#And DUSK

[dumdumsun]

To Nightfall

A/N: A v fun chapter to write. Enjoy!

Warnings: alcohol, brief sexual content, mentions of alcohol, sexual content and death/dying

Word Count: 5666

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Chapter 16: A Dream Come True

“Dearly beloved.”

Klaus stood below a beautifully decorated arch just outside the banquet hall, where the ceremony was taking place. There was already a red carpet rolled out to the arch and once everyone was in their places, (Y/N) had walked the beaming Sloane down the aisle to her fiance. It was such a magical moment. She now stood behind the bride and was holding her flowers with Viktor standing behind Luther as his best man.

“We’re gathered here today for a good time, not a long time, so let’s have a good time, huh? ‘Cause the sun can’t shine every day. Can I get an amen?”

The crowd along with the bride and groom erupted into “amens” and cheers and whistles in response.

“Luther,” Klaus started once they all calmed down. “Do you be taking this banging hottie to be your lady?”

Luther lovingly smiled at her. “I do.”

“Sloane,” Klaus tearfully sighed. “Do you promise to love and cherish this big hairy bastard for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours?”

“Give or take a day.” Five called out, getting lovingly shushed by Klaus. Sloane grinned at Luther, her tears hardly contained.

“I’m gonna try.”

“Well, then… I’m sorry.” Klaus wiped at his eyes for a second before throwing his hands up in the air. “I pronounce you married as shit! Viva la apocalypse!”

Sloane threw herself at Luther, pulling him into a loving kiss. Luther wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer as everyone cheered and clapped. (Y/N) grinned as she carefully clapped with the flowers in her hands, her heart unbelievably warm for them. Never in her life had she imagined her family like this, all together, for Luther’s wedding. It was something they probably wouldn’t have believed if told two timelines ago.

The party moved back indoors, where the newlyweds began their first dance as the rest watched them with so much love in their eyes. Klaus was the most enthusiastic out of all, moving to the music as he cheesed at them. Luther and Sloane looked at their family with sweet smiles before returning to their dance as the fog machines hissed out their white clouds. The colors from the party lights and the disco ball danced across the room, giving the room a soft, yet spirited look.

“This is officially worse than the apocalypse.” Five muttered and looked around before his eyes landed on the spread of food and drinks. “Ah, there we are.”

He began to walk away, but (Y/N) grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back to her, a sly smile on her face. She cocked her head to the dance floor, where Diego and Lila had already joined. “Come on, bub. This can be like our wedding dance.” She whispered, and Five couldn’t argue with that. So, after setting his drink down, he followed his love onto the floor. Even Klaus joined, dancing with himself to the beautiful music.

Five and (Y/N) felt like they were actually thirteen again as they danced. Their hands clasped while her other sat on his shoulder and his other wrapped securely around her waist. In this very moment, if the Kugelblitz had sucked them up and signalled the end of its reign of terror on the cosmos, Five wholeheartedly believed he would die a happy man. The place he found himself, with his family, with his wife in his arms, was a place he finally felt somewhat content in. It was most likely the best place he could be in right now, all things considered. He hoped (Y/N) felt the same.

“Do you wish our wedding was like this?” He quietly asked. (Y/N) lifted her head from his chest and softly smiled at him, the light dazzling in her eyes.

“No.” She whispered. “I already had this and I almost threw up about three or four times. What we had was perfect.”

“In front of the Ball of Twine?”

“I was standing in front of you,” She nuzzled her nose with his. “That’s more than perfect.”

With a grin, Five touched his forehead to hers, swaying to the music in complete bliss.

Once everyone was tuckered out from dancing, they moved to the tables to replenish their stamina by indulging in the food spread. (Y/N) had sat herself down at her shared table with Five, a plate in one hand and a drink in another, when she saw Chet taking a photo of Luther and Sloane. She softly smiled at them before realizing that no one had given any speeches. She turned to Five just as he walked up to the table with two more glasses of alcohol to add to the collection on the table. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

He nodded and watched her leave the table and go up to the DJ booth, grabbing the microphone and standing at the edge of the dancefloor. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”

Her family paused their conversations to look up at her with curious gazes.

“Uh… as Sloane’s maid of honor, I’d like to give a speech before I’m absolutely shit-faced for the night.” She pulled a few chuckles. “Luther… I know you and I have never been the best of friends and I’m glad that’s changed. If I’ve learned anything from experiencing a countdown to my death for a third time now, it would be that I need to love who is true to me, then to cherish who I love. And I love you, Luther. I wish I said it more, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. It is, and… it’s been a blast being your sister.”

It all started to sink in that this may be the last time she would see her family. She didn’t know if that caused her eyes to water, or the sight of Luther wiping away his tears. Perhaps both.

“Sloane, though the first time we met, you tried to kill me, I can’t say it’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. I’m so happy that our best moments were within an hour, inside a weird-ass hotel room, sipping on wine and listening to jazz as everything around us got sucked into a black hole. Because I learned that my new family member is one I’m proud to call my sister. Luther, this one’s a keeper,” She winked, earning some more chuckles. “Sloane… I can safely say that you are in good hands with my brother. And your (Y/N)’s smiling down at you right now. I know it.”

Sloane fanned her eyes to keep her tears at bay as she grinned at (Y/N).

“Congratulations, you two.” She lifted her glass, everyone else doing the same and cheering for her as she returned the mic and went to the newlyweds to exchange hugs and kisses.

Having the perfect opportunity, Klaus danced his way over to Five and pointed at him. “Cinco! Mi hermano.” He greeted his disgruntled brother and sat beside him. “Listen to me, Dad is upstairs right now with a plan to save everything. So, what say you and I pop up to the suite for a little chitchat?”

“What, are you like Frick and Frack with the old man now?” Five frowned at him.

“This dad’s different. He’s a turtle. Hard on the outside, but all cute and wrinkly and occasionally delicious on the inside.”

Five swallowed the liquor in his mouth and looked up at his brother. “Klaus?”

“Yeah?”

“Old dogs like me and him never change. He has never had our best interests at heart. And you’re lucky (Y/N) isn’t over here right now or else she’d rip you a new one. This is the happiest she’s been in the last few hours. So!” He dropped his shot glass into a bigger glass, both fizzing up and spilling over a bit. “My only plan for tonight is to get fucked up beyond all recognition, and then enjoy my possible last time having sex with my wife.”

Klaus groaned. “Sure.” He clinked his glass with Five’s. “Have at it.”

“I shall!”

(Y/N) returned to the table just as Klaus twisted in his seat to get a look around the room, eyes landing on Diego, who was happily munching on his food. Lila was about to sit down with her own food when she noticed Klaus’s calculating stare. Before he could even stand, she placed her food down and went up to him, pushing him back down in his chair.

“Klaus.” She pulled a chair up to him and sat down. “Don’t even think about going over there and filling his empty head with bad ideas.”

He looked at her in feigned offense. “Moi? How dare-” His facade fell when Lila pressed a fork into his chest, right over his heart.

“You may be unkillable, but I’ll find a way to make sure that your time on this earthly plane is chock-full of pain and suffering. Got it?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“Great. Big smile.” She turned him forward and posed, Chet taking a picture of them, the bright flash affecting both him and Five. Lila gave him a kiss and walked away. “Bye.”

Klaus groaned and blinked his eyes to rid himself of the spots in his vision. He turned and set his sights on his next victim: Luther. He stood up and stumbled away from the table.

Meanwhile, Five was happily feeding his wife shrimp from hand to mouth and then allowing her to hold his glass while he drank from it. It was something neither of them had thought of when they started doing it, but it was enough to make all the singles in the room sick with the two’s PDA. Her lopsided grin faltered when Five bit off a piece of pineapple from her kabob she was holding.

“Oh…” She mumbled as he munched on it. “You ate my fruit, Five…”

He lifted his head and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “What’s yours is mine, baby.”

“Hey, guys.” Viktor greeted and joined their table with a plate of food for himself. (Y/N) turned to her brother with a regained smile.

“Enjoying the party, Viktor?”

“It’s nice, yeah.” He nodded, looking around the room with a thoughtful smile. “It’s good to see Luther finally find someone and settle. What about you guys?”

When he turned back to them, Five had slammed his empty glass on the table a millisecond before (Y/N) did. “Sucker.”

“Best out of three.”

Viktor chuckled at the two as they started another drinking contest. As he watched them, Klaus greeted the bride and groom at their table. “Mazel tov to the Mr and Mrs.”

“Hey, brother!”

“Cheers!”

They happily clinked their glasses with him before he crouched between their chairs to talk to Luther. “Now, about Dad.”

“No, no, no, no.”

“No-”

“The answer’s no, Klaus.”

“Baby, baby, he’s a changed man.”

“No, the man is incapable of change.”

“Lulu, he’s different. You know, he helped me to conquer my childhood fears.”

Luther hummed as he continued to eat.

“We played catch together.”

“Whoa, wait,” He frowned. “You played catch with Dad?”

“Yeah, we call it bus-ball, but that’s kind of our thing. I mean, you could find your own thing with him.”

Luther groaned in irritation. “Would you stop? Listen, you’re being duped.”

Klaus chuckled. “No, I’m not being duped-”

“No, you are. You are.”

“Come on!”

“In fact, worse. You’re being enabled by your own father.”

“Yeah, but I really think if you just give him a little chance-”

“Klaus!!!”

His exclamation echoed throughout the room, everyone flinching at his volume. Klaus, in particular, covered his ears and shrunk in his place. Sloane reached over and placed a hand on her husband’s knee. “Babe, it’s fine.” She whispered. “It’s our wedding.”

Klaus whimpered as Luther nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He reached over and brought his brother into a crushing hug, kissing his forehead. “Listen, I’m just trying to enjoy my wedding, okay? And you should, too.”

“Okay.”

“Go have some salmon and a Jell-O cup.”

“That sounds nice. Alright, well.” Klaus stood and began walking away. “Screw it, I tried.”

The atmosphere of the party shifted immensely when the elevator dinged. The doors parted to drop off Reginald, whose presence shocked the party members in the least pleasant of ways. Everyone’s eyes watched as he awkwardly walked around, all except for (Y/N), who kept her tipsy gaze fixed on the tablecloth in front of her. Five gently intertwined their fingers and squeezed her hand as Reginald busied himself at the food spread.

“It’s okay, Starlight.”

“No, it isn’t.” She shook her head. “Why is he here? He can’t just show up to a wedding he’s not invited to. Especially not one he was uninvited from.”

“I think…” He reached for the bottle and began to pour more alcohol into her glass. “I think you need another drink.”

(Y/N) nodded in thanks and took a hearty gulp of her drink, pressing a hand to her chest as she suppressed a belch. Her eyes traveled over to Reginald, who was currently finding a place to sit and eat. No one was welcoming in the slightest, all glaring at him whenever he looked their way. For a moment, he locked eyes with (Y/N), but her stare was deadly and it threatened his life, so he took a seat at an empty table and began to eat.

From his table, Klaus caught his father’s attention and wordlessly encouraged him to try a smile. Reginald’s look of shock melted into an odd and forced smile as he looked about the room. Though, he didn’t receive any of the reactions he hoped for. Everyone was either looking at him in horror or disgust, for none of them had ever seen their father smile. Before the agonizing moment could drag on any longer, Reginald flinched in his seat at a bright flash, Chet grinning with a camera in his hands.

At that, (Y/N) rolled her eyes and turned back around, chugging the rest of her drink and then taking Five’s and draining that as well. “Okay,” He sighed and filled both the glasses again. “Guess those are yours now.”

“What’s yours is mine.”

Ben was left alone after Allison departed from their shared table, previously sulking with her during such a high-spirited event. As he buried his head into the table, Klaus came over and sat with him. “Hey, Ben-ihana. Don’t hit me!” He chuckled, pretending to flinch before dropping the theatrics. “Hey, listen. I know we ain’t exactly been best buds in this timeline or whatever, but man, do I have a mission for you-”

A loud and nauseating belch erupted from Ben’s mouth, causing Klaus to cringe and fan the stink away. “Ugh… Charming.”

“Eleven people.” Ben drunkenly slurred, picking up a piece of shrimp.

“Huh?”

“There are only eleven people left.”

“Okay. Drunk Ben clearly likes numbers and… shrimp.”

“And you couldn’t even invite me to your stupid bachelor party…”

Klaus looked up at Ben’s dejected face, his brows twisted in a sadness he thought was incapable of him. “Oh… Have we finally flicked off bad Benny’s hard candy shell?” He cooed as he rubbed his back.

“Why don’t you like me?” Ben whined.

“Because you’re a huge puckering asshole.”

“Okay, but you like the other Ben.”

“Yeah, we love the other Ben.”

“Why? What was so special about him?”

“Because he was a know-it-all. He was a scold.” Klaus’s face lit up in recognition. “He was a tiny dark cloud on a perfect sunny day…”

At his heartfelt laugh, Ben frowned in confusion. “Those… Those are all bad things.”

“Yeah, but they looked great on him.”

“Okay, you know what? I am so much better than that other Ben.”

“Mmhm?”

“I was Number One. Twice. Does Dad give a shit? No. He was busy hanging out with you.”

Klaus pouted and leaned closer. “Oh, man, methinks you might be trying a little too hard. Look around. Nobody’s polishing their boots or pressing their tights. We’re a complete and total shit show. Ya get it? A-And our Ben, my Ben, was just that kinda disaster…” He leaned even closer as he lowered his voice in adoration for his deceased brother. “...and it made him ridiculously easy to love.”

Ben didn’t respond, for he was too far away to form any words. All he had to do was to simply not try. After all, it was one of his favorite things about his sister. (Y/N) had been unapologetically herself. No matter how many times they silenced her, no matter how many times they casted her aside. She was so loveable because she was such an amazing person, and she never tried to hide it.

Perhaps that was why Reginald thought so highly of her, even when she failed so tremendously. Ben felt a pat on his shoulder and Klaus was gone, unknowingly leaving him to mourn his sister.

Just as Viktor left the table to speak with Allison, the clinking of silverware against glass could be heard. Everyone’s attention turned to Reginald, who was standing with the mic in one hand and a glass in the other. “I know it is customary for the father of the bride to make a speech…”

Off to the side, Viktor nervously approached Allison. “Hey.”

As soon as she saw him, she sighed and turned back around. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Allison-”

“No, I get it.” She turned back to him. “It’s a wedding. Everybody’s drunk, and we’re all supposed to be chummy. But I’m not feeling it.”

“That’s fine. You don’t have to be in a festive mood. But will you please just hear me out?”

Their conversation was drowned out by Reginald’s voice sounding throughout the entire room. He lifted the mic to his lips and looked at the bride as he cleared his throat, the feedback whining a bit. “Sloane, ever since you were a little girl, I’ve always known you were exceptionally bright. And though, I can’t say I know Luther all that well, from the few moments we have shared, it seems you found yourself an adequate partner.”

A few hushed reactions sounded, most in confusion, before he continued. This time, though, he looked to (Y/N), who was scowling at him in her seat, her eyes heavy with alcohol. “I acknowledge that, as a father, I was not without my faults. I hope these shortcomings will be seen as only a rough patch on an otherwise verdant lawn.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes and grabbed the whole bottle of alcohol, taking a large swig of it. Away from them, Viktor and Allison were still having their attempt at reconciliation.

“Look, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I lied, and… I betrayed your trust.” He softly spoke as tears glossed his eyes. “But you’re… more important to me than anything in this entire world. Will you forgive me?”

For a second, Viktor had hope in his relationship with his sister. Her eyes widened just a fraction and her nose flared as her face softened. Only for a moment. Within the next moment, she blinked and her cold and standoffish nature returned.

“No. I don’t think I will.”

A small smile made its way onto Reginald’s face. “I’m proud to call you my children. Even those whom I raised in a revenant version of myself. I hope that tonight, we can create a few special memories in whatever precious little time we have left.”

Viktor’s crestfallen expression mustered up a bit of courage to continue talking. “If you won’t forgive me, just know I forgive you.”

“For what?” Allison tilted her head. “I didn’t do anything wrong. You know, I’m… really tired of being the asshole that has to meet you halfway. I am tired of being a sucker.”

“You’re the sucker?”

“Our whole lives, all you said you ever wanted was for us to be close, and we finally got there, and you fucked it up. Not me.”

Viktor swallowed. “Is this really how you wanna end things?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll sleep fine tonight.”

With that, Allison walked past her brother and towards the elevator. As she did, everyone watched her in confusion, but they all figured what happened. Reginald trailed off his speech for a second before focusing again and reciting a poem.

“The sun rises over a lily’s field.

A mother veiled, her lips concealed.

The mourners come in droves of black

to bury what their hearts unpack.

With shallow breath and time eclipsed,

I pray you miss death’s gentle kiss.”

(Y/N)’s eyes moved away from Allison, who glared as the elevator closed in front of her, to Viktor, who pinched the bridge of his nose as his shoulders trembled. She ignored the applause Reginald received from Klaus, Diego and Lila, her heart broken for her brother and for her sister. Speech concluded, he bowed and took his leave for the night.

“I didn’t think the old man had it in him.” Five muttered.

“One of our biggest flaws as a family is underestimating the capabilities of our father…” She whispered, chugging her glasses down.

From the DJ booth, Chet nervously tried to revive the party. “Alright, alright. Time to turn those frowns upside down! This one is for all the party people in the place.”

The upbeat music that played through the speakers was just enough to get everyone out of their seats and back onto the dancefloor. (Y/N) made sure to get a good, long drink in before hopping from her seat and pulling Five with her onto the floor. Viktor watched them for a moment, but then he sniffled and wiped the tears from his face before joining his family.

Despite Reginald the Party Crasher and Allison blowing up at Viktor, the family still danced their hearts out with each other. For them, it was the least they deserved. Years of childhood trauma that carried to adulthood, then the constant threat of their impending doom, resulting in them being the only people left to celebrate the growing of their family…

Of course, they would be laying it all out.

Even with her spinning head, (Y/N) was so unbelievably happy to be there. The sight of Five wildly dancing with a bottle of alcohol in his hand was something she never thought she’d see, but it was certainly something she welcomed. She laughed aloud as she twisted and jumped and spun to the beat of the music, occasionally pulling people to dance with her. She even danced with Ben, and at some point, Diego was giving her a piggyback ride around the dancefloor.

Eventually, the dancing began to wind down into a slower tempo. Luther and Sloane held each other close as they danced, Diego and Lila sat together near the DJ booth, Klaus and Ben were off getting wasted together, Viktor sat beside himself to eat some more and Five stood on the dancefloor, dreamily watching as (Y/N) sang along to a love song into the microphone.

“Why do birds suddenly appear

Every time you are near?

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you.”

The girl could barely hold herself up, but she still put on a show. Her eyes were gently closed as she focused on how the lyrics and melody of the song went, but everything was so fuzzy. Still, she was in a very pleased mood.

“Why do stars fall down from the sky

Every time you walk by?

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you.”

Her eyes opened and immediately found Five, who sloppily grinned and waved at her, just as drunk as her. She returned the smile and continued with the song.

“On the day that you were born the angels got together

And decided to create a dream come true.

So, they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold

And star light in your eyes of blue.”

(Y/N) leaned her head back during the small pause, stumbling back a bit when she lost her balance, but composed herself and went back to the mic.

“That is why all the girls in town

Follow you all around.

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you.”

The song broke out into a short instrumental break, during which (Y/N) let go of the microphone and danced with herself. Since her eyes were closed, she failed to notice Five drunkenly doing the same. When the music signalled for her to come back in, she grabbed hold of the mic stand and sang the repeat with more passion than before.

“On the day that you were born the angels got together

And decided to create a dream come true.

So, they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold

And star light in your eyes of blue.”

Snapping her eyes open, she pointed straight at Five as she swayed her hips.

“That is why all the girls in town

Follow you all around.

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you.”

Completely enamored, Five made his way up to her and hopped onto the platform, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close as she seemingly finished the song.

“Just like me, they long to be

Close to you.”

She smiled at him as he leaned forward, peppering kisses to her cheek, moving his lips to her ear. “(Y/N)... I love-”

“WAH-AH-AH-AH-AH!

Close to you!”

(Y/N) interrupted him to sing her favorite part of the song as loud as she could, Five lovingly smiling at her as he held her steady. She began to repeat it, but he silenced her by pressing his lips to hers in a very uncoordinated kiss. Immediately, she was thrown off and wrapped her arms around his neck to keep herself from falling.

Sloane lifted her head from Luther’s shoulder to look up at him. “So, just to recap this night… Ben, Five and (Y/N) are blotto drunk.”

They broke out into chuckles.

“And Viktor and Allison almost punched each other out.”

“Oh… Yeah.”

“Yeah… And Dad recited a weirdly moving death poem.”

Luther scrunched his face up as he hummed. “You know, that’s not bad for a Hargreeves family wedding at the end of the world.”

She softly smiled at him. “You know, I didn’t need a big to-do. This is all I needed.”

He gently kissed her and held her tighter as she rested her head on his shoulder. This was all he needed, too.

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“Oh, guys! Come on!”

“Freaky little turds.”

Five and (Y/N) pulled away from each other when they heard Diego and Lila shout at them. They were just about to enjoy a peaceful time outside where the ceremony had taken place, but they found themselves bombarding a very intimate moment between the two teens. Five groaned and adjusted his wife’s dress so that it was properly back in place and moved to sit beside her, (Y/N) quietly and sweetly apologizing to them.

Diego shook his head at them and pulled Lila with him to the seating area built with stones. (Y/N) moved her empty heels out of the way so Diego could sit down, Lila following suit and resting her head in his lap. Surprisingly, those two were the least drunk of the party, Diego being careful with his liquor and Lila having not a drop. With a hazy mind, (Y/N) noted that as well.

“Is this where the party is now?” Viktor asked as he walked outside.

“Welcome, Viktor.” She grinned at her brother, who chuckled in amusement and sat at the top row of stones.

Luther and Sloane were the next to walk outside, staring up at the orange glow of the Kugelblitz above them. They made their way up to the rest and took their seats. “Hey, guys.” Luther greeted with a grin. He turned to Viktor and leaned close. “Hey, uh… I saw. And I… I appreciate you trying.”

Viktor looked down for a moment as his argument with Allison flashed through his mind, but when he concluded that he did all he could, he nodded to Luther in thanks. A commotion started when Klaus and Ben stumbled outside, approaching the group with alcohol and cigarettes.

“Oh, no, no, no, no!”

“Hey, what?”

“Klaus, why are you bringing Ben here?”

“Come on!”

Klaus quieted Five and Diego’s complaining by holding a hand out. “Guys, hear me out before-”

“Hear him out.” Ben repeated, placing the cigarette between his lips.

“The brother that you all knew as Ben is gone. And not- I don’t mean our Ben, the nice Ben. I mean this Ben. The asshole, he’s gone now.”

“Gone.” Ben whispered after gulping down some liquor.

Luther shook his head at them. “Klaus, what are you talking about?”

Klaus continued on as Ben animatedly nodded and pointed. “And the man that stands in front of you is new new Ben, and he’s one of us, and he’s a member of the team. And he’s part-”

“...part of the family!” The two of them exclaimed in unison. They broke out into drunken giggles as Five wiped his mouth.

“And as a welcome gift, I suggest we throw him off the roof.”

“Yeah, I’ll help.” Diego agreed.

“Come on!” Klaus playfully groaned.

Luther smiled and waved his two brothers off, pointing at Ben. “Hey, you know what? You know what? He can stay. He can stay.”

“Why?” Diego frowned.

“‘Cause it’s my wedding day, man. Come on. He can stay.”

Klaus and Ben quietly cheered and joined the family on the stones, quietly thanking Luther as they did. Once everyone was seated, their gazes moved up to the sky, where dark clouds painted across the bright orange canvas. It had slowed its course down, the lifeform that was left taking longer to get sucked into its end.

It was sort of peaceful, the way they all admired it. At any second, they could die with everything and everyone else in all of space and time. They found themselves so very lucky to be here now.

“Hey, you wanna know something?” Luther gently spoke with a smile. “Tonight is all I ever really wanted.”

“To get hitched?”

“Just… everybody coming together when it really matters. One big real family.”

Luther reached down and kissed Sloane’s hand, Ben and Klaus cuddled up along with Diego and Lila. (Y/N) wrapped her arms around Five and snuggled into his side, burying her face into his neck as he continued to drink. He wanted the moment to remain much longer, he really did, but his stomach swirled and groaned. He coughed and fled from her arms, hurrying a few paces from everyone as he gagged. Everyone exclaimed when they heard the grotesque sounds he made.

“Oh, I think I’m gonna hurl…” He murmured as they giggled. “Actually, uh, I think I’m hungry… See ya, guys. I’m gonna hit the buffet.”

“Me, too! Wait for me, bub!” (Y/N) stood and followed him back inside. Before she was gone, she turned to her family, blowing a kiss to them. “Goodnight! Thank you for having us! Congrats to the groom and bride!”

“Night, (Y/N).” Sloane smiled before the girl scampered off back inside. She leaned her head back to look at Luther. “Does she always get that drunk?”

Luther frowned and shook his head. “God, no.”

“Maybe we should call it a night.” Lila rose from her spot.

“Come on, it’s early.” Luther whined.

“Goodnight, guys.”

Ben watched her and Diego leave with a grin. “Where are we going? To bed?” He chuckled as he stood and began walking away.

“Who’s this guy?” Luther jokingly pointed at him with a chuckle.

“Ben.” Klaus sighed and ran to catch up with him. “Where’s he going? Where’s he going? This isn’t the end. Come on, who’s up for some more…”

“Scrabble?” Ben suggested.

“...karaoke… Yeah!”

Viktor smiled at the drunken conversation between the retreating pair and let out a heavy sigh. “That’s my cue.” He chuckled and stood, making his way back inside after bidding the night’s farewells.

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(Y/N) tried to stifle her giggles as she and Five staggered down the halls of the hotel, Five gripping a metal bowl full of food in his hand. She had almost dropped the bottle in her hand when her face smacked into the wall, but she steadied herself and followed after Five. He slammed his hand into a wall to keep himself from falling, but his halt caused her to crash into him, the two falling to the ground. Food and booze forgotten, Five rolled over and hovered over (Y/N), bringing her into a messy kiss. She hummed and kissed back as she ran her hands through his hair.

“With everything we’ve discussed, it’d be folly to wait.”

At the sound of Reginald’s voice, Five pulled away from his wife and staggered to his feet. The door to the White Buffalo Suite was cracked open, the boy only able to see his father in the room without opening the door any further. Reginald was facing someone who was blocked by the door.

“There is no time. I can’t do this without you. Do we have a deal?”

Reginald reached out and shook hands with whoever he was talking to. Before Five could burst in and get to the bottom of this, (Y/N) had found her way back to her feet and grabbed him by his tie, pulling him with her into the open elevator.

“Come on, bub. Let’s take this party to our room.”

Five’s eyes stayed trained on the door of Reginald’s room as (Y/N) pressed the button to their floor, dancing in place as the doors closed them off from whatever secret interaction had just occurred.

—————————————

Taglist: @natewrightt @sapphicsyn @m00n-sh @starcurrent @alexander-hamilhoe @youcandalekmyballs @wonderlandfandomkingdom @yrdadjstcallsmekatya @sm0kingcrack @sbyderman @moatsnow @bubblegumflamingos @starstormssymphony @meowiemari��@magicalgothpandamaker @keayastitties @hehehehannahthings @harryshomeismyhome @rhain3 @deigobonitooo @xxeiraxx @camerondiaz48104 @theyaremorethanjustfictional @that-can-of-fizz @luckyzipperscissorsbat @0range-slices @molzsecretspace @officialjypofc @dragon-master-kai @justsomecreaturewandering @fandomxo00 @roman0ffsheart @idktbhloley @wifeofcamillamacaulay @twsssmlmaa @teamspideyman @instabull @distinguishedmakerpandapatrol

[pocket-dragon]

POV you ate shit during the family drama hour and your adopted peepaw needed your dogs help finding the Temple

[1spooky2me]

A Very Human Moment (Part 1)

if y’all ever want to see a part 2 this better do numbers

Part 2

[anadorablekiwi]

The only thing stopping me from going home and hour early tonight is that i would have to call the acting producer manager and talk to a grocery manager at my store

[huariqueje]

Marsh at Dusk - Jeremy Miranda , 2024.

American , b. 1980 -

Acrylic on board , 19 x 12 in.

[tiger-grace]

(Batman gets de-aged in a fight)

Duke: he really does look like Damian if you squint, doesn’t he?

Jason, walking in: oh, look, it’s the poster child for untreated youth mental illness

Tim: no, thats Bruce, not-

Jason: did I stutter

[expressions-of-nature]

Mount Fuji, Japan by maruone

[halloween-sweets]

[ghostlywriterr]

The Baltic sea by Arvydas Ciuksys

[dumdumsun]

To Nightfall

A/N: And finally, Chapter 20!! Thank you to everyone who has given this series your love and support. It honestly means everything in the world to me that you guys read and enjoy it. This series is like my first-born child and I have a very deep connection with it. The writing process for this third installment was so fun and satisfying; this was probably some of the most fun I've had writing this series. I have no idea what the final season has in store for us, but I just hope it's a happy ending so I don't have to worry too much about Five and Reader. But until then, I hope you enjoy the final chapter of To Nightfall! Thank you all so much, happy new year and much love to you beautiful people ❤️❤️

Warnings: character death, violence, blood, mentions of death/dying

Word Count: 6640

—————————————

Chapter 20: Que Será, Será

The lights within the practically turned-over laundry room sparked as the guardian stood from the ground and dragged its katana back to its side. Surrounding it were about ten of (Y/N)’s clones, all lifelessly scattered around the floor. On the other side of the room, behind the dryers, was Sloane, (Y/N), Five and Ben, all taking cover. All of them sported some kind of face wound, except for Ben.

“You, (Y/N) and countless of her clones have hit him with your axes countless times. He should be dead by now.” Ben glared at them, as if they were the issue.

“It’s the armor,” Five informed. “It’s hitting like cement.”

“There’s a space,” Sloane explained. “Between the backplates.”

(Y/N) elevated herself a bit to look over the dryer, her ax still clutched in her hands. “We need to get behind him.”

“Let’s kill this thing.” She nodded and stood to her feet.

“Sloane, wait-”

“Hey, asshole!”

Before they could stop her, she ran out of cover. Five grabbed (Y/N) and blinked away as Sloane ran up on the wall. The guardian turned to her and, like it was nothing, flung a knife towards her. She cried out in pain when her exposed waist was slashed, resulting in her crashing to the ground. The guardian roared and marched up to her.

Just as it was about to attack her, Five’s whoosh sounded from behind it. Hearing the whoosh, the guardian turned and struck Five across the face, sending him to the ground. (Y/N) gasped and dodged the swing of its katana, running to stand behind it. However, she wasn’t fast enough and ended up being forcefully kicked to the other side of the room. She screamed out in pain when her back and head came into contact with the wall, the girl nearly knocked out cold when she hit the washer below her, then the ground.

She painfully lifted her head to meet the end of a katana, her demise staring her right in the face. Her heart rate increased as she tried to move quickly, but every part of her body ached too much to move. She whimpered as the guardian lifted its weapon high in the air.

Its attention was taken off of her when several tentacles wrapped around its body. The three turned their heads to see that Ben had emerged from cover and was using his power to hold the guardian back. He yelled with the strain put on him as the guardian struggled against the tentacles. His yells turned into cries of pain when the guardian ripped itself free, tearing apart the tentacles. As soon as they were injured, they retreated back into Ben’s body for recovery. He glared up at the guardian as it turned its back to the three, rushing up to Ben with his katana at the ready.

Opponent right where she wanted it, (Y/N) forced herself to her feet with a grunt and a groan. She scooped her ax into her hands and ran up on the guardian, swinging down and hitting it in its weak spot in its back. It abruptly dropped its weapon and fell to its knees, face-planting into the ground with the ax sticking out from its back.

Safe for the moment, the four exchanged looks of relief. (Y/N) let a smile twitch onto her face as she and Ben shared a nod. Perhaps Luther and Klaus were right. Perhaps there was a bit of the old Ben in him. Somewhere.

On the fourth floor, Viktor sped through the halls in search of anyone. “Five? Allison? (Y/N)?”

As he passed by a closet, he heard a very faint ring resonating from inside, but his adrenaline was too high for him to worry about it. That was, until the door was busted down. Spinning around, he was met with Lila, who stepped out of the closet looking disheveled and very pissed.

“Finally. Someone with a power worth mimicking.”

“Lila? Why were you in a closet?”

She exhaled and went to answer, but she caught sight of a guardian down the hall. “I’ll explain later.”

At the sound of a snarl, Viktor turned to be met with the ax-wielding guardian twirling its weapon through the air. “Shit…” He sighed out. “I’m tired of running.”

“Me, too.”

They shared a look before they both rolled their shoulders back and clenched their hands into fists, Viktor summoning his energy and Lila mimicking it. Unfazed, the guardian charged for them. They stared it down as they strengthened their power.

“This feels oddly familiar.” Lila referred to the war they fought against each other in 1963.

“At least this time, we’re not aiming at each other.”

They glanced at each other before turning back to the guardian and releasing their power, blasting it back. It flew down the hall and smacked into the floor with a loud thud, its chest sizzling with the gaping hole left in it. Lila chuckled and cocked her head in the opposite direction.

“Let’s go.”

In the lobby, the quartet had entered, unknowingly joining their family. (Y/N) felt her heart flutter when she saw Klaus being helped to his feet by Viktor and Allison, groaning in pain as he held his head. “Klaus!” She cried out, running up to her brother and tightly wrapping her arms around his middle. “Oh, my god! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

Klaus groaned and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “It’s good to see you, too, sister dear.”

Viktor stepped back from Klaus to assess Five and (Y/N). “You guys look like hell.”

“You try fighting a guardian.” Five tiredly mumbled.

“We just did.”

“So did we.” Ben added.

“Klaus, I thought you were dead.” Sloane awed. Klaus nodded and waved everyone off as (Y/N) pulled away from him.

“Yes, yes, I’m alive and amazing, despite Dad’s attempts to bash my brains in, but tearful reunions later. What you guys need to know right now is that… Dad killed Luther. And he locked me out of the tunnel, and he rang that stupid bell!”

Noticing Reginald walking about the front of the lobby, (Y/N) rushed up towards him with her family following behind. “What the hell are you planning here?!”

“We don’t have time for this, my child.”

“You killed Luther!” Sloane screeched, holding her bleeding side.

“I had no choice. You refused to come together as a team.”

Ben growled and shook his head. “All of your stupid myths and stories. There were never seven bells or Norsemen. (Y/N) was right, you didn’t bring us here to save anything. You brought us here to die!”

“That’s not so.” Reginald dismissed. “Somewhere in this hotel is the key to resetting the universe. We just need to find the sigil!”

“I don’t care about your sigil!” Sloane hissed. “None of us do!”

“Yeah, we barely survived that guardian with his stupid helmet and his sickle!” Diego roared.

As everyone continued to scream at Reginald, Five’s eyes began tracing a familiar shape on the floor. To get a better view, he ran up the staircase to look from the bannister.

“The guardian we killed had an ax.” Viktor frowned in confusion. (Y/N) turned to him with the same expression.

“I killed one with a sword.” 

Diego and Lila looked to each other and spoke in unison, “There’s one left.”

From the bannister, Five’s gaze trailed over the stars marked on the floor below everyone’s feet. The pattern they made was one he swore he saw countless times. The one on the tattoo he cut out of his older self, the one from Pogo’s book, the one on the pachinko machine at the Hotel Obsidian, the one Reginald had shown them in his journal. The sigil.

“Hey!” He shouted down at them. “I found the sigil! It’s on the-”

From the ceiling, glass shattered, the final guardian falling through. It threw the sickle-end of its chain towards Five and struck him in his arm. He screamed as a white-hot pain surged through his body, the boy falling to the floor.

“Five!!!” (Y/N) hollered and bolted up the stairs without a second thought. When she reached his side, she quickly sat him up and leaned him against the bannister. “Oh, god, Five! A-Are you-”

A strangled gasp left her lips at the blood spitting out of where Five’s arm should have been. Snapping her head to the side, her eyes widened at the sight of his arm lying on the ground a couple feet away from them.

Below them, the guardian landed in the lobby. It wasted no time in swinging its sickle into Klaus’s stomach, leaving a deep gash. It then tossed one of its explosives, blasting back some of them. The mace-end of its chain was thrown and sent into Ben’s abdomen. They were losing. They were all losing.

Meanwhile, (Y/N) was still composing herself as Five gasped and held the stub of his arm, blood spurting out from it. Thinking quickly, she ripped off the elastic waist of her harness. “Okay, okay.” She rushed in a panicked tone. “I got you, I got you.”

In the lobby, Diego had managed to land a few hits to the guardian, but they were deemed useless when the guardian simply swiped its sickle down and sent Diego to the floor in a heap. The only one left standing was Sloane.

The guardian snarled and stepped closer to her. She immediately held her hand up and used her power to halt it, but since she was already severely injured, she wouldn’t be able to hold it for long. She whimpered and strained until her power gave out. Just as the guardian went to attack, it was stopped.

It was stopped by Luther.

“Nobody hurts my wife, you son of a bitch.”

The guardian turned its head to face its smirking opponent, who had appeared behind it and was holding it by the sides. Luther let out a grunt before lifting the guardian and tossing it back, the armor-clad monster flying back and crashing to the ground. Luther didn’t even look at it, his focus on his teary-eyed wife. The two smiled before he approached her and gently pulled her into a hug. Sloane couldn’t find the words she wanted to say to him, rendered speechless by his sudden appearance. Despite the slightly-healed slash through his chest, he still looked exactly like the man she married one night ago. He was still her Luther.

He glared up at Reginald, who was staring in astonishment, yet disapproval. “All those years I stayed loyal to you. You wasted my life on the moon, and for what? To use me on this stupid mission?”

“You did have a purpose.” Reginald gravely responded. “I left you to guard the most precious thing in the universe.”

“And what was it?”

“You’ll soon understand. You all will.”

Having enough of his half-answers, Luther pulled back to lovingly peer down at his wife, cradling her face in his hand. Sure, she was battered and bruised, but she still managed to be the most beautiful creature he ever laid eyes upon.

Their gazes shifted to his hand when neither could feel the other’s touch anymore. Luther’s hand was fading, becoming transparent. He quickly turned to Klaus, who was splayed on the floor with his hand held out towards his brother, the blue hue surrounding his hand withering and dying out. “Klaus…”

He rasped as his other hand weakly pressed into his stomach wound. “I can’t… hold it.”

Not wanting to waste another second, he turned back to Sloane with a gentle, adoring look in his eyes. “I will love you forever. Okay?” He whispered, Sloane wobbly smiling and nodding in answer. The tighter she held him, the faster he seemed to disappear until she was left holding the empty air before her. Once again, the love of her life was taken from her. She was just thankful she could say goodbye this time. Though, as Allison and (Y/N) had warned, it still wasn’t enough.

And with one final breath, the blue of Klaus’s hand diminished as his body went limp.

From the bannister, Five let out a loud groan as (Y/N) tightly fastened the elastic strip near the end of his stub, the bleeding slowing to a stop. He would have kissed her and thanked her endlessly had they been in very different circumstances, but now was not the time. The both of them leaned against the bannister to look down at their family spread out in the lobby, their stomachs twisting when they noticed the final guardian gaining its strength and rising back to its feet.

“The sigil is in the lobby floor!” Five shouted down at them. “It’s the stars!”

“Children!” Reginald immediately called out. “Find a star on the sigil! Stand on it!”

As if on cue, Klaus sucked in a deep gasp and sat up straight from the floor with a groan, gently holding himself as he shivered vigorously. He had reanimated, and not only that, but his wound was completely healed.

“Ben, now’s your time, boy! Quickly!” Reginald shouted. Ben hesitated, but slowly stood from the floor as Sloane absently stepped to the side, stepping on the star beside her and causing the panel to click.

“Seven points, seven of us?” Viktor stumbled around in confusion. “We’re the bells?” He and Lila stepped on two other stars, the panels clicking and lighting up just as Sloane’s did. Right as Allison went to stand on a star, Reginald called out to her.

“No. Not you.”

Klaus staggered to another star and stood on it as the guardian straightened itself and situated its mask back onto its pore-cluttered face with a monstrous growl. “Hurry!” Reginald urged as Five reached the end of the stairs with his wife assisting him. “It’s the only way to stop him!”

Ben and Diego stepped on two more stars, leaving the last one dead in the middle. Allison, (Y/N) and Five stared at it before they locked eyes on each other. Awaiting the next move.

“Number Five, quickly!”

(Y/N) widened her eyes at Reginald. He wanted Five to go. Why did he want Five to go? Why not her? Why not Allison? It would make sense that Allison would be exempt from any danger considering they made a deal. Her heart hammered faster in her chest at the possibility of this being a sacrifice. She looked in the other direction to see the guardian swinging the mace-end of its chain menacingly. It was now or never.

The guardian let out a roar as she launched herself off the stairs and darted for the star. Before she could reach it, though, Five had blinked and appeared on the star. She fell to the ground at his feet and stared up at him in horror. His panel lit up and clicked before a beam of light cast down on each of the seven. A bright light glowed in their chests before a lightning-like energy blasted out of them and connected in the center to Five’s body. He cried out in pain as another string of energy shot out from their combined power and struck the guardian in its chest.

The monster dropped its weapons and shook uncontrollably until it fell to the floor, lifeless. An innumerable amount of cockroaches fled from out of the armor, causing the body to deflate into nothing.

The seven were released from the lightning-energy as (Y/N) stood to her feet slowly and stared at Five in alarm. He stared back at her and moved his mouth to speak, but instead of words, a strained gasp left his lips as his limbs locked and he threw his head back.

“Five?!” She gaped. Looking around, she realized that the other six were in the same state as him, indisposed by the beams that had them in their grip. Her eyes moved all around when she noticed every single inch of their surroundings crumbling and melting away until they stood in a bright yellow outline of what once was the Hotel Oblivion. “What’s happening…?”

Reginald walked around the seven and to the now empty front desk that rotated in a straight angle and came to a complete stop. He stepped through the opening of the desk as a hologram lifted from it, indescribable codes glowing and shifting around the screen-like surface as he used his hands to move them around.

(Y/N) watched in horror as the color drained from her family’s faces. This scene was all too familiar. She remembered the night of Viktor’s concert when he had nearly killed them all, when he had nearly killed her. She remembered her brothers and husband having the lives drained from them with their faces sinking in and their bones straining against their skin. If it was possible at all, and it proved itself to be, they seemed worse off now. Because whatever was killing them now was showing no sign of stopping. And she could do nothing to stop it.

“This wasn’t part of the deal.” Allison hurriedly walked up to Reginald. “You’re hurting them.”

“I can’t stop now.” He replied, sparing her a glance. “It’d shut down the machine.”

“What machine? I don’t understand.”

“The hotel was just a facade. We’re stuck inside a machine in another dimension. Whoever created the universe built this place.”

(Y/N) whirled on him. “What are you doing to them?!”

The beams shone brighter and the seven screamed louder.

“What are you doing?!”

“The particles inside their bodies are the only things that fuel the machine.” He explained as the same particles ejected from Harlan were being extracted from them. (Y/N) realized then that those were their lifesource, what they were made of, what fueled their powers. They weren’t entirely of this world, but of another somewhere she may never find.

Five moved his eyes to her, the only part of his body he was able to control. “You have to stop him.” He choked out. “He killed Luther. He tried to kill Klaus. He won’t stop until we’re all dead.”

And she wanted to, she swore she did, but when the volume of their cries increased along with the brightness of the beams, her need to help them spread further in her heart. Without thinking, she reached her hands out to grab hold of Five’s arm, but as soon as her hands made contact with the beam, an unbelievably striking pain shot through her body. She wailed in pain and drew her hands to her chest. She stared down at her quaking hands to see that the color had faded from them.

Allison gasped and turned back to Reginald. “You need to stop.”

“I’m almost done. And when I am, you and I will get what we came here for.”

“No, you are killing them!!!”

“Everything in life has a price.”

She glanced at her dying family one last time before whipping her head to Reginald.

“Stop!!!” She screamed, her eyes glowing that bright orange once again. Unfortunately, the hologram surrounding Reginald also acted as a forcefield, which blocked out her power, rendering her harmless.

(Y/N) was sick of it. She was sick of Reginald’s lies, his deception, his constant betrayal towards anyone in his path and the countless half-truths he spewed towards them. He cost too many people their lives. He killed Luther, he tortured her and her siblings throughout their childhood and when they tried to escape the abuse, he pulled them right back in. (Y/N) remembered that night the breaking news of his death was broadcasted on every news channel around the world. A heavy weight had lifted itself from her shoulders and for a second, she actually felt free. She would do anything to feel that again.

Anything.

The moment she spotted the sickle on the ground, she dropped to the floor and clutched it in her hands. She locked eyes with Allison, who simply nodded at her. It was the perfect opportunity, with Reginald turned away from her and completely engrossed in his work. She could end it all. She could save them all.

“This is for (Y/N).”

The girl lifted the sickle and slashed Reginald in the side of the face with it. His hands drew away from the hologram, causing the beams of light to vanish, releasing the seven. They all fell to the ground with coughs and groans. (Y/N)’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as she and Allison fearfully backed away from Reginald.

Half of his face was now gone, the inside of his head anything but humane, a green substance oozing from his head rather than blood. He crashed to the ground in a lifeless heap, his otherworldly blood dripping down the other side of his face. He wasn’t human. He never was.

Figures.

Without another thought towards him, (Y/N) dropped the sickle and rushed over to Five, wrapping her arms around him and lifting him into her lap. “Five? Five, look at me. Look at me. I’m here… I’m here.”

Five coughed and weakly held her hand in his. It was deathly cold and almost limp, but she kissed it all the same. She pressed his palm against her cheek in hopes of warming it and he smiled tiredly at the sentiment. With slight difficulty, he turned his head to the side, eyes widening. “Allison…”

She looked up to see her sister standing before the hologram, her hand hovering over a glowing red button on the screen. “Allison! Stop! We don’t know what that does!”

“Allison, stop!”

Allison turned her head away to look at Viktor, who shakily got to his feet and glowed a dim blue, his power sputtering a bit. “Don’t make me do this!”

“Do you trust me?” She whispered.

He paused for a moment because, ultimately, he did trust her. As foolish as it was, he knew that after everything, Allison’s intent for her family was good. She wasn’t behind Luther’s death, she didn’t want Klaus to die. Whatever deal she made with Reginald would save them. And he believed that wholeheartedly. That was why he let his power deactivate.

“Viktor, what are you doing?” Five frowned. “Stop her!”

Allison smiled at Five with misty eyes. “You don’t need to worry about (Y/N) anymore, Five.” She sweetly whispered with genuine care in her tone. “She’ll be okay soon.”

(Y/N)’s face morphed into terror.

“She’s gonna be happy.”

Everything about that did not sit right with her at all. (Y/N) inhaled deeply and carefully stood to her feet, her hands letting go of Five. “(Y/N)? (Y/N), what are you doing?”

“I’m stopping her.”

The girl jumped over Five’s body and bolted towards her sister. Allison sniffled and smiled wider at her before turning back towards the button.

“Allison!”

Her hand reached up.

“Wait! Allison, don’t!!!”

Her hand neared the button.

“No!”

Allison pressed the button.

-------------------------------------------------

The night was dark and stormy when the cab pulled up to an extravagant home settled in Beverly Hills, California. Thunder rumbled as Allison climbed out and shut the door behind her. She stared up at the house she hadn’t been to in so long. This time was going to be different.

Allison reached under the potted plant on the porch and picked up the spare house key, just where she knew it would be. She unlocked the front door and took little time to observe the interior as she made her way through the lounge room and up the winding staircase. The door to Claire’s bedroom was open, as she knew it would be. Allison stood in the threshold of the door, her heart warming and picking up pace as she smiled at the little lump on the bed, turned away from her, wearing a silk scarf for her hair. She gasped and choked on a sob as she moved towards the bed.

Exhaling, Allison sat on the edge with a wobbling smile, gently placing a hand on the child’s leg. “Claire…” She whispered.

The little girl turned, the beautiful face Allison had been yearning to see smiling tiredly at her. “What’s wrong, Mama?”

Allison joyfully laughed and brought her daughter into a tight hug. “Nothing, baby.” She sniffled. “Oh, I’m just so happy to be home.”

A lifetime without this moment felt like eternity for Allison. Her constant fighting and tears and bloodshed felt all-for-naught up until now. Now that her beautiful Claire was in her arms once again, her heart felt whole again. She didn’t think she could be any happier.

“It’s where you were always meant to be.”

Her eyes snapped open at Ray’s voice. Slowly, she turned to meet her husband, the same age as she left him in 1963, smiling fondly at her. “Hey, baby.”

She tilted her head with a grin, her entire chest warming with the growth of her heart. Ray’s smile widened before he nodded to Claire. Allison looked back to her daughter and took her smiling face into her hands, thumbs caressing the apples of her cheeks and her lips pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. Everything she wanted was right here, in the home she had missed so dearly.

She hoped (Y/N) was just as happy where she was.

-------------------------------------------------

The ding of the elevator sounded before the doors slid open. It revealed five pathways that all met in the center of the outside memorial, where a stone platform stood. Viktor stepped out first, followed by Five, then Diego, then Lila, then Ben, and then Klaus. The six slowly walked about the greenery around them that stood between each pathway as some sort of decoration.

“Cool.” Lila laughed. Five walked up to the stone platform to see that it held a statue of Reginald’s head. He looked down at the plaque engraved in the stone.

OBSIDIAN MEMORIAL PARK

Graciously Donated By

SIR REGINALD HARGREEVES

The 1st Day of October 1989

Another timeline with Reginald Hargreeves.

Viktor turned his head back to the elevator when he noticed someone else step out of it, a bright smile stretching across his face. “Luther?”

Luther looked around at them with wide eyes and a hopeful smile as his brother approached him. “Oh, shit. You can see me?!”

“Yes!”

“I’m alive?!”

“Yes!”

“I’m alive!” He cheered as Viktor threw himself into his arms, Luther catching him and holding him tight.

“Luther’s alive!” Klaus cheered as well.

“Oh, my god!” Lila grinned.

Now back on his feet, Viktor took a look at his brother and gaped in amazement. “Wait. That’s not all, big guy.”

“Huh?”

Luther looked down at his body and realized that his abnormally large muscles and beastly body hair was gone. Once again, he was back to his normal size. His size before Reginald had injected him with that serum. “Whoa! Oh, shit! My body! Wait.” He marveled at his figure as Klaus joined his side. “I look amazing.”

“Luther’s all svelte now.”

“Wait. I gotta show Sloane!”

Five lifted his arm and then froze when he realized he lifted his arm. “I got my arm back…”

“This is so cool. W-Wait… Where’s Sloane?”

Klaus blinked a few times. “Oh, she was, uh… She was right behind me-”

“When Allison hit the button.” Lila reminded.

“She’s gone, too.” Diego pointed out.

Five’s heart sank to his stomach when he didn’t spot his love anywhere. He twisted his body every which way in hopes that she would emerge from a corner or step out of the elevator. “(Y/N)’s gone, too… Has anyone seen (Y/N)?!”

“Last I saw her-”

“She was trying to stop Allison.”

“Would they be in the same place?”

He held his head in his hands as his siblings’ voices overlapped. He tried to wrap his head around it all. They were in a different timeline. They were standing in the hotel. Well, where the hotel used to be. Reginald had done it. He reset the universe.

“You got your fingers back!” Lila gasped and held Diego’s hand, the man grinning in relief.

“Sloane? Sloane!” Luther called out before marching up to Five and fisting the front of his suit jacket. “Hey, I don’t care about your resets, alright? I want my wife back. Where is she, Five?”

Five lifted his head. “I’m glad you’re alive, but take your hand off me.”

“Not until you give me an answer.”

“My wife is missing, too, Luther, and I would like to get to the bottom of it if you would let me go.” He jerked his body forward, but nothing happened. He was still in the same spot. He didn’t jump. “Something’s wrong…”

“That’s right. You’re about to get your ass kicked.”

“Yeah, kick his ass.” Diego excitedly grinned.

“No, you moron. My power.” Five frowned at Luther. “I can’t blink.”

At once, everyone tested out their power. Luther clenched his fists, but they didn’t squeeze nearly as tight as they used to.

Diego twirled his knife in his hand, but it slipped from his fingers and clattered to the ground.

Klaus held his inkless palm out to summon a spirit, but nothing happened.

Ben shut his eyes and braced his core for his tentacles, but nothing within him moved.

Viktor tried to summon his energy, but his hearing was no longer advanced enough to listen to the sounds around him.

“This means I’m mortal again?” Klaus whined. “Awe, man!”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Ben shook his head. “How do we get ‘em back, you idiots?”

No one answered, because no one had a single clue as to what they just got themselves into. Luther began to back away. “I gotta… I gotta go find my wife.”

Klaus gasped and turned to Luther as he ran down one of the pathways. “No! Luther, you can’t go. You were dead five minutes ago. You’re fragile!” He turned back to his family. “I gotta go after him.”

“No. Wa- Klaus, wait!” Diego called as Klaus followed after Luther.

“I’m out, bitches.” Ben hissed and strode down another pathway.

“Guys, come on!” Viktor called out. “We should stick together and figure this out-”

“Well, what are we supposed to do?” Diego questioned. Lila looked up at him with raised brows.

“Live our lives?”

The two clasped hands and shared a hopeful nod before heading down another pathway. This left Five and Viktor to stare at each other in disbelief. Just like that, the family was once again separated. Five couldn’t entirely blame them, but a part of him felt betrayed by his siblings.

He couldn’t think about that right now, though. Because he had his own agenda. He needed to find (Y/N).

Without a word, Five turned and exited down another pathway. Viktor’s shoulders slumped as he watched him go. He had no idea what this new timeline had in store for him, for his family. Was there another apocalypse to come? Could they finally live in peace as they so desired? He didn’t know. All he knew was that everything they had gone through, every hardship within their lives, had started and ended with Reginald Hargreeves.

“Asshole.” He spat at the statue before heading down the last pathway, leading him into a world run by the very man he thought he defeated.

None of them knew it yet, but the water they stepped into was deeper than they ever anticipated. None of them knew it yet, but they had just set out their new lives…

In a Reginald Hargreeves dystopia.

-------------------------------------------------

As soon as (Y/N) creaked her eyes open, she shut them tight against the glaring sunlight that seeped through her blinds. She groaned and lifted her head, gingerly rubbing her temples to soothe the aching. She did it again. She stayed up too late. She couldn’t keep doing this, but the deadline for her drafts was approaching quicker than she thought.

Wait.

Her drafts?

She blinked and frowned down at the typewriter before her, a half-finished chapter typed out on the paper. She vaguely remembered working on this chapter what felt like a lifetime ago. Before the news report, before the funeral.

A tiny bark had her head snapping over to the left, where she saw a small golden retriever bounding up to her and pawing at her pajama pants. Her heart fluttered. “Mr Pennycrumb…?”

The puppy happily yapped and pawed at her calves. With a joyful laugh, she gently picked him up and scratched behind his ear just like she knew he liked, giggling giddily as he licked at her face. “Oh, my baby! I’ve missed you! Yes, I missed you, baby!”

Mr Pennycrumb wiggled and jumped off her knees, landing on the floor and skittering out of the slightly ajar door. (Y/N) shook her head and blinked rapidly as she looked around. She was in her old bedroom. The bedroom she used to share with Anthony. The bedroom she never thought she would return to.

“What the hell?”

She stood and headed over to the door, but froze when she passed by her mirror. Slowly, she backpedaled until she was staring at herself. Immediately, her hands flew to her chest and she gaped at her body. She nearly jumped for joy at the sight of her adult self staring right back at her. No longer was she in that prepubescent body. Yes, she felt a bit less energized now that she was older once again, but she preferred this much more than what she was forced into for so long.

(Y/N) gasped and reached her hands up to run over her now scarless face. Those dreadful lines that interrupted her features and reminded her of such a terrifying time in her life, were gone. She could feel tears building up in her eyes at her relief. When she blinked them away, she noticed that her hands were back to their original skin color. It was like she was completely reset. Did this mean Five was back to normal?

“Oh, god… Five!” She ran to her bedroom door and flung it open. “Five!”

She choked on her words at the two heads that perked up at her voice, distracted from their morning cartoons. She nearly fell into the wall as tears she didn’t even feel building up this time started to spill down her face.

“Mama!”

“Good morning, Mama!”

(Y/N) sobbed and ran to the couch with open arms. “My babies!”

Jada stood on the couch and jumped into her mother’s arms, wrapping her little legs around her waist as (Y/N) crushed her daughter against her. “Jada! Oh, my sweet baby girl!” She pulled away to press kiss after kiss to her soft cheeks, the girl’s heavenly giggles causing more tears to escape. “Oh, my god… Oh, my god… I missed you, babyface. I missed you so much!”

Jada gave her mother a kiss on the cheek before she was gently set back down on the couch. (Y/N) picked up Michael and gave him the same treatment, which surprised him, since he was told that he was getting too heavy for her to hold.

“Mama’s baby boy! My beautiful baby boy! I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry I was gone! Mama’s never leaving you again, you hear me? Never. Never ever!”

“No more business trips?”

“No more business trips.” She peppered kisses on his cheeks, his forehead, his nose, his lips.

“Mama! Gross! Stop!” He laughed and wiggled out of her grip until he landed on his feet.

(Y/N) kneeled before her babies and brought them into a tight hug. “I’m so happy I’m home…”

“I’m happy you are, too.”

She let go of the children and turned to see her mother exiting the kitchen with a soft smile, her signature purple slippers on her feet. “You’ve been working yourself to death lately.”

“Mom…?”

“I made breakfast. It’s still warm, so I suggest you get it now-” She stopped when (Y/N) threw her arms around her and hugged her tight. Furrowing her brows, she slowly hugged back. “Um… Alright. Good morning to you, too, honey.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.” (Y/N) sobbed. “This is- Oh, god- This is-”

“Hey, hey. Breathe, (Y/N).” She pulled away and wiped her daughter’s tears away. “Wow… You really need to work out a sleep schedule. Here, why don’t you have some coffee?”

That was when (Y/N) remembered. “Oh! Where’s Five?”

“Who?”

She blinked. “Five. My husband. I-I introduced him to you.”

“Honey, what? Are you talking about Anthony?”

The front door to the house opened, (Y/N)’s face dropping at the man who stepped inside.

“Dad!”

“Daddy’s home!”

Michael and Jada ran up and hugged Anthony, who was alive and well. He was dressed in business casual attire and his goatee was freshly trimmed. He set his briefcase down and picked up Jada, gently kissing her cheek. “Ya miss me?”

“No more business trips for you, either, Daddy!”

“Yeah, you and Mama have to stay here with us and Grandma from now on!”

Anthony softly laughed and shut the door behind him, plopping Jada back onto the couch and ruffling Michael’s hair. “I’ll think about it, alright? Morning, Mom.”

“Welcome back home, Anthony.” (Y/N)’s mother hugged the man and kissed his cheek. “How was your trip? You’re just in time for breakfast.”

“Smells great. I’ll tell you all about it.” He gently smiled at her before pulling away and turning to (Y/N), his smile melting into a more tender one as he walked up to her. “Hey, baby…”

(Y/N) couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak. This wasn’t possible, it couldn’t be. Anthony was dead. She had to see his body for the autopsy. She had to put his funeral together. He couldn’t be here.

But then again, Mr Pennycrumb was from the sixties.

When Anthony brought her into a kiss, she closed her eyes for only a moment, she only kissed back for half a second, she relived her old life for a speck of time before her eyes flew back open. Because this was not her husband. Not anymore. She was promised to Five, devoted to him, and she had no intentions of changing that. Not even for Anthony.

He pulled away and gently kissed her forehead. “Did you just wake up?”

“I… um…”

“You know she did.” Her mother chuckled and walked into the kitchen. “She was up again, trying to finish her drafts.”

“She’s a hard-working woman.” He squeezed her arm. “It’s what I love about her.”

(Y/N) watched Anthony walk into the kitchen with wide eyes, her mind racing. As she examined her home, she recognized minor differences. Anthony’s obituary was no longer sitting on its own shelf, Ben’s favorite books were missing from her collection, the family photos were updated. The last time Anthony held Jada, she was just a baby. But those photos couldn’t have been taken more than a few months ago. Swallowing, she looked down at her hand.

The white bracelet that belonged to Sparrow (Y/N) no longer took its place on her wrist. She never even remembered taking it off. But that wasn’t the worst of it.

Her new wedding ring was gone, replaced with the old one she had taken off long ago. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t right at all.

“What’s wrong, Mama?”

(Y/N) turned to the couch to find her children staring at her with big, curious hazel eyes, Mr Pennycrumb happily wagging his tail between the two.

“Oh, god…” She shook her head as the aching in her temples worsened. “Something is… very wrong.”

—————————————

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THE FOURTH AND FINAL INSTALLMENT, "Before Daybreak", IS COMING TO YOU SOON!! Thank you for reading ❤️❤️

[pocket-dragon]

Durge murder aura detected

[vizuart]

Eugène Jansson - At Dusk (1902)

[plains-flora]

july 22, 2017

[huariqueje]

Dusk - Jeremy Miranda , 2024.

American , b. 1980 -

Acrylic on board

[herbalnature]

The warm glow of sunset kisses the top of Devil's Tower, standing tall against a pastel sky. Below, a field of frost-touched grass adds a layer of tranquility to this serene landscape.

[expressions-of-nature]

Fuji at Dusk by Maruone