CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

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(A/N: Some of you might be wondering why I didn't make Maddie go with Five like she did in season 3, well, you will find out later the reason why I didn't wanted Maddie to go with Five, it was not just because of the kids, it was actually because of another certain reason which you will understand later)

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"So what do you think the next timeline will be like?" Lila looked at Five "Hopefully, this one will be it. I mean, how many timelines are there anyway? Do you think we'll visit every single one?" she asked.

"This is it" Five said and she looked at him "What? What do you mean?" she asked.

Five exhaled heavily, rubbing his temple as exhaustion threatens to consume him. He met her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of fatigue and determination. "This is the last timeline, Lila. After this one, we're done. We're going back home. No more timelines" he said.

Lila blinked in surprise, disbelief creeping into her expression "Wait, what? Are you serious? We can't stop now, Five. There's still so much to do. You can't just---" "I can and I will" Five cut her off "I'm done, I'm so done. This whole timeline exploration bullshit is pointless from the start. A stupid idea that was never going to work. I thought we could make a difference, but I've had enough" Five said.

She scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface "What the hell are you talking about? If it's sp stupid, then why did you agree to do it in the first place? You agreed to this mission. You signed up for this. You can't just give up now cause you're tired---"

Five clenched his fists, his patience wearing him "Because you're family, Lila" he snapped "I did this because I care about you. You're my brother's wife. My sister-in-law. I knew you needed space from him, from your life and I thought I could help. But this...this is too much. I can't keep doing it" he said.

Her expression softened momentarily until her eyes flashed with anger, but there was something deeper there, something that made her voice tremble when she spoke "I don't need your pity, Five. I never did" she shot back.

She paced in front of him, her frustration building up "I don't need your pity!" she snapped, her voice rising in the volume. She wasn't sure why she was so angry, perhaps it was the exhaustion or the weight of her own frustrations "I genuinely wanted to stop this fourth apocalypse. I'm trying to help" she said.

Five met her gaze without flinching "Pity?" he scoffed "I care about you, Lila. I do. But sometimes, you make it damn near impossible to not want to kill you" he said.

"Oh yeah?" she challenged "Then go ahead. Kill me now!" her words were sharp, cutting through the tension that filled the air.

Five glanced at Lila but didn't react. He stayed still instead. His silence only made Lila's anger grow. She marched over to him, grabbing the front of his collar and yanking him towards her "Go on" she spat, her eyes blazing "Finish me off, Five! I dare you!"

For a moment, the tension between them was suffocating. Five's expression never wavered, but the storm brewing inside him was palpable. Yet, despite everything, he said nothing. He simply pushed her away from him.

Lila's breath came in ragged gasps, frustration and anger warring within her. Her hands shook as tears began to well up in her eyes, she hadn't realized how close she was to breaking until that moment.

Five finally decided to break the silence "You can't keep running from your problems, Lila. You have to talk to Diego. I'm not your therapist. I can't always be the one to listen to your problems, be the one who's here for you. I have my own life too, and right now, I need to get back to my my wife Maddie and our kids, so I can protect them 'cause I have a feeling that my wife is still in danger" he said.

A small chuckle came from her before taking a deep breath.

"You're right. I'm such a mess...I tried to change Five. For Diego. For the kids. But here I am, still running away. Still avoiding everything instead of facing it" she looked down before looking at him again.

"I'm so sorry for everything. For dragging you into this. I was used to Maddie being strong and handling things on her own, that...it slipped my mind that she could still be in danger. I was selfish, Five. And I'm sorry" she said.

Five exhaled slowly, a tired but genuine smile appearing on his face. "Thank you for understanding, Lila" he said quietly.    

---

The train finally stopped and Lila and Five stepped out as soon as the doors opened but it was not the right timeline, so they stepped into the train again before sitting down disappointed.

Five and Lila had spend months that felt like years in the abandoned subway. The plan to divert Ben from going on the Moldovan mission had failed and the only thing on their minds was returning back home to their families. The two of them had been surviving on things they have collected over time, such as snacks and bottle water.

YEAR ONE

 Five and Lila was still sitting in the train as it was driving down the tunnel, hoping that it would stop at the right timeline.

Five stretched the map to the side towards her and she grab it.

The train stop and the two stepped out before looking around the station to see if it was the right timeline but no, so they got into the train again and it drove down the tunnel while the two was sitting on the floor in the train.

Five pulled out a picture from his inner pocket before looking at it. The picture showed, Maddie, Sam and Noa that Five have taken. It was the same picture he always have on him when he is off to work. 

"I promise I will find my way back to you, no matter what. I will not stop until I'm back with you three" he said. 

I'll come back for you
Back some day for you
If it's too hard for you
Then do what you gotta do

As the train kept driving, Five put his legs up while he was laying on his back on the seat with the map covered his face while Lila was sitting on top of some other seats. Both of them bored to death, just waiting for the train to stop at the right timeline.

"If we went two stops ago, we would be in the right station" Lila said as the two entered the train again after arriving at the wrong timeline.

"It's completely your fault. I said to go eastbound. This is your fault" she said "How do you think we're eastbound?" he asked "This is westbound!" Lila said out loud as the two were arguing.

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YEAR TWO

The two was in the train station in another timeline. Five was preparing some blanket while Lila was sitting by the fireplace looking down at the food they were making.

Because of and Five's survival skills and pervious experience, he knew how to survive so that was not a problem for them. 

The two kept trying to find a way back to the right timeline, but it was like they were stuck.

The two were looking for food in the station and Lila lifted chewing gum machine up from the ground before she shook it and she laughed as she could hear that something was in it.

Both her and Five crouched down as Lila handed him some chewing gum before eating her chewing gum and she laughed while Five smiled, happy over they found some food.

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YEAR THREE

Both Lila and Five was sitting in the train, just looking straight ahead, their hair messy and their clothes dirty. They were both covered in dirt marks and ash from  a timeline they had juts visited and had to try and survive in. They were still so desperate in coming home, but they were lost.

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The two were sitting in one of the train stations across each other playing a game with different small stuff they had found.

Five turned to cough and while he was looking away Lila moved one of her pieces.

When he looked back Lila moved of her pieces, taken two of Five's pieces which caused Five to narrowed his eyes and she laughed which made him smile.

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YEAR FOUR.

Lila was sitting on the floor with her right leg up as Five was slowly removing a piece of glass out of her foot "Ow! Ow!" she said as he took it out.

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Five looking in some broken glass on the wall, while he was shaving as Lila was cutting her hair.

Five grab a rag and wipe his face.

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YEAR FIVE

The two was sitting in the train as it was driving down the tunnel. Their face looks lost and they were.

Then suddenly Lila lay her head on Five's shoulder as she fell asleep.

Five looked at her and he slowly and gently move her head on to the other side so she had her head rested against a part of the bench.

He let out a sigh before he pulled up the picture again to look at it. "I promise I will find my way back to you, no matter what. I'm not giving up" he stroke his thumb down the picture.   

I'll come back for you
Back some day for you
If it's too hard for you
Then do what you gotta do

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YEAR SIX.

Lila and Five was laying close to each other in train station to keep each other warm. 

"I love you Five, always and forever" Maddie smiled to him "I love you too Maddie, always and forever"  Five smiled back.

Suddenly Five found himself on a grassland with Maddie standing in front of him.

Five moved closer to you "Love, I'm on my way to come back to you" he said "You are?" she asked and he nodded "I'm coming back to get you, Maddie. Back to us" he said "You're never going to give up on me, are you?" she asked softly and he smiled a gentlee yet determined smile that spoke volmues "I've waited and lookd for you in every timeline. I'm not giving up on you" he said as he put his hand on her cheek and she leaned into his touch.

Five opened his eyes "I promise you Maddie, I will come back to you. To you and the kids. I will not give up. I will find my way back to you" he sighed.

But I can't turn around when I just figured out what I need so be
But baby, I'll come back for you
Back some day for you

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Maddie was sitting in the living room, reading a book when Alfred entered "Someone is here to see you Mrs. Maddie" he said "Who?" she asked "Someone name Allison and Clarie" Maddie's eyes widened "Let them in" she said and he nodded before leaving.

Maddie closed her book and got up as Claire and Allison entered the living room "What are you doing here guys?" she asked "We need your help" Allison said "And why should I help you?" Maddie put her arms on cross as she looked at Allison.

"I get it that you are mad, but it has being six years" Allison said "Yeah, but I don't forget or forgive that easy" Maddie said "You forgave Five when he left" Allison said "That was different, the first time was an accident and the second he did it to save us" Maddie said "I did it to save everyone too" Allison said "You still should have told us" Maddie said "Like you told us that you still had your powers?" Allison asked.

"Guys stop" Claire said and the two looked at her "Klaus is in danger" she said and Maddie's eyes widened "We need your help to save him" Claire said "Then let's go" Maddie said before she looked at Alfred "Watch the kids while I'm away" she said and he nodded "Shall I call for the bodyguards?" he asked "No need to" Maddie said before the three left.

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Five and Lila was sitting at the subway. Five was sitting in the station with the train behind him as he was sitting looking down at the fire him and Lila have made where some rat they have caught was being burned so they could eat them.

Five took off his wedding ring before he looked into the circle "Always and forever" he whispered and suddenly memories of him and Maddie was showed which made him smile.

It showed him and Maddie when Noa took his first steps.

The ring showed a memories of Maddie finding Five in the bedroom playing on a guitar.

"I didn't knew you could play" she said and he looked at her "Well, I'm self taught" he said "When?" she asked "It was two months after I landed in the apocalypse. I found a guitar that remind me a lot of that one I gave you. And I remember how much you loved playing on it. So I thought why not try, then maybe we could play together one day. So I thought myself how to, took me a long time but I managed and I now understand why you loved it. Beside it was a good way to pass the time. And it also help me keep my hopes up in finding a way out of that place so I could surprise you" she smiled at his words before walking over to him and he removed the guitar before she sat down on his lap.

"I love you, always and forever" she said "I love you too, always and forever" he said before they kissed.

Five smiled as he looked at the memories "I will come back to you my love, I promise" he kissed the ring before he put it on again.

And the distance could kill us, or make us strong
It ain't right to be apart from you for so long
And this world is out to get us but,

He then pulled up the picture of Maddie and the kids before smiling at it.

Baby don't be jealous
'Cause I'll come back for you
Back some day for you

Lila came over to him before sitting down next to him to see that he was looking at the picture "I know you miss them, they miss you too" she said "Noa and Sam is good. They are nothing like me. I thought if I could make something so good. So pure. Maybe I'm not a monster" Five said "You are not a monster Five" Lila said and he looked at her.

"We will find our way back. I promise" she said "I'm not giving up. Just like last time, the thought of seeing Maddie again is keeping me from losing hope"  he let out a sigh before he put the picture back in his inner pocket.

Six years, almost seven. Six years of eating rats, bugs, pigeons, carcasses. Six years without Maddie's touch. Six years drinking dirty water, old sodas, unknown liquids. Six years without Maddie's voice. Six years of talking to himself. Six years of her name echoing in his mind. Six years without his family. Six years without his wife.

Five felt alone even so he was not alone. He still felt alone. Old him wouldn't agree. Apocalypse him would be grateful to see at least one face that had life in it. But he wasn't. How could he? He grew unused to it. He craved much more. He was greedy now. He wanted Maddie back. He needed to go back. He promised he'd go back. Maddie was everywhere. She was the flickering lights, she was the symbols on the wall, she was the cold on his skin, she was the warmth of the fire, she was the water he drank, she was the blood he spilt.

How long did he have before he lost his mind? Six years gone, maybe seven was his limit?

"I don't think I can eat another subway rat" he said "If you add an orange peel to it, it kind of tastes like duck á l'orange" she said "Care to guess how long we've been down here?" he looked at her "Long enough I found my first gray hair" she said as Five eat a piece of meat.

"And it's not on my head" she looked at him and he exhales bemusedly before he folded out a calendar he had made "Well, according to my calendar, it's been...six years, five months, two days" he said "Yeah, well, we'll find a way home soon enough, right?" she looked at him "Of course. If we don't get stabbed, shot, or blown up the next time we go topside" he said and she nodded.

He then folded the calendar "You know in some of those timelines, we would've been lucky to get out alive" he put the calendar in his bag before looking at her "Yeah, well, we're still kicking, so we must be doing something right" she smiled before looking at him.

"I think my marriage is over" she sighed "I don't think it is" she looked at him "My brother love you Lila. You and him have something that most people would kill for" he let out a sigh before looking at her "Don't let go of him, it's rare to find someone that see all your flaws but still love you. Someone who sees the light in you and brings that out. So don't let go of that" he said and she let out a sigh as she look down.

"How do you and Maddie keep it going?" she asked "Communication, we listen to each other, If you disagree on something, if you want to tell them how you feel, sit down and talk. Understand each other, do not interrupt. A way to prevent an argument is just to calm down and listen to what the other has to say. Keep in mind that you both want this to work. Work through it together. Communication and trust is key to a successful relationship. Do not keep your feelings to yourself, you won't want to explode in the future and make things worse. Don't be afraid of what your partner might think, they are there to accept you, not to judge you. We don't have any secret for each other. We have date nights while someone is watching the kids. We spend time with each other. Express love and appreciation. Prioritize emotional and physical intimacy. Set aside quality time together. Engage in shared interests. Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, and marriage is no exception, but it's how you navigate it that makes all the difference. Support each other's growth and personal development. Respect each other and also forgive the other when one of us is an idiot. Nurture fondness and admiration. We give each other space when the other need it. Apologize when you're wrong. Take a walk hand in hand. Go to bed together. Make time for each other. We respect each other's choices and support each other. Always give a hundred percent together. The idea behind teamwork in your marriage is that both of you are working together to make this work. To get to that hundred percent every day, and if you both feel like you can't get there, still be there to support each other every step. No matter the struggle, no matter the downfalls, no matter what happens, be there for each other whenever you can" he explain.

"Don't you two fight?" she asked "Yeah, we fight, but every couples does. But we don't give up on each other. Arguments are normal. What matters is that you makes amends and move forward together. Whenever Maddie and I get into a bad argument, we both learn to push back our ego and apologize for our part in the fight" he said "Whoa, I didn't expect those words to come out of your mouth, you are the last person I would think of about giving relationship advice" she said and he chuckled "Me either, but that is how Maddie and I make it work" he said before he looked at her "Maybe you and Diego should do that" he said and she did a small nod while letting out a sigh.  

"Listen I know I always said it was just a mission, but I've never apologized. I really am sorry for killing your parents" Five said "I've made peace with it. I have my family now. But it means a lot that you apologized" she said.

"Do you remember that  timeline we found the day? At the greenhouse?" he asked and she looked at him "And the strawberries. What about it?" she asked "Seemed pleasant enough. There's no feral hogs there. No secret police. I was thinking we could maybe set up there for a stretch" he suggested "So you're giving up?" she asked "No, absolutely not, no one said give up, but...it's been almost seven years, Lila. We deserve a break. You know, a bed. A shower" he said "I would strangle a kitten for a hot bath" she said before looking at him.

"Just a few days, okay? This does not mean that we're giving up" she said "No, of course not" he shook his head "Trust me I want to get back home just as much as you do. I'm not giving up, I will find my back way to my wife and kids, no matter what" he said "Okay" she nodded.

Every second that passed that he wasn't thinking of a way to get back felt like a waste of time. A waste of breath, a waste of his life. But that life soon wouldn't even exist if he didn't take care of his body. He was feeling the effects of their situation for some time now. The constant headaches, the emptiness in his stomach that seemed to be consuming him from the inside out. And it was literally in a way. His muscles almost completely deteriorated from the lack of nutrients.

That did not mean he was giving up. He would never give up. He made a promise. It was tattooed in his brain.

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Allison stopped her car in an alleyway "Is this the place?" she asked her daughter Claire that was sitting next to her while Maddie was sitting in the backseat.

"Yeah" Claire nodded "It's his favorite" she said and Allison looked at her "Have you been here before?" she asked "No, no" Claire looked at her mom "I've never been inside" she said "So you have been here before" Allison said "In a cab, Mom. To get Uncle Klaus" Claire said and Allison rolled her eyes.

"God! For once in your life, you just need to chill" Claire said "Guys let's just go" Maddie said as she unblocked her seatbelt and Allison did the same before she looked at her daughter "We're gonna talk about this later. Wait here" she said as her and Maddie got out of the car.

The two walked over to the door before Allison knocked on it "What do you want?" a guy asked on the other side "Open up!" Allison said and the guy looked through the peek hole "Piss off!" he said before closing the peek hole again.

Allison scoff before she looked at Maddie who rolled her eyes before shoving her left hand forward, blowing the door down with her powers causing it to land on the guy.

Both Maddie and Allison walked into the building before looking down at the passed out guy "Now, where are your manners?" Allison asked before they could hear indistinct clamoring in the distance.

"Come on" Allison said and the two walked farther into the building and down the hallway.

"This is not creepy at all" Maddie said sarcastically as she looked around the empty and dirty hallway.

The two looked into a room to see two sex workers who just looked at them before Maddie and Allison continue walking.

"Next week" guy said before walking out of a room as he rolled up his zipper by his pants "Sorry" Maddie and Allison as the guy walked past them.

"Excuse me" Maddie said as her and Allison peek into the room and a woman looked at them "We're looking for our brother, Klaus" Maddie said "Have you.." but the woman just looked down at the floor "Okay" Allison said before her and Maddie kept walking down the hallway.   

"I will look this way" Maddie pointed before walking to the right while Allison took left and she came to a room at the end of the hall "Klaus?" she whispered as she stepped more into the room.

"Klaus?" she asked but suddenly some hit her in the back of her head with a bat "Oh!" Allison fell to the floor and the guy chuckled.

Allison was bleeding a bit from her forehead as she turned to look at the guy "Seek, and ye shall find" the guy pointed the bat at her.

"So Klaus is your brother, huh?" he lowered the bat "I guess pretty and stupid runs in the family" he said.

Then the sound of energy thumbing was heard as Allison tried to use her powers, making her eyes glow white while the lights was flickering on and off while as a chair started moving.

The guy glanced at the chair as Allison stopped her powers, he chuckled "Yeah" he drop the bat "That was cute" he crouched down to grab her collar.

"I had to let Klaus go. But seeing as you're a woman with such special talents, parhaps you'd be interested in filling his vacancy" he said and energy started thrumming again as Allison tried to use her powers which made her eyes glow white.

The guy just chuckled "But I gotta ask, are you a ballbuster. 'Cause one thing I cannot abide on my crew is a ballbuster" he said.

"Hey asshole" Claire said as she entered the room "Clarie, no!" Allison said as the guy let go of her while Clarie swung the bat but the guy grab it "You brat!" he pressed Claire against the wall.

"Hey" a voice said and the guy turned to see Maddie "Step away kid" the guy said "Step away, I can step on your neck" she said "I would like to see you try" the guy smiled "Come at me asshole" Maddie said.

The guy let go of Claire before throwing a fist towards Maddie but she dodged the fist before kicking him in the stomach causing him to stumble back. 

The guy charge at Maddie again but then her eyes glow red and she lifted up her hand and with her powers she lifted up the guy before pressing his back against the wall.

"Goddamn bitch!" the guy said "Are you two okay?" Maddie glanced at Clarie and Allison "We're fine" Allison said as she got up.

"Took you long enough" Allison said sarcastic "How about a thank you?" Maddie asked and Allison scoff before she turned to the guy.

"I think you might be right. I am a ballbuster" she said "What?" the guy asked and Allison's eyes glow white orange before she looked between the guy's legs and the sound of flesh crunching was heard as she with her powers crushed his balls "No, no, no!" the guy said before he started screaming as the sound of pulpy pop was heard and Allison crush his balls with her powers causing him to moaning.

"Holy---" Allison shush him.

"Oh shit. Oh shit" the guy said and Allison step closer to him.

"Now, where's our brother?" she asked and Maddie glance at her "Or the next time it's gonna be your heart" she threated "Pet cemetery on Sycamore. He's buried there" the guy said "Which grave?" Allison asked "What the hell are you two?" the guy glanced at both Maddie and Allison.

"I'm an actor, motherfucker" Allison said "And I'm a singer and the Red dragon" Maddie said before the two turned around "Well, he was rude" Allison said as the three left and the guy fell down as Maddie let go of him.       

A/N: I don't know if you are going to love or hate me for what will happen in the next chapter.

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