighten the mood even in the most serious situations.

“Alright, everyone, let’s focus,” Reginald urged, then continued in a commanding tone. “Concentrate on the marigold’s essence within you. Let it fill you completely and call it to the surface. We must draw out not only the marigold but any remnants from the timelines you’ve traversed. No trace can remain.”

With renewed determination, the group stood in their circle, ready to release the marigold and embrace the freedom that lay ahead.

Five exchanged glances with Lila, Diego, and the rest of the group, their expressions a mix of resolve and apprehension. All around them were the screens, tiny reminders of what was at stake, displaying destroyed world after destroyed world. They understood the importance of this moment. While they'd faced countless challenges together, this one felt uniquely significant; it was their last chance to sever the bonds to the substance within them. Although they'd all spent a lifetime with marigold in their system, it threatened to unravel all of reality, and none were willing to risk that.

Luther suddenly spoke up. “Maybe we should all say something about what we’ll miss most about our powers before we say goodbye. A favorite memory or something?”

The group turned to Luther, a collective scoff echoing through the circle. Viktor raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile. “How about we don't and just pretend we did?”

Luther sighed, rolling his eyes. “Alright, just thought it might be nice to mark the occasion,” he mumbled.

Renewing their concentration, Five felt the familiar energy of the marigold pulsing beneath his skin. He closed his eyes, reaching inward to connect with its essence, his oldest companion—a source of strength that had been part of him for so long.

As everyone in the circle began to glow from within, their marigold surfacing, Reginald’s hands began to glow in response. The golden light intensified in both their chests and his hands as he focused his energy. “Now, on my signal,” he instructed, “I will draw the marigold from each of you. Trust in the process and in each other.”

With a deep breath, the group nodded in unison, their resolve solidifying. Lila felt Five’s presence beside her, his hand squeezing hers reassuringly. On her other side was Diego, gazing at her with love but no trace of regret. They were in this together, bound by their shared purpose, their past and their children.

“Three… two… one… now!” Reginald commanded, as Abigail activated a switch behind her, cleverly hidden among the countless screens. In that instant, a rush of energy surged through the room. The screens flared to life, their images swirling into a kaleidoscope of colors, creating a mesmerizing dance of realities. The screens began to float toward the center, overlapping and transforming into thousands, perhaps millions, of shimmering doorways that framed the nexus, causing a dizzying tapestry of images.

Reginald focused his energy, and Five experienced a tugging sensation deep within, as if his very soul were being drawn from him. Closing his eyes, Five recalled the first time he had tapped into the marigold’s essence—how it had felt like flying, the rush of time and space bending around him. A strange mix of relief and loss washed over him, the marigold’s influence ebbing away, leaving behind a haunting emptiness. He offered a silent, bittersweet farewell, aware that he would never again feel the exhilaration of space-time travel.

The marigold began to emerge, golden threads of power streaming out from each of them. Five glanced around and noticed faint traces of golden light floating out of the overlapping doorways, joining the ethereal form that Reginald was drawing from them. The air was filled with shimmering motes, swirling like fireflies in the twilight, each representing a piece of their essence intertwined with the marigold and scattered throughout time.

“Feel the connection,” Reginald urged, his voice echoing through the chamber. “Let it flow. Release any remnants of the marigold from your past journeys. Let go of the shadows that linger.”

With each passing moment, the golden motes began to combine with the shimmering threads extending from each of them. Five watched in awe as the marigold, now a radiant and ethereal form, emerged from him and the others, swirling like a golden tornado. Reginald raised his hands as if conducting a symphony orchestra. The marigold danced in the air, reflecting the light from the screens and creating a mesmerizing display.

As the energy in the room intensified, Five's thoughts drifted to Lila. He envisioned a future unburdened by the marigold, where they could forge their own paths together. What will it be like to live as ordinary people? The thought of building a life with her—free from the chaos that came with their powers—filled him with a warmth he hadn’t anticipated. He desperately wanted to share every moment, every adventure, by her side, as they'd done in all the years they were lost together, without the fear of losing it all.

“Now!” Reginald declared, his voice rising above the hum of energy. “We draw it all together!”

As he lowered his hands, the golden substance spiraled toward him, converging into a singular, luminous orb that pulsed with the collective essence of their past experiences. The energy vibrated with the weight of their choices and the consequences that had shaped their lives.

“Once this is complete, you will feel unburdened,” Reginald explained, his focus unwavering. “But remember, the knowledge of what you’ve faced will remain. You are not erasing your past; you are liberating yourselves from its hold.”

The orb of marigold energy shimmered brightly, and the room felt charged with a palpable sense of freedom. Five could see the flickers of memories within the orb—their battles, their losses, the moments of joy and sorrow. It was a tapestry of their lives, woven together by the threads of fate and choice.

With one final surge of energy, Reginald drew the orb toward him, encapsulating the marigold’s essence within a radiant sphere. The screens flared with brilliance, casting a warm glow over the entire nexus, and for a moment, the world around them felt suspended in time.

Suddenly, Abigail produced what seemed to be a large glass vial out of nowhere—perhaps some alien power, Five thought. Reginald directed the orb into the vial, and Abigail twisted the lid on with finality. Now, she held what resembled a fishbowl containing a miniature sun, the golden light pulsating softly as it settled into its new home.

The group gazed at the vial in awe, the shimmering orb reflecting their collective experiences and the journey they had just undertaken. Five felt a mix of emotions swirling within him—relief, hope, and a tinge of nostalgia for the powers they had relinquished. But as he looked at the vial and the radiant light contained within, he knew they were ready to embrace their new reality.

“Are you ready, my love?” Reginald asked, glancing at Abigail. She nodded, her expression filled with resolve as she activated the switch again to draw the overlapping doorways back into the wall, shrinking back into tiny screens. They both removed their human disguises, dropping them to the floor like discarded Halloween costumes. Only one door remained; in its depths was a foreign landscape glimmering in vibrant colors.

As the two beings stood before the portal, a sense of finality hung in the air. Five cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. “Will we see you again?” he called out.

Reginald turned, his expression steady. “Our paths may diverge, but what we’ve accomplished here will resonate through time. Just remember the lessons learned.”

Abigail glanced back, her tone practical. “We’re taking the vial with us to ensure its essence will be safeguarded, and it’s up to you to carry on without it.”

Lila stepped forward, her gratitude sincere. “Thanks for everything. We’ll remember what you taught us.”

Reginald’s large, alien black eyes twinkled. “You have the strength to shape your own destinies now. Trust in yourselves.”

With one last glance at the group, Reginald and Abigail stepped toward the glowing portal. The light enveloped them, and as they crossed the threshold, it shimmered brightly before fading, leaving the group standing together, a mix of emotions swirling in the air.

The portal closed, and Five, Lila, Diego, and the others felt the absence of the marigold yet also a sense of newfound freedom. They were ready to forge their own paths, grounded by the memories of their shared journey and the light that Reginald and Abigail had taken with them.

Five chanced one last look at the screens around them, amazed to see various images of destruction and fantastical battles for survival replaced with scenes of normal life—timelines altered only by the minor decisions people make. He breathed a sigh of relief and beckoned his companions to board the train home.

---

As the weary group pushed past the turnstiles to return to their reality, the feeling of something missing truly sank in. It felt different this time—there was a permanence that settled into their bones. When they pushed open the station doors, the air seemed to vibrate, and suddenly they were back in the Hargreeves Home for Wayward Boys, just moments after they left.

Jennifer, Ray, and Sloane were sitting on the couch, mouths agape.

"What just happened?" Sloane asked, choking a bit on her astonishment as she made a beeline for Luther.

Jennifer rushed over to Ben, sensing a change in him. Though he looked the same, it was as if he had shed a heavy burden.

“Ben, are you okay?” she asked, cupping his face in her hands.

"Okay, can someone please tell me what the fuck is happening?" Ray bellowed, looking around at the group and noting the absence of the two aliens who had been there just moments before. "Where did the lizard people go? What did they do to you?"

Luther embraced Sloane warmly, smoothing a palm down her back. "It's fine, everything is just fine now," he soothed. "I'm sorry we worried you. I didn't think that would take so long."

"What do you mean, 'so long'? You’ve only been gone for, like, a minute. Two minutes max." She blinked up into his eyes, confused.

Luther was puzzled, but Lila and Five exchanged knowing grins.

"We told you time works differently there. Seven years for us in the subway was about an hour here," Five offered.

Diego’s expression was one of resignation. He had already accepted Five and Lila together, the subway's existence, and now the truth of their vast amount of time together finally hit him. He clicked his tongue and said, "I guess you have to see it to believe it."

“You can say that again. I thought I was hallucinating,” Klaus added, dramatically widening his eyes.

Five stepped forward to grab the group's attention. "Ok, so," he began. "Reginald and Abigail have left Earth. They went through a portal in the nexus to… well, somewhere we don’t really know." He tilted his head in curiosity, wondering how none of them had thought to ask before.

Sloane furrowed her brow. "What do you mean, 'somewhere'?"

Lila jumped in, hurriedly explaining, "They went through a portal that opened to some unknown world after Reginald removed our marigold to prevent the collapse of time itself."

Ray blinked, clearly struggling to process the enormity of what they were saying. "Wait, wait. A collapse of time? I heard you guys discussing that before you vanished. How is that even possible?" He looked from Lila to Five, and then to Diego, confusion etched across his face.

“Let’s start over, shall we?” Five said, bone-tired, down to his very core.

Klaus, always ready to lighten the mood, leaned back on the couch, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Imagine a giant cosmic spaghetti junction, with timelines all tangled up like a bowl of noodles! You’d be surprised what happens when you yank one noodle too hard—everything goes splat!"

Lila rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Thanks for the visual, Klaus, but I believe that was my metaphor you've stolen and butchered to death. That's both slander and murder!"

The exhausted group couldn't help but chuckle, but the underlying tension remained. They were still grappling with the absence of their powers, and the journey had left them drained.

Jennifer glanced at Ben, her expression softening. "But they're gone now, right? They did what they needed to do?"

Five nodded slowly. "Yeah, they did. But I can’t shake the feeling that something’s… different now."

Luther, sensing the group's fatigue, stepped forward. "Look, there’s plenty of room here. This place has over a dozen bedrooms. It used to be a home for ‘Wayward Boys’— orphans, delinquents, or both. You all can pick your own spaces." He and Sloane left together, Ben and Jennifer close behind.

As Luther’s words sank in, a spark of anticipation ignited between Five and Lila. The prospect of having their own room—a sanctuary away from the chaos—was inviting. They exchanged a glance filled with longing, silently acknowledging their desire to mend what had been fractured between them before everything spiraled out of control.

Diego, catching the moment, smirked knowingly. "It's all good, you two. I get that you want some privacy. Just remember to keep the door shut."

Lila felt a blush creep to her cheeks but returned Diego's smile, appreciating the effort it took for him to say it, knowing what it had cost to do so. “Thanks, Diego. We will.” She pulled him into a warm embrace, and in that moment, her respect for him grew, recognizing that his only desire was for her to find happiness.

As they stepped back, Diego's expression shifted slightly, a mix of resolve and lingering sadness dancing in his eyes. “Just remember, no matter what happens, we’re in this together,” he said, his voice steady yet gentle.

Lila nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “I know. We’ll make it work,” she replied, her heart swelling with gratitude for the support of her found family.

The remaining group began to disperse, each member seeking the nearest bed to collapse into. Lila and Five shared another heated glance filled with the thrill of what lay ahead, while Klaus trailed behind them, humming a carefree tune, unaware of the deeper emotions at play.

As they moved through the Hargreeves Home, the mood shifted from bewilderment and exhaustion to a revitalized sense of hope. They felt prepared to forge their own destinies, grounded by the memories of their collective journey and the promise of fresh starts when they next opened their eyes.

Chapter Text

Chapter 27: Friday I'm in Love

Five gently closed the door, the soft click resonating in the charged atmosphere of the room. He wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but the day filled with heated exchanges had finally come to a close. Now, for the first time since their return to this reality, he found himself alone with Lila.

Positioned awkwardly by the door, he watched as she moved deeper into the space—a clean, unremarkable bedroom that felt a hundred times more inviting than the grimy subway floor they had endured before. In the center stood a full-size bed, dressed with a coordinated set of sheets and a cozy comforter that Luther had surprisingly arranged with thoughtfulness.

Five wondered why he was looking at the comforter instead of the captivating woman seated on it, her hair flowing like a dark waterfall down her shoulders. But of course, he knew why. Her scent filled the room, one he had learned to recognize over the years—musty from battle but still laced with lavender soap from their greenhouse bathroom. It made thinking difficult. He swallowed hard.

“Lila, I—”

Before he could finish, Lila surged toward him, eyes ablaze with fierce intensity. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing him back against the door. Their lips met hungrily, igniting a fire within him. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, as if she aimed to meld their very souls.

“Five,” she urged breathlessly between kisses, her voice a sultry whisper. “Talk…,” followed by a kiss that had her tongue dancing with his in the most tantalizing of ways, “...later.”

Her lips brushed against his again, sending electric shivers down his spine. The heat radiating from her body pressed against him, awakening every nerve ending. He smoothed a hand to the small of her back, drawing her even closer.

Lila knew there were things to say, but it had been a long day—the longest ever—and she was just done with it. All the pretense, all the regret—they had left their marigold and powers behind. It was time to start anew. She didn’t want to waste even a second of their new lives with Five thinking she didn’t love him.

Lila craved to show him that, in a way that transcended words, hastily discarding his suit jacket.

The heat between them was electric, but this was Five. He wanted the words. And he wanted the chance to say them.

He pulled back, his breath coming in quick gasps, just as she let his tie slip to the floor, her fingers deftly working on the buttons of his dress shirt. The warmth radiating from her skin was intoxicating, but the urgency to express his feelings took precedence over his impulses. “Lila, hold on,” he said, his voice quivering slightly, feeling a bit foolish for not just diving back into the kiss.

Her hands halted, confusion flickering in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” she asked, breathless, searching his gaze for answers.

“I need you to listen to me,” he insisted, his heart racing. “I love you," he declared, voice raw from emotion.  "

"I’ve loved you through every challenge—the arguments, the distance, those times I thought I’d lost you forever. This isn’t just a momentary desire or a fleeting fantasy; it’s the truth I’ve been afraid to share.”

“You’ve probably guessed that by now,” he continued, that infuriatingly sexy smirk breaking through. “But it’s true, perhaps the most honest thing I’ve ever said. I should never have hidden that notebook, but I was afraid to lose you. And then you said it wasn’t real, just survival… you left, and my fears came true. My world came crashing down.”

Lila’s breath caught at his revelation; her heart raced as she absorbed the weight of his words. She could see the sincerity in his gaze, the vulnerability he rarely allowed himself to show. The smirk faded into something softer, and she felt a surge of emotions she had been trying to keep at bay. The dam broke, and they all came crashing in at once.

“Five,” she said again, savoring the sound of his name on her lips. Her voice was barely a whisper. “I was upset when you finally showed it to me. I couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t have shared it when we had told each other everything for years. And okay, I lashed out. I told you it wasn’t real. But Five, it was, it is, and I love you too, you bloody idiot.”

The confession hung in the air between them like a charged current. Five felt his heart swell with relief and joy, but he raised a single brow, craving affirmation. “Really?” he asked, disbelief evident in his voice as he searched her expression for the answers to the universe.

“Absolutely,” she replied, a smile breaking across her face, her eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and sincerity. “You mean everything to me, and I don’t want to hide that anymore.”

He felt the fire inside him reignite as he kissed her again, this time with a fervor that spoke of all the pent-up desire between them. Each caress was electric, merging their past pains with the promise of a brighter future together, a burst of sensation that left both dizzy. 

As they pulled apart, breathless, Lila looked up at him with a mix of hope and determination. “We’re starting fresh, okay? No more hiding, no more pretending. Just us.”

“Just us,” Five echoed, his voice low and husky. He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, fingers lingering on her skin, feeling the warmth of her breath. He leaned in for another kiss, one that felt like it could consume them whole. The burden of their past began to lift, replaced by an exhilarating sense of possibility.

The kiss grew chaotic and frantic, fueled by a hunger that had simmered beneath the surface for too long. They left a trail of clothing from the door to the bed, their hands exploring, fingertips igniting fiery trails across each other's skin. The air thickened with the heady scent of desire, mingling with the heat radiating from their bodies.

As they stumbled onto the bed, Five had a fleeting thought that his powers would have been useful at that moment, but the idea quickly faded. They intertwined, fitting together like pieces of a long-lost puzzle. Both had experienced a void deep inside after losing their marigold, but as they melted into one another, that emptiness vanished, filled with the boundless love they shared.

Every touch, every sigh sent waves of pleasure coursing through him, drowning out everything else. He kissed his way down her body, and every thought ebbed out of Lila’s head.

They were two killers done with killing. They were two people who had been lost and now found home. They were enemies who had given up the fight and discovered in each other a twin soul to guide them out of the darkness.

***

When their passions were spent, they lay entwined, their damp skin gradually cooling as reality began to settle back in. The afterglow of their intimacy hung in the air, but soon the burden of their responsibilities returned. Diego had given his blessing, bu they'd need to tell the kids. 

“What do we even tell them?” Lila pondered, her expression growing serious as she traced delicate patterns on Five’s chest, concern etching her brow. “They’ve already endured so much. How can we help them grasp that everything has changed?”

Five sighed, running his fingers through his messy hair, a small smile creeping onto Lila's face at the sight. “We need to be really careful with our words. They’re so little. We have to make sure they don’t feel scared or confused. Maybe we should keep it simple—tell them we love each other and that we’re still a family.”

Lila nodded, her brow still furrowed with concern. “But what if they think we’re replacing what they had? They might feel like they’re losing something, especially since Mommy and Daddy aren't going to be together anymore." Her voice trembled slightly, her worries pressing heavily upon her. She leaned closer, seeking solace in his presence, resting her head against his shoulder. “I don’t want them to feel abandoned or confused.”

Five wrapped his arms more tightly around her, pulling her closer. “We have to reassure them that this isn’t about losing anything,” he said gently. “We can explain that while things are changing, our love for them remains the same. They’re still our priority.”

Lila sighed, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease a bit at his words. “You’re right,” she murmured, looking up at him with gratitude. “We just need to be cautious. This may be hard for them to accept.”

“They’ll need time to process everything,” Five agreed, running his fingers through her hair gently. “And since I don’t know them well yet, I’ll have to approach this with extra sensitivity. But we can show them that this can lead to positive changes. Maybe we could organize something special as a family, a way to celebrate our new beginning.”

Lila smiled faintly, the idea bringing a glimmer of hope. “That could help. A family day might make them feel included in this transition.”

“I love it,” Five agreed, his heart swelling at the thought of creating happy memories for their children, especially after his own childhood had been so fraught with danger. The idea of bringing joy and stability to their lives filled him with determination. “We can celebrate our new beginning. It might help them see that this change is a positive thing.”

He looked deep into Lila's eyes, searching for her thoughts and feelings as they navigated this new chapter together. “I want them to feel safe and loved,” he continued, his voice softening. “We both know what it’s like to grow up in chaos. I don’t want that for them. They deserve to experience laughter and happiness.”

Lila nodded, her gaze steady and filled with understanding. “They do deserve that,” she replied, her voice a gentle affirmation. “We can create a world for them that’s different from what we had. One filled with love and support.”

Five's heart swelled further as he envisioned their children’s smiles, the sound of their laughter echoing around them. “Let’s make it a day they’ll always remember,” he said, a smile breaking across his face. “A day where they know that even through the changes, we’re still a family—together, no matter what.”

In that moment, as they trailed off to sleep, enveloped in the warmth of Lila’s love and the promise of their future, Five realized they had genuinely left their past behind. For the first time in a long while, a profound sense of peace washed over him. The pieces of his heart were finally aligning. Together, they would build a life filled with love, passion, and endless possibilities..

Chapter Text

Chapter 28: Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

As the afternoon sunlight streamed through the curtains, Five slowly awakened, squinting against the glare. The room was quiet, yet a tangible sense of anticipation filled the air. He reflected on the previous day—a whirlwind of emotions that drew him back to the comfort of Lila beside him.

He replayed their shared experiences: the challenges they had overcome, the heartfelt confessions, and the sweet release of tension. It was astonishing how much had unfolded in just one day.

Lila lay peacefully asleep, her chest gently rising and falling. He gazed at her for a moment, a smile spreading across his face as memories of their night together flooded back. The warmth of their bond lingered, igniting a sense of joy that made him grin. As he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, he felt a rush of affection, wishing he could linger in this moment.

Chuckling softly, he gathered the garments strewn across the floor, a trail like breadcrumbs leading from the door to the bed. But as he reached for his jacket, a small rectangular black object slipped from the pocket and clattered to the ground.

Curious, he bent down to pick it up—a strange gadget that felt foreign in his hands. “What the hell is this?” he murmured, examining it closely.

He had never seen anything like it before. Their experiences had been limited to outdated technology—nothing of this caliber. Even during his time with the Commission, they had only bulky briefcases and the Infinite Switchboard. Nothing compared to the sleek device in his hand. Frustration bubbled as he began pressing random buttons.

To his astonishment, the screen flickered to life, revealing incomprehensible images and symbols. He continued pressing buttons, intrigued yet confused. Suddenly, a series of icons appeared, one resembling a phone.

“What the—?” he whispered, realization dawning. Perhaps this was a communication device. He pressed the icon, and a ringing tone startled him.

“Hello?” boomed a deep voice from the device. Surprised, Five quickly pressed the small phone icon again, disconnecting the call before the person could say more.

At that moment, Lila stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep. She sat up, her hair tousled and framing her face, and noticed the object in his hand.

“Take a look at this,” he said, holding up the sleek device. “I found it in my jacket. Do you know what it is?”

Lila furrowed her brow, leaning in to inspect the gadget more closely. Their shoulders brushed, and Five felt a spark of warmth at the contact. “It seems to be a phone, but it’s unlike anything we’ve seen.”

“Exactly!” Five exclaimed, excitement gleaming in his eyes. “We need to figure out what it can do. Everything has changed.”

He leaned in and kissed her quickly, savoring the softness of her lips, the way she melted into him. It was a brief moment of intimacy that felt electric, a reminder of the connection they had forged. Reluctantly, he rushed out of the room, his shirt half-tucked and shoes barely on, eager to share his discovery. The rich aromas of breakfast and the sounds of sizzling filled the air as he made his way downstairs.

In the kitchen, he found most of the others gathered around the table—Viktor, Jennifer and Ben enjoying bowls of cereal, Klaus expertly cooking eggs, while Sloane and Luther savored yogurt and pancakes.

“Good morning, sleepyhead!” Klaus called, flipping an egg with flair. “You made it just in time for breakfast. Want some eggs?”

Five blinked, still momentarily distracted by the sight of Klaus's cooking apron “Uh, sure,” he replied, shaking off the daze. He held the mysterious device up again. “But first, I found this in my jacket! No idea how it got there…”

As Five entered the kitchen, surprise washed over everyone’s faces. Normally polished in his crisp suit, he now looked half-dressed, his shirt wrinkled and untidy, as if he had just emerged from a whirlwind.

“Uh, Five?” Diego said, raising an eyebrow. He was perched on a stool by the island countertop, a slice of toast halfway to his mouth. “What happened to you? You look like you’ve been through a storm.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Viktor added with a smirk. “Did you forget how to get dressed this morning?”

Five shrugged it off, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m fine! But things like this don’t just appear out of nowhere! I think sacrificing our marigold had a bigger impact than we realized.” He held up the unusual phone-like object, eager to redirect their attention.

Diego scrutinized him skeptically. “What’s with the ‘running around like a crazy person’ vibe?”

“Yeah, being a crazy person is my specialty,” Klaus chimed in with a grin.

“Very funny,” Five said, rolling his eyes but unable to suppress a smile. “This is far more interesting than my wrinkled appearance! It's some form of advanced technology that functions like a phone.”

Luther raised an eyebrow. “Advanced technology? Please, I’ve seen more impressive things! I went to the Moon, remember? I was an astronaut! This is nothing compared to my experiences up there!” He puffed out his chest with pride.

Just then, Lila entered the kitchen yawning, her arms stretching above her head. For Five, her presence instantly lit up the room. The way she moved, her hair cascading over her shoulders and the sunlight catching her features, made him forget the device in his hand. For a fleeting moment, all he could see was Lila—how her smile could make the world feel right again.

“Okay, space boy. I'm sure you can help us figure this thing out,” she called out to Luther, her playful tone pulling Five back to reality as she stepped closer, the warmth of her presence grounding him.

Diego had moved to the window, urgency washing over him. “Where’s Wanda?” he asked.

“Wanda?” Klaus echoed, looking over Diego’s shoulder. “What about her?”

Diego peered out, brow furrowed. “I don’t see her out there.” He instinctively reached into his pocket for Wanda's keys but pulled out an unfamiliar black key fob instead. He turned it over, puzzled.

Lila and Diego exchanged confused glances. “What’s that?” Klaus asked, noticing the fob.

Baffled, Diego pressed one of the buttons. To his surprise, the horn of a minivan parked outside began to honk loudly.

“What the—?” Diego exclaimed, eyes widening. “I think Wanda turned into a new minivan! But why is it honking?” He mashed buttons on the fob until the noise finally stopped.

“Maybe it’s signaling someone?” Lila suggested, glancing at Five.

Without a second thought, Diego dashed for the door, urgency propelling him forward. “I need to check it out!”

Just as he began to rush outside, Ray and Allison entered, arms laden with disposable cups. “You’ll never guess what we found!” Ray exclaimed, a broad smile on his face. “We went out to get donuts from that shop down the street.”

“Allison chimed in, “But instead, we stumbled upon this place called Starbucks. They had all sorts of amazing stuff—have you guys heard of it?”

The room fell silent as everyone processed this new information. “Starbucks?” Klaus repeated, raising an eyebrow and helpfully taking a couple cups off Allison's hands. “What’s that?”

“It’s a coffee shop,” Ray explained, grinning widely. “They had fancy drinks, and we couldn’t resist. We brought back a few for everyone!”

Jennifer’s eyes lit up. “That sounds incredible! I could use a caffeine boost right now.”

“Coffee, Five?” Klaus offered, holding out a Starbucks cup.

But for the first time in his life, Five didn’t care about coffee. His focus remained glued on the device in his hand. “Uh, no thanks. I’m more interested in figuring this out!” he replied distractedly, fingers gliding across the screen as he navigated the various icons.

The kitchen fell silent, confusion washing over the group.

“Did Five just say no to coffee?” Diego asked, incredulous.

“Seriously?” Viktor added, shaking his head. “Five is addicted to coffee; it's like his one true love—no offense, Lila.”

Lila smirked, stepping closer to Five and wrapping an arm around his waist in a territorial manner, her touch sending a rush of warmth through him and making him lose his train of thought. “They can't be that serious if he’s turning it down,” she teased, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Ray and Allison exchanged glances, then Ray spoke up. “So... you won’t believe what we saw at Starbucks. It was like a different world out there.”

“Yeah!” Allison added, her eyes wide with excitement. “There were people everywhere with devices.” She took a long sip of her coffee. “They were holding them up to their faces and laughing, posing like they were at a photoshoot, or tapping away like they couldn’t get enough of whatever was on those screens.”

“Devices?” Klaus asked, intrigued. “What kind of devices?”

“Some looked like that,” Ray said, pointing to the gadget in Five's hand. “But others were larger, like magic typewriters with screens. One guy was even watching a movie on what I think they called a laptop.”

“Laptop?” Lila echoed, frowning.

“I don’t know,” Allison admitted. “But they seemed to be working on them."

The group listened intently, captivated by these descriptions of a new world outside their own. It sounded strange even to the strangest people who'd ever lived.

Five, engrossed in his phone again, tapped on the screen, eager to discover more about this strange technology. “Look at this!” he said, tapping an icon that resembled a magnifying glass. “It says ‘Google.’ I believe it’s a play on the word ‘googol,’ which refers to the number 10 to the power of 100.”

“Google?” Lila leaned in to see, intrigued. “So it’s like a really big number?”

“Exactly,” Five agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “But I have no idea what it does as ‘the world's biggest web search engine.’” He squinted at the phone, reading the words displayed. He slid his finger across the screen until he noticed another icon with a large letter “F.” “What’s this one?” he asked, tapping it.

As the screen loaded, it revealed a blue-and-white page filled with various pictures of people. “Facebook? What’s that supposed to be?” Sloane asked, tilting her head.

“Why would you have a book made from faces? Sounds disgusting...” Luther wondered aloud.

Five chuckled, shaking his head. “I guess people share pictures and updates about their lives,” he said as he scrolled through different pages. “It appears to be some sort of social forum; this technology somehow connects people all over the globe.”

“Sounds like a total waste of time to me,” Klaus interjected, folding his arms with a smirk. “I mean, why flip through a book of faces when you can just chat with someone right in front of you? I’d much prefer an actual human being.”

The group burst into laughter, reveling in the absurdity of their discoveries. They spent the next few moments exploring strange apps and features, each one eliciting more laughter and disbelief.

They fiddled with the camera icon, and when Five pressed a round button that appeared, a sudden flash of light blinded them. When it dimmed, a blurred image of his shoe was displayed on the screen.

Five rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but grin. With the mood lightened, they continued to enjoy the coffee Ray and Allison had brought. Suddenly, the phone in Five's hand began to ring, flashing the word "Mom" across the screen.

Curious, he answered it. “Hello?”

“Max! Where are you? I thought you were supposed to be here hours ago!” a female voice exclaimed.

Five blinked in confusion. “I think you have the wrong number,” he replied.

“Don’t joke with me right now, Maximilian! You know it’s your sister’s birthday! Get your butt home right now!”

Five’s thoughts raced as he attempted to grasp the surprising twist of events. This device was more than just a simple phone—it seemed to be a doorway to a history he never knew existed, leaving him feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities.

“Um, okay, Mom,” he answered, feeling as if he was having an out of body experience. He swallowed thickly and continued. “I'll be there as soon as I can.”

"And tell Lila we already picked up the cake from her bakery. It looks gorgeous! Your wife is incredible, dear! You really lucked out with that one, Max. But please hurry, everyone's waiting for you both!”

As the call ended, his gaze met Lila's, reflecting their shared stunned disbelief.

Chapter Text

29: What Makes You a Man

Five stood there, the phone still pressed to his ear, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just heard. Lila’s eyes widened as she tried to process the unexpected twist in their already chaotic morning.

The room was filled with murmurs and worried glances as everyone absorbed the new reality unfolding before them. The enthusiasm that Ray and Allison had brought with coffee felt drained away. A heavy silence enveloped them, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the city outside, making the situation feel even more surreal.

“Max?” Lila repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re… Maximilian?”

Five nodded slowly, the revelation settling heavily on his shoulders. “It seems so,” he said, grappling with the reality that this device had opened a window to technological wonders and a past he had never known. “I didn’t even know I had a sister—or a biological family.” He glanced apologetically at his adoptive siblings, who exchanged looks of concern and confusion.

“What does all of this mean?” Viktor asked, leaning forward, his bowl of cereal long forgotten.

“I don’t know,” Five admitted, his voice strained. “I need to figure out who I really am… and how losing our marigold has reshaped not just the world, but our entire lives.”

“Wait, did that lady just call Lila your wife?” Diego demanded, brow furrowing.

“Yes, apparently, you're already my wife,” Five grinned at Lila, despite the creeping horror trickling down his spine. The thought pleased him, and he held onto that silver lining like a life raft. “And I didn't even have to go on bended knee or buy a ring.”

Lila inspected her wedding finger, her breath catching as she noticed the ring was different from the one Diego had given her. Instead of the plain gold band with a modest diamond, it was intricately woven, two strands of gold and a platinum one braided together, with an enormous five-carat diamond sparkling in the light. 

It was gorgeous, ostentatious even, but her precious bracelet that Five had crafted with scrap metal and so much love was gone. 

Nausea churned in her stomach, and she clutched the armrest, feeling the rough fabric beneath her palm. “What is happening?” she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. She was certain it had been on her wrist this morning.

Diego choked, not from jealousy, but disbelief. “So let me get this straight—I’m the one who’s been cheating with your wife? I think my brain just exploded.”

“I guess so, you son of a bitch,” Five said, a grin breaking through the tension. “I really should kick your ass for that.” The threat hung in the air, and for a moment, the anxiety in the room eased as Lila snorted, both surprised and amused.

“Okay, okay, maybe not,” Five added, shaking his head and throwing his palms in the air. The brief moment of levity was a welcome relief.

He glanced at the device in his hand, realizing it held not only secrets about the world outside but also the keys to his identity. His brief glimpses as he scrolled through its contents had said as much. 

Then Five caught the sight of a matching ring on his finger, a band woven with alternating threads of metal that mirrored Lila's, two strands of platinum twisting between the gold. “This is getting creepy,” he muttered, his breath quickening as anxiety threatened to overtake him.

Suddenly, the phone began to vibrate insistently in his palm. He cautiously looked at the screen, seeing "Mom" flash once more. With a deep breath, he answered, his heart pounding.

“Max! Are you on your way yet? Lexi will be so disappointed if you miss her birthday. She refuses to do the cake until you and your wife arrive,” the voice on the other end rang with urgency, shouting over a cacophony of voices in the background.

“Yeah, we're coming,” Five replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt as he shot a wide-eyed glance at Lila. “But could you tell me more about her? About our family?”

The voice paused, and he could hear the click of a door closing, the party sounds muffled. “What a weird question! Max, you know your sister is turning twenty-five today. Lexi's been looking forward to seeing you all day. You know how much she loves her big brother. Just because you and Lila want to galavant around the world throwing money around doesn’t mean you can’t stop for one day to spend with family!” 

His mother’s frantic voice made pressure mount in Five's chest, his breath quickening as panic threatened to overwhelm him. He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to scream as the flood of new information threatened to drown him. 

“What about my kids?” Lila suddenly gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “What if they don't exist anymore? What if my parents—”

As Lila’s panic settled in, a sharp pang of longing twisted in his gut, the thought of a real family—a mother, a father, a younger sister who looked up to him—filling him with a bittersweet ache.

“Lila, focus!” Five interjected, placing the phone against his chest, both to muffle their words and as a feeble attempt to contain his own fear from spilling over. “We don’t know what’s changed. We need to stay calm and figure this out.”

“Calm?” Lila’s voice trembled. “How can I stay calm when everything is falling apart? I can’t lose them!”

“I’ll be there soon, Mom,” he hurriedly assured her, bringing the phone back to his ear, determination flooding his voice. “Just, um, send me the address.”

“Darling, really. What on earth is wrong with you today? You know our address; we've only lived here your whole life.”

“I just wanted to save it for the GPS,” he explained, overemphasizing the letters awkwardly, trying to keep his voice steady. He remembered an app they'd played with earlier, showing a map of the city, and figured it would be the best excuse he could give.

“Whatever, Max! I'll text you, just get here now!”

As he ended the call, he felt a mix of excitement and dread. “I have to go,” he said, looking at Lila and the others nervously. “I need to find out who I am and what all of this means. But I want you all with me.”

“Oh, I’m definitely in. This is going to be a wild ride!” Klaus volunteered, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He recalled how he had once convinced Five to take a road trip to find his birth mother, hoping for his brother's support in facing whatever they might uncover. Although Five had been initially upset to learn the truth of their adventure, he had eventually come around. Klaus felt a rush of gratitude for the chance to repay that favor now. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Allison shot Klaus a horrified look. “You did not just say that! You’ve jinxed us!” She began making the sign of the cross, waving her hands through the air as if to ward off any impending bad luck.

“Okay, calm down,” Luther intoned in his Number One voice, turning to Five with a determined look. “We’re not letting you go through this alone.”

Lila threaded an arm around Five's waist, her eyes sparkling with love and concern. “I’ll stick by you, no matter what, Max,” she said, her grip tightening as her gaze filled with resolve.

Five paused at the sound of the name, a slight grin forming. “Max? That’s going to take some getting used to.”

Lila chuckled, tilting her head slightly. “What do you mean? Isn’t it just a shortened version of Maximilian?”

“Yeah, but I've spent so long being just ‘Five’ that it feels… strange,” he admitted. 

Five’s phone buzzed again in his hand. It was the address he'd asked for, popping up in a cartoon speech bubble. Thinking to copy the address into his notebook he reached in his pocket, but instead, he felt something else. He withdrew a black leather wallet, opening it to find his driver’s license: Maximilian Hunter Pentos, born October 1, 1989. 

Alongside it tucked behind a clear plastic film was a tiny picture of Lila, Five, and her three kids grouped together and smiling as they sat on beach chairs, the sun setting across the ocean behind them. Five’s hair was longer, and somehow he looked older, while Lila looked younger, reminiscent of when they found the wedding photo at the Commission headquarters. They looked the same age in this depiction again, evoking the sense of the surreal.

“My last name is Greek for five?” he smirked, showing what he found to Lila and pointing to his older self in the photo. “I guess I'll just stick with Five for a while longer. It feels right.”

Lila's panic began to subside as she examined the photograph, reassuring her that her children continued to exist in this new reality. “Whatever you choose, you’re still my Max,” she said, her voice filled with affection.

“Yeah, you can be our Five and still be Maximilian when it counts,” Klaus added with a wink.

While they all absorbed this new layer of reality, the tension in the room shifted, momentarily eased by their banter but still heavy with uncertainty. They were not just grappling with the loss of their normal lives but the terrifying unknown ahead. Together, they would dive into the unknown, armed with their confusion and a desperate need to find answers.

“Alright then, Five it is,” he declared, but the confidence he tried to project felt shaky.

“But first, let me see if there are any more clues on this thing before we go,” he suggested, his voice tight with anxiety as he held up the phone again. “I feel completely at sea and would feel a whole lot better walking into this situation knowing more about this reality before jumping in blind.”

The others agreed, scrambling to clean up the remains of breakfast while Five began to scroll through the contacts list on his phone, his eyebrows rising in astonishment. “Hey, everyone, check this out!” he called out. “All of your names are here!”

“Really?” Lila leaned in closer, her pulse quickening with curiosity.

When Five tapped on Lila’s name, a soft ringing filled the room. They exchanged startled looks. “What’s that sound?” Klaus asked, his eyes scanning the area.

“I think it’s coming from your jacket,” Five said, pointing to Lila’s winter coat draped over a nearby chair. They approached it cautiously, and the ringing grew louder. Lila reached into the jacket pocket, pulling out another sleek phone with a floral cover snapped on the back of it.

“Wow, it’s just like yours!” she said, marveling at the shiny device. “But how did it end up in my pocket?”

“Let’s try the others,” Five urged, excitement bubbling within him. He began to click on each name in the contact list, and one by one, they each discovered their own phone hidden away in various locations throughout the house.

“Mine’s in the kitchen!” Diego shouted, retrieving a phone with a rugged case that looked like it had been through some adventures. “And it’s a lot bigger than yours!” He huffed at Five, making everyone roll their eyes.

“Someone's compensating,” Five muttered, unable to help himself.

“Found mine!” Viktor exclaimed as he pulled his phone from behind a couch cushion. “This is crazy!”

Sloane located hers wedged into the side of the ugly armchair, its vibrant casing featuring a sunset. “Aww, mine is so pretty,” she cooed.

“Do you think this reality is still settling or something? I mean, the universe had to basically reform to how it was supposed to be without any marigold,” Lila theorized while everyone else began to investigate the phones they found, scrolling through apps to see if they could learn anything about this timeline.

She thought of the photo Five had just found and glanced down at her hand again. “For instance, I know this ring wasn't on my finger when I went to sleep last night… err, this morning, I mean.” She reddened, blushing as she relived memories of her hands on Five.

“So you think reality is still being rewritten?” Five set his phone down on the coffee table to give himself room to pull her closer on the couch, in an effort to smooth over her embarrassment. Her scent made him feel grounded, and her warmth in his arms made the tilting world right itself. He gently entwined their fingers and raised their linked hands to examine the ring. “I think you may be right. I would definitely have noticed this.” His eyes twinkled as he kissed her knuckles, like he had on the subway.

Five's mind raced as Lila's theory about reality being rewritten took shape. He thought back to the kugelblitz, which had acted like a black hole, obliterating everything in its path—people, animals, objects—erasing them from existence with its powerful blasts of energy, working its way out from the epicenter, the Hargreeves mansion.

In contrast, he hypothesized that this new reality rewrite was working in reverse. Instead of destruction radiating outward from the center, the changes were gradually encroaching upon the Hargreeves Home for Wayward Boys, which still served as the focal point of this reality shift. The mansion, once a hub of chaos and conflict, was now the last bastion to be affected by the rewrites, meaning the changes were creeping in from the outside toward the heart of their world.

“Think about it,” he explained to the group, urgency lacing his voice. “The mansion is like a barrier, protecting us from the effects of this rewrite for now. Its effects may have slowly trickled in—the phones, Lila's ring, my wallet... But I think as soon as we step outside, we’re going to be caught in it. It’s only a matter of time before we feel its impact.”

Lila nodded, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “So, what do you think will happen when we go out there?”

Five took a deep breath, his brow furrowing in thought. “There’s a fundamental rule in physics: matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms. With the removal of the marigold, the system is desperately trying to rewrite itself to fill the void it has left. So, while things may change, nothing will be completely erased or deleted. Instead, this reality is struggling to adapt to the absence of the marigold and make sense of our existence here without it.”

Just as Lila opened her mouth to speak, Five's phone buzzed again, this time vibrating insistently on the table's surface. The unexpected sound made everyone pause.

“What now?” Klaus whined, exasperated.

Five glanced at the screen and saw a new message notification. His heart raced as he tapped on it, revealing a text from a contact named "Lexi."

“Max, where are you, bro? 🤨”

The sight of the message sent a wave of emotions through him. “It’s from my sister, Lexi,” he swallowed, feeling the tension returning. “She’s looking for me!”

“Respond to her!” Lila urged, voice tinged with anticipation and curiosity. She was eager to meet her sister-in-law and the rest of Five's family, absently wondering if all their eyes were so blue.

Five quickly typed a reply, his fingers flying across the screen, “I’m on my way! Just got caught up in… something unexpected. I’ll explain later!”

He hit send, and the message disappeared into the digital ether. As it did, a strange sensation washed over him. He felt suddenly more familiar with the technology in his hand. His curiosity couldn't be suppressed, and he opened a Google browser, quickly typing his name into the search bar.

The screen lit up with results, and as he scrolled, his eyes widened in disbelief.

The first headline read: “Maximilian Hunter Pentos: The Tech Genius Who Changed the World at 18.” Below, a summary revealed that he had built a mega-successful line of computers, rivaling the likes of Apple and Microsoft.

“He invented some groundbreaking technology,” Five continued reading. “By the time he was 18, he had already revolutionized personal computing and amassed a fortune. It says here he’s one of the richest people in the world. His company is worth billions. When his products began to saturate the market, the world began to call him—the Five Billion Dollar Man!” 

Klaus chimed in, scoffing, “So, this is the universe balancing things out?”

Five felt his heart race as the realization sank in, missing the sarcasm and too engrossed in his reading. “If you recall, Reginald told us he transferred all his material wealth to us before he left this planet. This must be how it’s manifesting,” he said, astonished. “Apparently, in this reality, I’m a tech genius who changed everything.”

As they continued scrolling through the articles, Five’s fingers instinctively swiped and tapped the screen with newfound confidence, as if he’d been doing it his entire life. “Look at this,” he said, pulling up a video demonstration of one of Maximilian’s inventions. “This interface is brilliant. I can see how he integrated AI into everyday technology. It’s all starting to make sense.”

Watching the video, a spark ignited within Five. He felt the knowledge sinking into his bones, a sense of mastery creeping in. “I could build something like this,” he mused, his mind racing with possibilities.

“Are you serious?” Lila asked, glancing at him with a mix of disbelief and excitement. “You really think you could?”

“I don’t just think it—I know it,” Five replied, a grin forming on his face as he absorbed the information flooding his mind. “I can feel the tech knowledge coming back to me.”

With each new piece of information, Five found himself becoming more adept at navigating the technology surrounding him. He began to notice the intricacies of the devices they encountered—how they were designed, how they communicated, and the innovative ideas that made them work. It was as if the very essence of Maximilian Hunter Pentos was infusing him with confidence and insight. As it did, he felt a sudden urgency to find his sister and meet the family he never knew he had.

“We don't really have time to sit here fiddling with these things, but maybe we can do some research along the way,” he decided, finally pocketing the phone. “ But we should come up with a cover story, some reason why I'm acting so strange, why things and people are unfamiliar all of a sudden.”

As they all prepared to head out, the atmosphere shifted once more, the momentary relief from their banter now replaced by the looming uncertainty of what lay ahead. They were not just grappling with the loss of their normal lives but the terrifying unknown of what awaited them. Together, they would dive into the unknown, armed with their confusion and a desperate need to find answers.

Chapter Text

Once Five and the others stepped outside, they quickly realized that his earlier prediction had been accurate: the barrier separating them from this world’s new reality had vanished.

As they exited the mansion, it felt as if an invisible wall had fallen away. The atmosphere buzzed with energy, morphing into something frantic. A crowd had amassed outside, filling the streets like a flash mob. The moment Klaus appeared, chaos erupted.

“Is that him?” someone shouted, and the murmur of recognition rippled through the throng.

Viktor stepped out beside Klaus, and the crowd erupted even more. “Oh my God, it’s the Nine Wonders, ALL of them!” another voice shrieked, sending a wave of excitement through the gathering.

Before Five could process what was happening, fans surged forward, their faces lit with yearning. The crowd pulsed with excitement, voices rising and falling like waves, the scent of sweat and adrenaline thick in the air. Cameras flashed, blinding him for a moment. “Klaus! Viktor! Nine Wonders!” they shouted, voices overlapping in a cacophony.

Five stood transfixed, watching as Klaus and Viktor transformed from awkward little brothers into rock stars. They exuded confidence under the spotlight, but inside, Klaus felt a tide of anxiety rising. The reality of their new roles crashed over him, and he grappled with the changes following the loss of his marigold. He had no memories of fame or performances yet—only a sense of being thrust into something he couldn't grasp.

The rewrite hit them hard, and the implications of their newfound status loomed large. Five exchanged glances with Lila, whose expression mirrored his unease. “This is getting out of hand,” he said, pulling her closer. “We need to leave.”

Allison stepped back, her eyes wide as she clutched Ray’s arm, the crowd pressing in with eager hands reaching out for autographs. “Klaus, maybe now's not the best time for a meet-and-greet!”

Just then, security surged forward from the edges of the crowd, their presence commanding and authoritative. They formed a protective barrier around Klaus and Viktor, guiding them away from the fans. Klaus felt relief at their professionalism, but his heart raced as he struggled to comprehend the unfolding scene.

“Stay close!” one of the security guards commanded, ushering them toward a sleek black limousine parked just a few feet away.

As they approached, the crowd's energy shifted again, a mix of disappointment and fervor rippling through them. “Klaus! We love you!” some shouted, while others snapped photos, desperate to capture the moment..

Five tightened his grip on Lila’s hand, his heart pounding as they navigated through the tightly packed bodies. Just as they reached the limousine, the fans surged forward once more, their enthusiasm reaching a fever pitch.

“Quick! Get in!” another security guard urged, flinging the door open.

Klaus stepped inside first, his smile faltering as he waved one last time. The weight of the crowd’s adoration pressed on him like a heavy cloak. What if it spiraled out of control, like before? The loss of marigold lingered in his mind, a reminder of the complexities they all faced.

Inside the limousine, a wave of relief washed over them, mingling with an undercurrent of tension. The dim, warm lighting bathed the plush leather seats in a soft glow, creating a surreal contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.

Five leaned back, inhaling the faint scent of leather and cologne, and pulled Lila close, his heart still racing as he stole a glance at her wide eyes filled with wonder.

Klaus forced a chuckle, though his smile wavered as a storm of thoughts swirled in his mind. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the weight of anxiety. “I thought I had peaked summoning that ghost army.”

He attempted a grin, but anxiety gnawed at him, reminding him of the burdens that fame could impose. Memories of his time in the 1960s with Destiny's Children—a cult that had formed around him and treated him like a messiah—flooded back. Those recollections blended nostalgia and dread, the weight of expectation heavy on his shoulders.

“Wow, that was intense!” Lila exclaimed, her eyes wide as she took in the luxurious interior. Beneath her enthusiasm, concern flickered. She leaned into Five, seeking comfort. “I had no idea it would be like that.”

“Exhilarating for you, maybe,” Five said, still catching his breath. “I almost felt like I was being swept away in a tide of flashing lights and screaming fans.”

Klaus shrugged, a nervous smile playing on his lips as he attempted to deflect the tension. “I guess this is just part of it now. I’m still processing everything.”

Luther, settled quietly next to Sloane, crossed his arms and shot Klaus a bemused look. “You thrive on chaos. The universe knew just what to do with you this time. Just keep your head straight.”

“Of course! I’ve got this,” Klaus said, flashing his usual carefree grin, though uncertainty crept into his voice.

Five leaned forward, lowering the privacy screen to address the driver. He glanced at Lila, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, before saying, “Take us to 321 Helena Way. We have a party to attend.”

It felt instinctual; he was accustomed to this kind of luxury. Now armed with more knowledge about himself in this reality, it made sense. He was a billionaire, after all.

The driver nodded, quickly inputting the information into the GPS. “Got it. Hang tight.”

As the limousine pulled away, the commotion outside began to fade into the distance, replaced by the soothing hum of the engine. Five took a moment to gather his thoughts, realizing the surreal nature of their new reality was only just beginning to dawn on him.

“Alright, what’s our next step?” he asked, looking around at shell-shocked faces. “The rewrite is setting in. We need to figure out what’s happening and how to navigate this.”

Lila nodded, her initial shock melting away as a determined spark ignited in her eyes. She squared her shoulders, ready to face whatever came next. “We stick together. We face whatever comes next as a team.”

“Exactly,” Klaus added, though the word felt heavy. The transformation was still unfolding, and each of them dealt with their own struggles. “Let’s make the most of this ride—figuratively and literally!”

Allison pulled out her phone, her curiosity bubbling over. Her fingers flew across the screen with surprising adeptness as she searched for information about the Nine Wonders, recalling what one of the fans had shouted. Her eyes widened at the screen.

“Guys, you won’t believe this! It says Klaus is a famous musician! He’s released multiple albums and sold out concerts worldwide!”

The others leaned in, intrigued. Klaus shifted in his seat, a mix of embarrassment and realization washing over him. It felt as if she were talking about a stranger, but memories of this lifetime began to trickle in—living out of his van, playing local coffee shops, selling CDs until he got his big break. The sudden fame had nearly swallowed him whole until rehab finally worked for once... New memories were coming alive in his mind.

“Wait, there’s more,” Allison continued, scrolling through the search results. “It says we’re all part of a friend group known as the ‘Nine Wonders.’ Apparently, we were all born on the same day and met throughout our lives, defying mathematical probability. One article refers to us as some of the richest and most successful people around!”

Luther leaned over her shoulder. “What does it say about me?” he asked, anticipation in his voice.

“You’re a fitness guru! Your workout programs have millions of followers,” she replied, scrolling. “And you’ve launched your own line of fitness products.”

“Not bad for a guy who used to be… well, you know,” Luther chuckled, glancing at Klaus, whose expression resembled that of a million 404 error loading screens, caught in an endless loop of confusion and disbelief

“And Sloane,” Allison said, her eyes gleaming, “you’re a UN ambassador and a notable fashion model! Your contributions have influenced both the fashion industry and global humanitarian efforts.”

Sloane smiled, satisfaction evident. “I’ve always wanted to make a real impact.”

“Allison, what about me?” Diego chimed in, his curiosity brimming.

“Diego Esperanza, a Hollywood star known for his action movies,” she read, grinning. “You’ve starred in blockbuster films and have a massive fan base. They say you perform all your own stunts!”

“Of course I do,” Diego replied smugly, giving Luther a high-five.

“Apparently, I’m a U.S. Senator,” Allison continued, disbelief lacing her voice. “I’ve championed social justice and made significant legislative changes.”

“Look at you, making a difference!” Klaus interjected, admiration replacing his earlier embarrassment.

“Ben is a Wall Street savant,” Allison scrolled down. “You’re a financial guru who predicts market trends with uncanny accuracy.”

Ben shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I got lucky, I guess.”

“And Viktor,” she added, “you’re in Klaus’s band, playing the violin! It says you’re a talented musician in your own right, contributing to their unique sound.”

Viktor nodded, a shy smile creeping onto his face. “I’ve always enjoyed performing.”

“And Viktor,” she added, “you’re in Klaus’s band, playing the violin! It says you’re a talented musician contributing to their unique sound.”

Viktor nodded, a shy smile creeping onto his face. “I’ve always enjoyed performing.”

“All of this sounds incredible,” Allison said, eyes shining. “Jennifer, you own a chain of hotels known for luxury and hospitality.”

Jennifer was taken aback but beamed at the compliment. “I must've worked hard for that!”

“Lila, you run an event-planning company with offices worldwide!” Allison concluded, looking at Lila. “You're the go-to for extravagant celebrations, coordinating everything from food to music—a one-stop party shop!”

Lila laughed softly, shaking her head in disbelief. “I never imagined my passion for chaos would blossom into something like that!”

She leaned into Five further, resting her head on his shoulder, finding sanity in his presence amidst the whirlwind. Five shifted slightly, wrapping an arm around her, the warmth of their connection a reassuring anchor in the midst of uncertainty.

“Hey, are you alright?” he whispered, searching her eyes.

“As long as you're with me, I always will be,” Lila replied, her voice steady and filled with love.

She cupped Five's face in her hands, her gaze probing his. “You look different now, older somehow… lighter,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry as a wave of vulnerability washed over her.

“It has to be the rewrite of reality; it’s affecting not just our lives, but our physical forms.” Five studied her features, noticing subtle changes. Her appearance seemed softer, the faint lines around her eyes fading slightly.

“You look different too,” he said, warmth filling his voice. “But you’re still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

A small smile broke through her concern, and for a moment, the chaos outside faded away. Lila traced Five's jaw lightly with her thumb.

“I beg to differ,” she replied, kissing him quickly; a soft feather-light kiss that left him lost in its sweetness, forgetting all the tension in the air.

But as their lips met, the kiss deepened, igniting a spark that sent a thrill through both of them. The world around them faded away, and the tension in the air transformed into something electric. Five’s hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss intensified, their breaths mingling in a heated exchange.

Just as the moment began to spiral out of control, a loud voice cut through the air.

“Jesus, guys! Get a room, would you?” Diego exclaimed, his tone half-amused, half-exasperated.

Lila and Five pulled apart, breathless and slightly flushed, laughter spilling out as they realized the scene they had created. The playful tension lingered, but the interruption brought them back to reality, the chaos of their surroundings rushing back in.

In that tender moment, they realized that despite the changing realities and their newfound fame, their bond remained unbreakable. The love they shared anchored them amidst uncertainty, offering a glimmer of solace amidst the storm.

As they drove through the city, the group continued to share details of their newfound identities, and the weight of their reality began to sink in. They were not just a group of friends; they were the Nine Wonders—each uniquely successful, connected by their shared birthday and the extraordinary lives they led.

Klaus leaned back in his seat, emotions swirling within him. He had often felt like an outsider, a man with one foot in heaven and the other in hell, unable to die but never able to fully live. But now, seeing their stories laid out before him, he realized he was part of something much bigger. The fame and success—it was a lot to absorb, and the transformation was still settling in as they all dealt with the aftermath of marigold’s loss.

“Who would’ve thought?” Klaus said, breaking the silence. “We’ve all come so far from where we started.”

““Together,” Luther added, raising a fist in solidarity. “We’re the Nine Wonders!” he shouted, prompting a wave of eye rolls and smirks throughout the group.

As laughter filled the limousine, though tinged with uncertainty, they were ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead, united by their bond and the extraordinary paths they had forged.

On October 1st, 1989, these nine individuals were born. Together they destroyed the world. Together they saved the world. Together, they would navigate whatever challenges came their way, supporting one another as they ventured into this new chapter of their lives.

Chapter Text

Epilogue

Months later, the city buzzed with life, the vibrant streets pulsing with energy and the promise of new beginnings. The Nine Wonders were a household name, their presence felt in every corner of popular culture. Klaus stood at the balcony of his penthouse, the skyline stretching before him like a canvas painted with dreams. The sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the buildings with a golden glow, a symbol of their journey together—reflecting the cycles of life, the warmth of their connections, and the growth they had experienced through both challenges and triumphs

Inside, joyful voices echoed through the spacious living room, where the group had gathered to celebrate the release of Klaus's latest album—a project that had transformed not just his career, but his life. The cheerful chime of glasses and lively discussions resonated in the atmosphere, creating a melodic backdrop to their recent accomplishments. Lila stood by the kitchen island, her fingers deftly arranging a platter of hors d'oeuvres, her laughter infectious as she exchanged playful banter with Diego.

“Just don’t let Klaus near the cheese tray,” she teased, shooting him a knowing smile. “We don’t need another incident like the last party.”

Klaus chuckled, shaking his head as he joined them. He tried to steal a treat from her tray, earning a playful smirk from Lila as she smacked his hand. “Ouch! Hey, I was just testing my culinary skills!”

“More like testing the limits of our friendship,” Luther interjected from the other side of the room, his booming voice laced with amusement. He leaned against the wall beside Sloane, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a satisfied grin.

Entwined on the loveseat, Ray and Allison exchanged tender glances, their recent marriage a testament to their realization that they truly belonged together. Meanwhile, Ben and Jennifer beamed with excitement as they announced the wonderful news: they were expecting a baby. The cheers and hugs that followed filled the air with hope and joy, further enriching the celebration.

Viktor stood in front of the shelf lined with their Grammy awards, casually sipping his beer like a connoisseur contemplating fine wine. “You know,” he said, smirking, “I’ve realized these trophies are just fancy reminders of how hard we’ve worked to avoid real jobs.”

His bandmates burst into laughter, and Klaus added, “Yeah, I mean, who knew that making music could lead to so much shiny clutter?”

Viktor raised his beer, “To our Grammys—proof that we can be successful at anything… if only we’d picked a different career! But then again, who else could've been awarded for a song about the Eiffel Tower as a spaceship?”

As the night wore on and the laughter continued to flow, Five stepped outside onto the balcony, absently swirling a glass of scotch in his hand. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the festivities inside.

He watched the amber liquid catch the fading light, each swirl of the glass mirroring his thoughts—a mesmerizing dance that offered a momentary escape from the chaos of the evening. Gazing out at the urban landscape, with its lights sparkling like stars against the deepening sky, he felt a wave of tranquility envelop him.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Lila's voice broke through his reverie, and he turned to find her leaning against the doorframe, a soft smile gracing her lips.

“Just thinking about how far we’ve come,” he replied, his gaze drifting back to the horizon. “It almost feels unbelievable, doesn’t it?”

She crept closer, the warmth of her presence enveloping him. “It really does. But look at us. We’re living our dreams together. And we’ve got each other, no matter what.”

With a tender but fervent touch, she grasped his hand, intertwining their fingers as they stood side by side, their bodies just inches apart. The cityscape stretched out before them, glowing with life and possibility, a poignant backdrop to the intensity of their connection. Lila turned to him, her gaze smoldering with unspoken words, her breath momentarily faltering as their eyes locked.

In the electrified silence, the bustling city around them faded away, leaving just the two of them suspended in time. The air crackled with energy, the warmth of their bodies mingling as if they were the only two souls in existence.

“Can you believe everything we've been through to get here?” she whispered, each syllable brushing against him like a caress. “Years ago I never would have imagined this—us—together like this.”

Five's heartbeat raced as he moved nearer, the distance between them vanishing. “It’s like a dream,” he whispered back, his tone heavy with desire. “And I don’t want to wake up.”

Their fingers tightened around each other, a silent promise passing between them, the glass of scotch long-forgotten and abandoned on the balcony railing. The city pulsed with life beneath their feet, but here, in this moment, everything was even more electric. He could feel the urgency radiating from her, drawing him in like a magnet.

As if compelled by an invisible force, Five lowered his gaze to her lips, then back to her eyes, which sparkled with a mix of lust and vulnerability. “Lila…” he began, but the words evaporated as he lost himself in the depth of her gaze.

Without thinking, he closed the distance between them, his other hand coming up to cradle her face. Their lips met in a kiss that set ablaze every nerve in his body—a fierce mix of tenderness and passion that spoke of everything they had been through together. The kiss deepened, and in that moment, they were not just friends or allies, nor husband and wife; they were two souls entwined, claiming their love against the backdrop of a vibrant sunset.

“Hey, come on you lovebirds!” Klaus called out from inside, interrupting the tender moment. His faux irritation punctuated by a dramatic eye roll, he waved them both over to join the celebration. “We’re about to toast to our success!”

As they pulled away, breathless and wide-eyed, goofy lovesick grins on both their faces, the world around them shimmered with possibilities, echoing the intensity of their bond. They stood together, hearts pounding, aware that no matter what obstacles awaited, they would confront them together, united by the powerful love that now connected them.

Rejoining their companions, Lila and Five were surrounded by a chorus of laughter and cheers as they raised their glasses together. In that fleeting moment, they were more than just the Nine Wonders, or members of the Umbrella or Sparrow Academy—they were a true family, forged by their shared journeys, challenges, and victories.

“Here’s to us!” Klaus declared, his voice ringing with joy. “To friendship, to success, and to the adventures yet to come!”

As the glasses clinked together, a wave of warmth and camaraderie swept over them. Each of them had faced their demons, and now they stood together, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they would face it together.

And as the moon rose, full of promise, and the stars began to twinkle above, they all knew that their story was far from over. It was only just beginning.