Ryder went outside to have some privacy with Klaus, he answered and put the phone up to his ear. "I just saw, Klaus I'm so sorry." Ryder hums responding to Klaus.

"I can be whatever you want me to be, I could come to the funeral with you if you would like me to Klaus."

Ryder smiles wide as he listens to Klaus's response. "I'll be there, I promise Klaus. Do you want me to pick you up?" Ryder started to walk back inside and ignored the questioning looks from his family and grabbed his bag while listening to Klaus on the phone.

"Got it, casual. I'm getting dressed right now."

Ryder used his shoulder to open his bedroom door, he didn't look around like he wanted to and take in that he was finally home, he had other things on his mind.

Ryder bid his goodbyes to Klaus and got changed, as requested it was dark but casual Ryder would never wear this if it was anyone else's funeral but Klaus requested.

He slipped his phone in his pocket and made sure he had his wallet before going back out to the living room where his family was left stunned. "Where are you going?" Florence asked, Ryder knew she didn't really care. "I'm going to a funeral."

It seems that Holden pieced the two together first. "For that rich old man? How do you know him?" Ryder grabbed his jacket that was by the door and put it on while answering Holden's question. "My friend from rehab Klaus is one of the Umbrella Academy kids." Holden's eyes lit up whereas Elizabeth looked at Ryder with concern.

"Are you sure you should be hanging out with this Klaus? What if you relapse again?"

Ryder shook his head quickly. "Klaus and I are accountability partners, not to mention best friends. Now if you excuse me, I have to go save my friend from his family."

||

Ryder looked up at the Umbrella Academy mansion nervously, he followed Klaus's instructions but actually being here Ryder felt like a fish out of water. He knocked on the door slightly, when the door opened he felt a smile pull at his face.

"Ah! Mr. James, Klaus told me to expect you. I'm Pogo."

Pogo held his chimpanzee hand out for Ryder to shake which he did with great pleasure. "Nice to finally meet you Pogo, I've heard a lot about you over the years." Ryder knew about all of the Hargreeves siblings and he's even heard a few stories about their "Mom" Grace.

"Where is Klaus if you don't mind me asking?"

Pogo pointed upstairs. "He's in Master Reginald's office, you can wait right in there." Ryder nodded his thanks and walked into the living room where Pogo pointed.

He sat awkwardly in the middle waiting for Klaus to come back downstairs, Ryder looked up when he heard heels clicking on the floor and a woman who Ryder knew Allison as came into the room. Followed by the one Ryder knew as Vanya. "Do we know you?" Vanya asked sitting slightly far away from Ryder on the couch.

Ryder shook his head. "Klaus's friend." Ryder gave them a tiny smile and it fell quiet. "Didn't know Klaus had friends." Allison regarded quietly sitting on the chair in front of the fire. Ryder clenched his hands Ryder jumped when the fireplace roared a little bit but he held his hand out and lowered it so it looked like a fluke luckily no one noticed.

Ryder watched as Diego and Luther came into the room, they nodded at him at first but they looked at him with surprise. "Ryder! You came!" Ryder had a smile spread across his face when Klaus said his name, Ryder hugged Klaus tightly.

"Is this your latest partner?"

Klaus shook his head making his hair flop. "Not yet dearest Luther." Klaus winked at Ryder who looked down to hide his blush. Luther huffed and sat on the couch opposite of Vanya and Ryder, Ryder noticed that Diego kept watching him out of the corner of his eye sitting in a chair in front of the fire.

Ryder heard the telltale sign of Klaus opening a bottle behind him at the desk that Ryder saw when he first walked in. "If you're going to pour you a drink I want some too Klaus." Klaus walked over and handed Ryder a drink and sat on Ryder's lap even though the couch had plenty of room. "So, I figured we could have a sort of memorial service in the courtyard. Say a few words, just at Dad's favorite spot." Luther starts outstanding up making all the attention go on him. "Dad had a favorite spot?" Allison looks puzzled.

"You know, under the oak tree."

At the confused looks that the family gave Luther, he continued. "We used to sit out there all the time. None of you ever did that?" Ryder hummed in realization and sipped his drink.

"Will there be refreshments?"

Ryder hid his smile in Klaus's shoulder. "Tea? Scones? Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner." Klaus held a cigarette to Ryder's face and Ryder shrugged and took a puff blowing out slowly.

Luther sputtered. "What? No, and put that out. Dad didn't allow smoking in here."

Luther shook his head and began to get back on track. "Listen up, still some important things to discuss, all right?" Diego looked at Luther. "Like what?"

"Like the way he died."

Diego nodded slowly and rolled his eyes. "I don't understand, I thought they said it was a heart attack." Ryder voiced sipping on his drink slowly. "It's not any of your business since you aren't family but according to the coroner it was."

Vanya backs Ryder up. "Well, wouldn't they know?"

"I'm just saying, at the very least, something happened. The last time I talked to Dad, he sounded strange."

Klaus leaned his head back on Ryder's shoulder, Ryder squeezed his body slightly letting Klaus know he was there for him. "Strange how?" Allison leaned forward in her chair. "He sounded on edge. Told me I should be careful who to trust."

Diego stood up and began talking. "Luther, he was a paranoid, bitter old man who was starting to lose what was left of his marbles." Luther shook his head dismissively. "No, he must have known something was going to happen." Luther turned his attention to Klaus. "Look, I know you don't like to do it, but I need you to talk to Dad." Klaus pointed to himself, Ryder heard Allison scoff.

"I can't just call Dad in the afterlife and be like, "Dad, could you just stop playing tennis with Hitler for a moment and take a quick call?" Luther looked at Klaus confused. "Since when? That's your thing." Ryder felt the urge to defend him, from the corner of his eyes he can see the fireplace flame get bigger. Ryder took a few deep breaths and the flame gradually got smaller.

Ryder was brought by his thoughts with Klaus nodding laughing. "How are you not, listening to this nonsense?" Ryder nodded in agreement with Klaus.

"Well sober up, this is important. Then there's the issue of the missing monocle."

Ryder couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Who cares about a monocle?" Luther nods in agreement. "Exactly, it's worthless. So whoever took it, I think it was personal." Ryder's mouth drops open when he realizes what Luther is getting at.

Klaus squints his eyes. "Where are you going with this?" Diego crosses his arms and looks at Luther. "Oh, isn't it obvious, Klaus? He thinks one of us killed Dad."

Luther didn't respond. "You do?" Klaus's voice sounds hurt so Ryder squeezes him a little tighter which Klaus seems to sink into. "How could you think that?" Vanya looks equally as hurt.

Diego clapped slowly. "Great job Luther, way to lead."

"That's not what I'm saying."

Klaus grabs Ryder's hand and began to pull him up. "You're crazy man, You're crazy."

Ryder let Klaus drag him away from the family, he needed a break after what happened.