CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: BIRTHDAY PARTY.

---

THREE YEARS LATER

Maddie was standing in front of a photo-shoot as the flashing from the camera went off.

"That's it Mrs. Delany" a photograph said as Maddie tried different post.

"Perfect"

"Beautiful"

---

After the photo-shoot, Maddie's phone rang and she picked it up.

"Hey" she put the phone to her ear "Hey Maddie, it's me" a voice said "Hey Luther" Maddie smiled "I was just calling to hear if you and Five are coming to the birthday party" he said "Of course we're coming. Beside Noa have being looking forward for this party for weeks, he wouldn't stop talking about it, it is his cousin's birthday party" Maddie said "That's good" Luther said "How about Viktor?" Maddie asked "I have talk to him, but he is not sure" Luther said "Well, it has being a long time since we were all together, but give him time. He live in Canada and is very busy" Maddie said "So are we, but we are coming" Luther said "Yeah, but we also live close to each other, but he will come" Maddie said.

"I have you heard from---" "No" she shook her head knowing who he was talking about "Not since he said goodbye to us and went his own way over six years ago" she sighed "Well, I hope that wherever he is, he is okay" Luther said "He is. And maybe one day he come visit us" she said.

"Yeah. Well, I gotta go on stage, but see you at the party" Luther said "See you" Maddie ended the call.

Then her assistant name Jessie walked over to her with a mug of coffee "Here you go, Mrs. Delany" she handed the coffee to Maddie "Thanks" she took a sip "Has my husband called back?" she asked "No" Jessie shook her head.

"By the way you have another recording in a few hours" Jessie said "Well, canceled it, I can't go, my niece is having her birthday party, and family is more important than everything else" Maddie said before she grab her things "You can take the rest of the day off, I will handle the rest" she said and Jessie nodded.

Maddie then put on her jacket and grab her bag before leaving the photo-shoot. She then got into her dark blue car before driving off.

---

Five was dress in a old pilot jacket, sunglass hanging on his white shirt, and he was wearing a fake mustache.

He was sitting with a bunch of people as they were all sitting in a circle in a room where on the door was there a sign that said.

THE KEEPERS

Close Meeting

12:00PM

"My name is Gus" a guy said "Hi, Gus" the group said "I've been searching for the truth my whole life. Then I found this group. And it was like a lightbulb went off. For the first time, I heard people talking about what I was going through" Gus said "Exactly" a group member said.

"I realized there's nothing wrong with me. It's this timeline, man" Gus said "Yeah" another member said.

"It's screwed up!" Gus said and members murmurs of agreement "I know and I come here and say anything" Gus said "Yeah" another member said.

"I...I could say Sir Reginald Hargreeves is actually an alien who is secretly grooming a cabal of teenager super soldiers, and something called the Red Dragon is real and is just waiting to destroy us all, and the only one that can stop it, is something called the Guardian, and you guys actually know what I'm talking about" Gus said "Keep going" a group member said as some of the people nodded.

"And now" he grab a guy's that was sitting on his right hand "I have hope" he grab a woman's who was sitting on his left side hand.

"'Cause I know a cleanse is coming" Gus said "Yes" a member said "Amen" Gus said and the group clapped.

"Thank you, Gus. Thank you" the group leader said before he looked at Five who was sitting next to him.

"How about you?" he asked and Five looked at him "Got anything you wanna share?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure" Five said as he glanced at the members around him.

"Hi, my name's Jerome" Five said "Hi, Jerome" they all said.

"I'm still new to all this, but I can tell you folks, what you're talking about is real" he sighed "You're not crazy, I know because I've been to other timelines. I don't look it, but I'm 46. When I was 13, I spend twenty-seven years lost in a future apocalypse. Watch the person I love the most died in front of me, more than once. And I was involved in the Kennedy assassination" Five explain with a sad voice.

"Speak your truth" a group member said "All that's unraveling now. I don't know what's real and what's not anymore. I feel like I can't trust anybody" Five sighed "All I know is I'm glad to have found all of you" he finished and group members mutter supportively.

"That's it. That's all I got" Five looked at the group leader "It's okay" he said and everyone clapped.

"Good share"

The group leader looked at Five "You wanna hear some real shit kid?" he whispered and Five looked at him "I'll take you to a real meeting" he said.

--

Five entered the building of CIA. He looked at his wrist watch that Maddie gave him when they were kids as he walked further into the building.

He had just returned from his undercover mission to spy on the Keepers in their secret meeting. The Keepers are a support group know to experience some sort of thinking about their other lives in other timelines. Five had to investigate it, as he needed to know how people started remembering their different lives in another timeline.

Attending these meeting also gave Five some sort of twisted therapy. With the Keepers, he can vent out his feelings from his past adventure.

A young agent with shirt yellow hair and glasses approached Five "You're late" he said as he handed Five his black suit.

"I know" Five grab the suit "Thanks Derek" he said.

"Mustache" Derek said "Right" Five took off the fake mustache before giving it to Derek who gave him the file.

"By the way your wife called, something about a birthday party" he said as he handed Five a file "I know, I will call her after this" Five said as the two walked up some small stairs.

"He's waiting in his office" Derek said as the two walked farther up the steps.

---

Five changed into his suit before him and Derek walked into a office where the boss was which was a black bald guy in a suit.

He was CIA Deputy Director Lance Ribbons.

Five gave his boss the file before him and Derek sat down.

"The Keepers function mainly as a support group, but with strong cul-like tendencies. Membership is rapidly growing across all metro areas in the US, as well as Europe. It's all there in my report, sir" Five explain.

"What's the organizing principle?" Lance asked "They believe we're all somehow stuck in the wrong timeline" Five explain "Well...just a bunch of loony tunes, if you ask me" Lance closed the file before folding his hand "Drop this Keeper nonsense. Move on" he said as he looked at Five "I think it's time you got back to your other cases. Ladybug, Panama, Chicken Wing" he said "Sir, I am making progress with this" Five said "Now, you listen to me" Lance got up.

"You have makings of a fantastic spook. A suspicious mind. A love of complexity and detail. A certain maturity that most of my young agents lack. Play your cards right, you'll be running this place someday" he said "Thank you for saying that, sir" Five said.

---

Maddie was sitting by some chair in a huge building with Noa and Sam.

"DADDY" Noa said as soon as he saw his dad Five walking down some steps.

"Dad" Noa got up before rushing towards his dad "Hey buddy" Five crouch down before opening up his arms as his six-year-old son jumped into his arms.

Five gave his son as hug as he lay a kiss on the side of his head "Did you had a fun day at school?" he asked "Yeah" Noa nodded.

"Daddy" Sam said and Five opened up his arm as his three-year-old daughter rushed over to him before hugging him.

"Hey Sweetpea" he gave his daughter a hug and also kissed her on the side of her head.

Five then watch his wife Maddie walking over to him and pulled away from his kids before standing up.

"Hey Love" he said with a smile as she approached him "Hey Hon" they gave each other a kiss.

"EWW" Noa and Sam said as they made a face in disgust.

"What a surprise" he said "Yeah, the kids missed you" she said "You didn't missed me?" he asked, making a sad face. "Of course I did" she lay a kiss on his cheek.

"Noa is just really looking forward for that party" Maddie said "Cousin Grace told me there is going to be a lot of things" Noa looked up at his dad before grabbing his hand "Come on dad, I don't wanna be late" he said "Well, then we better get going" Five said and the four left the building.

---

Five, Maddie and their kids arrive at a place called 'Lil' Monkeys' where Diego's and Lila's daughter Grace's birthday party was being held.

"Maddie, Five" someone said and the couple saw Luther walking towards them.

"UNCLE LUTHER!" Noa and Sam rushed over to Luther who crouched down "Hey" he smiled as he hugged his niece and nephew.

"You guys are getting bigger" Luther pulled away "You Noa look more and more like your dad. And you Sam look more like your mother" he said and the two kids smiled as Luther ruffled their hair.

"NOA!" a girl called out and Noa turned his head to see his cousin Grace running towards him "Happy birthday Grace" Noa said "Thank you, come, I gotta show you something cool" she said and Noa looked at his parents.

"Mom, Dad, can I go play?" he asked "Of course Goofball, have fun" Five said as the couple nodded and Noa smiled before he ran after Grace while Sam walked over to her parents.

Luther then stood up to look at Maddie and Five who approached him "I'm so glad that you guys could make it" he said "Of course, we wouldn't miss it for the world" Maddie said.

"Where are the others?" Five asked "Well, Ben is here" Luther said "Ben is out of prison?" Maddie asked and Luther nodded "Good behavior" he said "Klaus and Viktor?" Maddie asked "I don't know about Viktor, but I know Klaus and Claire is coming" Luther said.

---

While kids were running around, Diego was standing over by the cake as he was on the phone.

"Hey, sorry. Excuse me" Lila said as she was pushing her way past the kids as she was wearing a green birthday hat while holding a piñata that was form as a Lama.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she approached Diego who hang up the phone.

"Cake" Diego replied "We haven't even done the piñata. Piñata first, then cake. What the hell is wrong with you?" she gave him the piñata before leaving.

---

As Sam was playing in the ball pit with some other kids, Maddie, Five and Ben was standing over by it holding a bottle of beer each.

"What was it? A Ponzi scheme? White-collar fraud?" Five asked Ben "Crypto exchange" Ben answered as he pick up a white ball "Web 3.0, baby. Feds only went after me because I'm an outsider. A fucking maverick like Elon" Ben said "Well, that and you bankrupted 100,000 people" Maddie said "The whole thing was a witch hunt" Ben said "Yeah, well, say what you will. It's still good to have you back" Five said "It is" Maddie said.

"Cheers" the couple said and the two cheered with Ben.

Then Luther pump up from the ball pit with a big smile "Ha-ha" he laughed while Sam giggled "Uncle Luther, you're so funny" she smiled.

"Gotcha" Luther pointed at Maddie, Five and Ben but they just looked at him, Ben look kinda annoying while Five just took a sip of his beer.

"Come on. It's been years sine we've been together like this" Luther said "He is right. Not even on Noa's or Sam's first birthday was everyone there which I'm still disappointed about" Maddie glance at her husband and Ben.

"Maybe we should be together more, it has being a long time since we were all together" she said "Every think maybe there's a good reason for that?" Ben asked.

"Where's Viktor?" Maddie asked "Oh, uh, he said he was coming" Luther said "What about Allison?" Five asked "Oh, well, she's usually a no-show, right?" Luther said "Let her stay away" Maddie mumbled "Maybe it's better that way" Luther said.

---

"The money's decent right, and I make my own hours, so there's that" Diego said as him and Five was carrying two small boxes each "But my team supervisor is a real dickhead man. He's always riding the stick" Diego said "Yeah, that seems tough" Five said as the two put the boxes on a table "Most importantly, it's just a waste of my God-given talents you know" Diego looked at him as Five pick up his bottle of beer.

"When do you think I'll be hearing back from the agency?" he asked "Sorry?" Five asked "The CIA, bro. You gave 'em my résumé, right?" Diego asked "Right. Yeah" Five nodded "That's heading up the ladder as we speak" he said "That's what I'm talking about huh!" Diego patted his shoulder.

"You told 'em I know multiple disciplines?" Diego asked.

"Dad" Noa ran over to Five "Come play with me" he grab his dad's arm "Two seconds" Five said.

"You told them that I know, Hand-to-hand. Karate. Aikido. Hapkido. Krav Maga. Jujitsu. Muay Thai. Kendo. Sambo--" "Diego, I let 'em know. I told 'em" Five put his hand on his shoulder "Right now I gotta play with my son" he said before he let Noa drag him away just as Maddie came over to the table, putting a small box on it.

"He did gave them my résumé, right?" Diego looked at Maddie "If he said he did, he did" she said "Then why have I not heard anything from them?" Diego asked "Relax bro, think about how busy CIA is, and they are getting résumé in every day, they will get to yours, beside they are idiots if they don't choose you" she said "Thanks sis" he said.

---

Maddie was standing next to Five who was standing with Ben and Luther over by a ball bit that Sam was playing in.

"Klaus?" Luther suddenly said when he spotted Klaus entered the party with Claire.

"Hey, buddy!" Luther waved and the three others turned to look at Klaus.

"Hey" he said as Luther approached him with a big smile "Good to see ya! Come here!" he said and was about to hug him but Klaus stop him as he sputtering "Sorry, don't touch. Spasibo" he said "Right, yeah, of course" Luther said.

"Klaus" Maddie smiled "Hey sis" Klaus smiled as he patted Maddie on the shoulder.

"UNCLE KLAUS!" Sam said as she rushed over to Klaus before hugging his leg.

"Hey princess, you are getting taller" Klaus ruffled Sam's black hair.

"He is a germaphobe now and extremely sober" Five told Ben as the two approached Klaus "Hi, Klaus" Five smiled.

"Benjamin!" Klaus's eyes widened when he looked at Ben "Klaus" Ben said in a not to happy voice "Wha...When did you get out?" Klaus asked "About an hour ago, but I'm strongly considering robbing a bank to get back in" Ben said before he turned around and left.

"Daddy, mommy, when can we have cake?" Sam asked "Soon, buttercup" Five said.

"Yeah, just give me a second. Okay" Lila said to a woman as she was trying to control the party "Hey, let go of her!" she pointed on a kid.

"Sorry, excuse me. Hey" she pushed her way through the playing kids as she walked over to her husband who was standing by the piñata.

"What are you doing? Just string it up" she said "You said you were on the west side this morning?" Diego asked "Yeah. I dropped off the kids, and I picked up the piñata. So what?" she asked "So this is an east side piñata" he said "Excuse me?" she asked "This is clearly an east side piñata" he looked at the piñata "Check out the craftsmanship, check out the fringe" he said.

"Okay, listen, we needed a piñata, so I got a piñata. And right now, we need more soda, so please, can you hurry up?" she asked "Where were you this morning?" he asked "Fine, I'll get it myself" she said annoying before leaving, walking past Five and Maddie who were playing with Sam while Noa was running around playing with Grace and the other kids.

---

Klaus was talking to Lila's family "Haven't seen Viktor today but Viktor ended the world twice" Klaus said "Tell us about Allison?" a woman asked "Oh, yeah, Allison she set up this whole timeline. She stole her daughter from another one, and..." Klaus said "Oh scary!" a woman said.

"And then there's Luther!" Klaus pointed at Luther behind them "Luther used to be part gorilla and now he's an exotic danser" Klaus said and Luther waved at them "Hi" the two woman said "Hi" a man said as they waved at Luther who waved back before walking away.

"Which one went to prison?" a woman asked "That's Ben" Klaus said before he spotted Ben "Benny-boy!" Klaus waved at him but Ben just gave him the finger "Yeah, I love you too" Klaus said "And who's the real screwed up one, yeah?" a woman asked "Uh..." Klaus said "You know, the teething cheating addict?" she asked "Oh!" another woman said "What a scumbag" another woman said "Yeah, that would be me" Klaus said and the group started speaking in foreign language.

"Klaus?" a voice asked and Klaus turned around to see Maddie and Five "Oh, hey!" he approached the couple "Maddie, Five. How's it going?" he asked "Fine" they both said.

"So, how long have you being sober now?" Five asked "Oh uh, coming up on three years on January 15th, but who's counting right" Klaus said "That's amazing. Really good for you" Five said "Yeaah, you are doing so good, I'm proud of you brother" Maddie patted his shoulder.

"Thanks you two, I really appreciate it" Klaus said and the three cheered their cub.

"So how it is going with you two? How is the family married life treating you?" Klaus asked "Good" the couple nodded "We're living a wonderful life, I have a wife, kids, a job, a home" Five wrapped his arm around Maddie "What more can a man ask for" he kissed her cheek which cause her to smile "And I have everything I wanted, so life is great" Maddie said.

"You two are so cute, I'm so glad that you have each other and two mini you running around" Klaus said "Well, we also love it" Maddie said.

"I think you two should made a third one" Klaus said "We have actually not talk about having another kid" Five looked at his wife "Let's wait and see, and then time will tell" Maddie said "Understatedly" Klaus nodded.

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