2006

Esme sat on the edge of her windowsill, looking out the window blankly.  Her empty eyes watched the white flakes gently coat the ground.  There wasn't a sound to be heard, well...to her there wasn't.  Esme was in her own little world.

"Esme...Esme."  Diego stood a few feet behind her, trying to get his sister to get out of her own head.

The loss of their brother was weighing on everyone heavily, no child their age should be going through what these children went through.  What they're still going through.

Diego walked closer to Esme then took a seat next to her on the windowsill.  Tears slowly made his way to his eyes, he didn't try to fight them away.  He was grieving and maybe this time he will allow himself to cry.

"Come back Esme."  Diego pleaded, grabbing her hand gently.

"Come back!"  He said louder, his voice cracking.

Esme's little switch in her head seemed to come back on, she blinked a few times before tightening her grip on her brothers hand and placing her other on top of his.

"Hello, brother."  Esme gave him a small smile.

Diego felt his tears leave his cheeks and fall beneath him and he looked to her, tears still swimming in his eyes.

"It'll be okay."  Esme reassured him and he shook his head.

"How?"  He croaked.

"You just have to believe." 

Diego looked out the window, then looked back at her, his eyes were now red and his cheeks were wet from the salty tears that he once shed.  His lips parted and he just looked at her.

"I gave up believing a long time ago."

The Hargreeves siblings made their way to the back, each carrying an umbrella above them. All except Esme who was huddled under with Diego who had a secured arm around her.

Esme stopped having her own little umbrella at an early age. She thought it was more fun to share one with someone. Saying, "it brings two people closer together" and it always stuck. She would take turns with going under her siblings umbrellas, but she was mostly under Diego or Bens...well. Guess just Diego now.

The family looked at the small coffin that sat in the middle. Esme couldn't stop looking at it. Her brother was in there. But she reassured herself that his soul wasn't. Just his body now. Small. Small. Small. That's all that repeated in her head.

No coffin should ever be made that small.

Diego looked to his right, where Mom was standing. He could see the sorrow in her eyes as well, he then went back and looked at the coffin.

"Your father is ready to give the eulogy, children." Pogo told them as Reginald made his way between Pogo and Grace.

"The world is full of injustice. Good people die along with the bad. This cosmic equation will never change unless evoke itself is wiped from existence. Thankfully, there are powerful forces pushing back against the wicked and iniquitous, individuals who have the strength to pull together."

Reginald went on as Allison and Luther glanced at each other. Klaus and Vanya looked at the coffin with tears streaming down their faces while Esme and Diego were thinking the same thing.

'What kind of eulogy is this"

"Unfortunately, none of you are such people. Despite years of training and weeks of preparation, you allowed Number Six to die on this mission."

Diego gripped his arm tighter around Esme as he felt anger build up in him, looking at his so called father.

"It wasn't our fault." Allison spoke out.

"I-I tried to help him but he pushed me out of the room and blocked the door." Esme could feel tears building in her eyes as she recalled what happened that day.

"Excuses? Especially you Number Zero. You should know better." Reginald looked from Allison to her who coward into Diego slightly.

"The Umbrella Academy has failed one of their own, the consequences of which are dire. Hold onto this feeling, children. Let it fester into your hearts...so there is never a next time. Training will be canceled today out of respect for your brother. We resume tomorrow at 6 am."

With that Reginald left, with Grace and Pogo following after him, leaving the siblings there.  After a moment of silence, Vanya was the first to speak up.

"It wasn't anybody's fault."

"How would you know, Vanya?  You weren't even on the mission."  Diego looked at her.

Vanya stared at him then glanced to Esme before hurrying off back inside.

"Nice going, asshole."  Luther told Diego.

"What?  We were all thinking it."  Diego defended himself, letting go of Esme as she kneeled down at the coffin and gently ran her pale hand over the picture of Ben.

"Oh, so you're thinking, Diego?  That's a first."  Allison fired back.

"Screw you!"  Diego told her angrily before heading back inside.

He didn't even bother to ask if Esme wanted to come back, he was just filled with hate at this point.

"Hey!"  Luther called, making his way after him with Allison following.

"Dad was right.  We should've done more.  This didn't have to happen."

Klaus stayed where he was looking at the coffin and his sister.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep.  I am not there."  Esme spoke out loud, no tears in sight, just a faint smile.

"It's a poem.  I've been saying it a lot since that day."  She stood back up as the snow gently scattered on her hair.

Esme made her way over to Klaus where she gently rubbed his arm with her hand.  "At least he's at peace now."  She spoke and Klaus looked down at his sister who gave him one last look before making her way inside, still saying the poem out-loud.

"I do not sleep. 
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow..."

Now

"Authorities are asking for help identifying nine persons of interests at Dealey Plaza at the time of the assassination.  The FBI belives they may have been acting in concert with the alleged shooter."

The siblings minus Klaus.  Thomas looked at the tv in front of them.  Allison was on the first platform on the stair case while Esme was sitting down on the second step with Thomas standing behind her.  Five was at the bottom of the stairs while Luther was standing to his right and Vanya a bit in front of him.  Diego, on the other side, closest to Esme and Thomas.

"Lee Harvey Oswald." The news man showed a picture of the man.

"Vanya Hargreeves-wanted in connection with the deaths of several so FBI agents inside the federal building at Dealey Plaza." And then a picture of Vanya.

"A Cuban exile known only as Diego."

"Cuban?" Diego questioned and Esme looked at the picture of him that was on screen.

"Little out dated picture, huh?" Esme asked with a faint smile.

"Who recently escaped from the Holbrook Sanitarium."

Luther was next.

"A bare-knuckle boxer with suspected Mafia ties who fights under the alias "King Kong."'

Luther rolled his eyes at that while Allison looked slightly amused, however that wiped away from her face when her picture was next.

"Allison Chestnut, a negro radical responsible for instigating and organizing the recent riots at Stadtler's lunch counter."

Esme and Thomas were next, in the same picture. Thomas of course had his hood on. The couple looking at something else, both clearly confused of whatever they were looking at.

"Esme and Thomas Ricardo."

"Ricardo? You're not even Italian." Diego looked back to Esme.

"We took it off of I Love Lucy." Esme shrugged and Thomas didn't bother to join in.

"A couple just like all of you, living in the suburbs, but was recently involved of being targeted by what authorities believe- a mafia. Very dangerous."

The man put down the picture and a sketch of Klaus was replaced.

"And finally, Klaus, the controversial cult leader and known tax evader. The FBI is asking the public to be on the lookout for this unidentified boy."

The man held up a picture of Five who was looking over the fence with an unusual facial expression. Esme tried to hold in her laughter, but failed.

"Who they believe is being held hostage by the suspected terrorist network."

"Well, it's true. I do feel like I'm being held hostage most days." Five nodded and Esme started to laugh louder.

"Esme. It's not funny." Allison looked down at her.

"Sorry, it's his face and I'm also a bit nervous." She continued to laugh.

"God, I hate that photo." Diego muttered.

"They're saying I instigated the riot? That's unbelievable." Allison rolled her eyes.

"You two don't even look Italian." Five looked to Esme and Thomas with a questionable face.

"I Love Lucy." The couple said at the same time, Thomas groaning after he said it-getting annoyed.

"Look, the good thing is that we restored the timeline and we stopped doomsday." Luther looked to them with a smile.

"Yeah, a bunch of real goddamn heroes. We let Kennedy die." Diego jumped in, disappointment clear in his voice.

"Yeah, and now we're officially the most wanted people in the world." Allison looked to Luther. Then to the others as she continued. "The FBI is after us, the Dallas police, the Secret Service."

Esme looked passed Allison and saw Klaus coming down the stairs. She gave him a comforting smile before opening one of her arms out for him where he sat beside her and rested his head on her shoulder. Esme wrapped her arm around him tightly where she rested her head gently on his.

"Where are we supposed to go?" Vanya asked.

"I have this yurt just outside Reykjavik. We could totally lay low there. The folks there are a little weird but lovely." Klaus spoke up.

"Hey, numbnuts." Five looked down at him from where he stood.

"Hiding's not gonna make a difference here. The Commission will hunt us down wherever and whenever we go."

"He's right.  They'll never stop."  Diego jumped in.

"I'm sorry.  Since when are you an expert in the Commission?"  Five turned to his brother.

"Since I got back from there."

"What?" 

"Yeah, they headhunted me, full time with benefits, which I had to turn down."

Five gave Diego a look of disbelief.  "They headhunted you...the village idiot."

The two continued to bicker, Klaus groaning slightly as he stood up and walked to the other side of the room.   Allison rolled her eyes, sitting down on the steps slightly behind Esme and Thomas with the two remaining siblings just watched the brothers bicker.

"I figured it all out on the Infinite Switchboard."  Diego got closer to Five who held a smug look on his face.

"You were on the Infinite Switchboard?"  Five questioned.

"Hell, yeah.  I made that machine my bitch."  Diego got louder.

"Oh, my god."  Esme shook her head as she watched the two.

"Y'all need to recognize I got shit going on y'all don't even know about." Diego continued.

"Oh, sorry.   You've got things going on?"  Allison gave her brother a look.

"This isn't helpful."  Luther looked at Diego.

"Everyone just stop!"  Esme almost shouted.

All the siblings including Thomas stopped and looked at Esme in shock, she rarely raises her voice.  But, they only stopped for a moment before they started to bicker again.

"Yeah, okay, you win."

"Guys, we need to move, okay?  That is more important here.  That is our only option."  Luther gestured to the front door.

"We need to box those windows and stay here."  Diego told Luther.

"This isn't the zombie apocalypse."  Esme gave her brother a questionable a look.

"I'm leaving."  Vanya spoke up after she came back.

"What?  To go where?"  Allison asked.

"Sissy's barn.  Somethings wrong with Harlan, I need to help him."

"Vanya, we need to stick together, okay?"  Now more than ever."  Luther turned to her.

"That's why I'm telling you this.  Whatever's going on with Harlan, I think I might've caused it."  Vanya said seriously.

"How?" 

"He drowned, and uh, somehow I was able to bring him back to life.  And now it's like we're connected."  Vanya shortly explained.

Esme stood up from her spot, looking to Thomas who looked back at her.  No one saying anything.

"I know he needs my help and I need your help, too."  Vanya almost pleaded.  "I'm scared.  For the first time in my life I don't wanna do it alone.  I want my family by my side."

Diego was the first to say something.  He took a few steps forward.  "Look, I'm sorry.  We have other priorities right now."

"Diego's right.  For once. We need to make our stand here and now."  Five jumped in.

"Okay...I guess I'll see you when I see you."  Vanya muttered and made her way to the back.

"Well, I hope that was a joke."  Esme looked from Diego to Five.  The two not saying anything.

"Are you coming or what?"  Klaus asked before heading out as well.

"Let's go."  Esme grabbed Thomas' hand and pulled him down the stairs and after Klaus.

Klaus was the first one to the car and opened up the passenger door right when Vanya turned on the ignition.

"So, so.  Ben, huh?  Gone forever.  Isn't he?"  Klaus asked.

"He traded his life for mine...while he saved the world in the process."

"Pfft.  Show-off.  But did he...say anything about...me?"  Klaus asked quietly.

"He wanted me to tell you that he was too scared to go to the light.  It wasn't you that made him stay."  Vanya nodded as Klaus took in the words.

Esme opened up the back door and slid in with Thomas right behind her.  She looked between the two.

"Uh, oh.  I think I just ruined something."  She whispered to Thomas.

"Oh, that little shit-heel.  All these years and I thought it was my fault that he didn't take his ticket to heaven."  Klaus leaned towards Vanya with a smile, laughing.

"Not to mention Esme's little poem thing randomly going through my head."  Klaus pointed to his sister in the back.

"Look, I'm sorry but you should get out.  All of you.  Cause I need to-"

"Oh, no.  I'm coming with.  We all are.  Can't let you face the unknown alone, right?"  Klaus gestured as the back doors opened again.

Allison next to Esme and Diego next to Thomas.  When Diego saw who he sat next to he groaned.  "Really?" 

"Got room for two more?"  Allison asked.

"Barley."  Thomas said as the four were basically getting squished in the back.

"What about the Commission?"  Vanya looked to them.

"Well, might as well do some good before we die horribly."  Diego shrugged.

"Who-hoo!"  Klaus cheered with his arms up.

Five then opened Klaus' door.

"Five, you don't have too-"

"I know.  You owe me one, sis."  Five smiled the best he could give a smile.

"Children ride in the back."  Five told Klaus.

"No. No.  There's no room!"  The four in the back all spoke up at once, but it was too late, Klaus already crawled his way back there and flopped on them.

"Oh, Christ."  Allison whacked him slightly.

"Move.  Move."  Thomas pushed him slightly as they all started moving and Esme sat on Thomas' lap in hope to get some more room...it worked...slightly.

"Klaus no."  Allison pointed as he sat on her lap.

"Awww.  Sister and brother bonding time!"  He clapped as she tried not to smile but failed.

Luther opened the trunk of the car and climbed in, the whole backside slamming down from his weight.

"Anyone makes a fat joke, and I'm outta here."  Luther told them seriously.

"You're fat...don't sugarcoat it cause you'll eat that too."  Thomas muttered, not helping himself.  Lucky for him Luther didn't hear.  But Diego did.

Diego's lips formed into a smile as he moved his fist to Thomas, Thomas giving him a small fist bump.

"Let's go.  Road trip!"  Esme cheered as the car started to move.

~~~

The siblings got out of the car as they made their way to the shed that had what seemed to be electricity coming out of it, snow falling from the sky. But the siblings didn't get to far as a woman came out with a shotgun in hand.

"Get back!" She shouted, making her way towards them.

"Sissy! Sissy!" Vanya tried to calm her down.

"All of you, just get the hell back!" The woman shouted again as the siblings either had one hand out or two, gesturing her to calm down or they mean no harm.

Then there was Thomas.

He just stood there with his hands at his sides looking at the crazy lady, basically daring her to pull the trigger.

"Hey! Hey! What's wrong?" Vanya questioned as she was only a few feet from her.

"Carl."

"What did he do to you?"

"He's-He's dead. Harlan tossed him aside like a rag doll, same way you sent them policemen flyin'...what did you do to him?"

"No-"

"Vanya, what the hell did you do to my son?"

"We don't have time for this." Diego took a few steps forward and the gun was pointed in his direction.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sissy questioned.

"Where do you think?" Thomas gave her a look, getting irritated with her.

"To help your son." Diego held his arm out, not wanting her to do anything stupid.

"Look, Sissy, I found my family. These are my brothers and my sisters." Vanya told her calmly and Sissy started to put the gun down slowly, looking at Vanya.

"We are not the monsters they say we are. We did not kill the president. We are not terrorists. We're not here to hurt anyone." Vanya continued.

"Then...who are you?" She questioned, still looking at her.

"We're The Avengers." Esme spoke up with a serious look and some of her siblings turned back to look at her.

"Seriously?" Luther raised an eyebrow.

"What? I saw my opportunity and I took it." She shrugged. "Especially since apocalypse number one ruined my chances of seeing Endgame." She crossed her arms, as she started to get cold from the weather.

"The only one to help Harlan." Vanya gave Sissy a boring answer and the siblings made their way forward.

Five walked next to Esme and he had a mischievous grin on his face. "Tony Stark dies." Is all he said before he walked faster ahead of her, leaving her side.

"What?" Esme stopped in her tracks as she looked at the back of Fives figure. "Not Iron Dad." She whimpered. "Well are you going to tell me how?!" She groaned and continued to walk once again.

They opened the door of the barn as energy rushed passed them, a small boy floating in the middle of it, Vanya going near him frantically.

"Harlan it's Vanya. I know you're scared but I can help you! I need you to listen to me, okay? Can you do that?"

Vanya slowly made her way in the circle as the siblings watched. "Careful." Five was in his stance ready to move if needed.

The remainder of the siblings were together as Thomas looked at the source with curiosity, Sissy; worried clear in her eyes.

A noise from on the other side went off, Klaus and Esme were the only ones that seemed to notice. The two looked at each other before making their way to the opened door on the other side.

"Uh, guys?" Klaus called out.

"What?" Diego made his way between the two before Five and the others went over.

"Ah, shit." Diego groaned.

"Who are they?" Esme questioned.

"Ones the Handler, the others Diego's girlfriend." Five said nonchalant.

"Girlfriend? Let me introduce myself." Esme said with a wide smile and took a step forward, only to be yanked back from the collar by Diego.

"Lila. That's my ex-girlfriend." Diego corrected.

"Look, it doesn't matter. They both look angry." Luther butted in as Thomas looked over Five.

"They both look like they have a punchable face." Thomas said out loud.

"I'm gonna go find out what they want. You guys stay with Vanya and the kid." Five told them seriously.

"I'm coming with you too, come on." Diego followed after Five.

"I already know this is gonna get bad." Thomas spoke admiringly he made his way out, the three siblings following behind.

"What do you mean?" Luther asked, looking at the man.

"Five told me about the Handler. Reminds me of my old boss and he...well, was not very pleasant. I suggest you all get ready to use those abilities of yours." Thomas told them seriously. Luther and Allison glanced around each other.

Before anyone had a chance to speak they noticed a whole bunch of people appearing behind The Handler and Lila.

"Oh, my god." Luther mumbled.

"Told you." Thomas breathed out as they saw Diego and Five start to run back their way.

"Run!" Allison shouted as the rest started to run.

Bullets started to fly their way, everyone running straight while Esme kept doing rigid turns.

"Esme, honey. Stop swerving." Thomas yelled as they continued to run.

"No!" Esme shouted back.

The five quickly took cover behind a few hay barrels as bullets continued to fly their way.

"It's like the bowling alley all over again." Esme covered her ears from the noise as Luther tried to shield his siblings and Thomas from the bullets.

A high pitch tone made its way through their ears as Vanya came flying out, a power source radiating off of her chest before she sent it forward, killing everyone who was firing at them. Only two remained, Handler and Lila.

"It's over." Allison breathed out and the siblings slowly got up.

"How are they doing that?" Luther asked and Lila flew up.

"She's a copy cat." Esme groaned.

Esme cupped her hands over her mouth. "Diego get out of there!" Esme shouted.

The energy was sent their way, sending all siblings flying to different directions.

Esme screamed as she flew through the air, next thing she knew the ground was coming faster and faster. Then suddenly it stopped. She wasn't met with hard ground. She was met with a pair of arms.

Esme opened her eyes and looked up, seeing Lucifer with a smug grin on his face.

"Missed me?" He asked.

"Just a tad." A small smile tugged onto her lips as he set her down.

"You alright?"  Thomas asked as he looked from her to Lucifer, not saying anything.

"Fine.  Go find Diego.  I'm going to help the others."  She told him and went to head off but Thomas grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Are you going to say-"

"I was just going to say be careful.  Because I know you can handle yourself."  He cut her off before letting go of her and running in the opposite direction.

"He's right."  Lucifer pointed to Thomas' retreating figure with his thumb before the two turned their heads when they heard a crashing noise on the side of the house.  The two quickly making their way around.

"You gotta fight it, Allison, fight it."  Luther held Allison in her arms who was having a hard time breathing.

Esme looked from her siblings to Lila who was standing a few feet away.  Lucifer looked to Esme and she gave him a nod before she made her way behind Lila and grabbed her arm, shoving her to the side of the house.

"Ugh."  Lila groaned as she looked up, a smirk evident on her face.

"Oh, you must be Esme.  I've heard a lot about you."  She picked herself up as Esme glared at her.

"Really?  Can't say the same for you."  Esme went to throw a punch but Lucifer beat her to it.

Lila let out another groan before she did what Esme would call a copy cat.  "Oh, is this the devil in charge?"  Lila asked as Lucifer became visible to her as well.

"What?"  Esme muttered.

"Hey.  Why don't you break her neck for me."  Lila told Lucifer who suddenly stopped in his tracks, before he faced Esme with a blank look on his face.

"Shit."  Esme spoke before she turned around and ran, no way she would beat the devil.

Lila let out a short laugh as she watched Lucifer follow before she turned her head to the broken wall, Five coming out from the bricks he was under. 

"You looking for me?"  He stood in the hole.

"You little turd."  Lila growled.

"Let's dance."    With that he flashed off, Lila right behind.

"What took you so long?"  Diego groaned as he was under the tractor, Thomas trying to move it.

"Well, we're here now.  Do you want to stop complaining?"  Luther asked

"Or we could just leave you here."  Klaus said.

"Yeah.  What he said."  Allison kneeled down next to Diego.

"Move."  Luther told Thomas and easily lifted the tractor off of Diego.

"Are you out?" 

"Yeah."  Diego stood up and faced Luther giving him a high five.

"Team Zero!  Unstoppable." 

"Has anyone seen Five and Esme?"  Allison asked.

"I don't know. They're around here so-"

Diego stopped as he heard screaming in the distance, the siblings turning their heads, seeing Esme running to their direction.

Esme screamed with fright as she was suddenly stopped by a force as if she was trying to free herself. The sleeve of her coat was suddenly pulled up then got slashed open, blood immediately flooding from it.

"What the hell."  Diego muttered.

"Oh, no."  Thomas mumbled as he ran towards her.

Lucifer wrapped his arms around her neck as she started to hit him, her head slowly turning. She gasped and tried to pry his arms away but it was no use.

Then suddenly it stopped.

"Esme." Lucifer breathed out as he slowly took his arms away from her, Esme quickly stepping away from him as she held her bloody arm with her hand, taking in deep breaths.

"What just happened?"  He looked at her with wide eyes, Thomas quickly coming to her side and looked down at her arm that she held.

"Oh. Boyfriend mad." Lucifer clicked his tongue as he looked at Thomas.

"You're dead." Thomas' grip on his sword tightened.

"Actually you can't kill me. Ruler of Hell and all." Lucifer shrugged.

"Thomas I'm fine. It's only a scratch." She tried to reassure him but he had death in his eyes as he looked to Lucifer.

"Later Esme."  Lucifer flashed off, just in time as Thomas' sword flew right where he was at, and lodged itself in some hay.

"You didn't have to do that."  Esme gave her boyfriend a look.

"Yes, I did." He went over and yanked his sword out before the two went back to the siblings.

"If she can do everything we can, she might as well be one of us." Vanya said, Esme and Thomas coming in right in the middle of a discussion.

"Yeah." Luther chuckled and then his smile dropped. "No. No, there's no way. It can't be."

"It's a reasonable conclusion." Allison shrugged.

"Eh, but there were only eight of us." Klaus looked down.

Thomas then cleared his throat, the siblings looking at him as he slowly raised his hand and looked around.

"Nine."

"You too?" Diego looked at the man with wide eyes.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Luther butted in.

"Well, it never really came up." Thomas waved his arms around. "So, I'm pretty sure she's one too."

"Why are you all surprised? Dad never told us the whole truth about anything." Esme looked to each of her siblings. "Of course there's more out there."

"But, she's not our biological sister...right?" Diego asked, referring to Lila.

"Nope. Doesn't count." Esme shook her head and Thomas nodded, agreeing with her.

"Didn't grow up with each other. Doesn't count." Thomas told Diego and Esme glanced to Allison and Luther.

"Okay, so, if she can mirror our powers, that means anything we throw at her, she can match, right?" Luther asked.

"Yeah, but she can only mirror one of our powers at a time." Klaus held up his finger.

"You sure about that?" Allison asked him.

"Hey." Diego said gently as he grabbed Esme's bleeding arm.

"Ow!"

"Sorry." Diego quickly let go and put his hands up in surrender.

"It's fine." She reassured him.

"Nothing new, right?" He questioned with a small smile.

"Nothing new." She confirmed, smiling a bit.

~~~

"She never cared about your parents. She was looking for you." Five told Lila.

"Why?" She whispered.

"'Cause you're one of us." Diego stepped into the barn, his siblings and Thomas following behind.

"The Handler stole you Lila. Just like our asshole father took all of us." He stepped closer to her.

"No. It's not the same thing." Denial.

"You're right. Because he didn't have our parents murdered. Listen to me Lila, you were born October 1, 1989, same day as all of us." He continued to step closer.

"Stay back!"

The siblings panicked a bit as they were around the two slightly, trying to calm everyone down.

"Hey! Hey, stop! Wait. Wait. Hey! Lila? Lila, stop." Diego shouted to everyone.

"I trusted you. I got you a job, I even introduced you to my mother, and then you took off on me." She waved the knife around in her hand.

"Because I needed to save the world." He defended himself.

"She's using you, Lila. The Handler." He continued.

"You're wrong. She raised me. She loved me." Denial.

"Yeah, you know what. Love shouldn't have to hurt this much." Luther spoke up from his spot next to Allison.

Lila looked at him and made an over dramatic gagging noise.

"All right, I tried." Luther mumbled.

"He's right. We have to kill her." Five made his way forward where he was standing behind Lila.

"Hey! Five! Five, stop. I got it." Diego pointed at him.

"Lila, truth? She's dangerous. And you're scared of what she'll do with all that new power. That's why you dragged me to the Commission. Because I know what it's like to love dangerous people. Difference is...". Diego looked to each of his siblings.

"They love me back."

"Shut up." Lila pointed her knife at him which made Esme take a step forward, only to have Thomas put his arm in front of her, stopping her.

"He's got this." He reassured her.

"The only thing she loves is power. Now, the minute she can't use you, she will turn on you, and deep down, I know you know that."

"You don't know me, Diego."

Diego continued to look at her then stepped right up to the knife, making Esme grip onto Thomas' arm in front of her, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Don't I? I know that we can be your family...if you just let us."

Lila looked at them all, except for Five and looked back to Diego. Before she could say anything the sound of bullets sounded through the air. They just kept coming as they hit everyone except for Lila.

Thomas gasped slightly as his eyes were met with the ceiling of the barn, metal tasted in his mouth and the sound of a few more gunshots went off sounded through his ears.

"Oh, good. You're still alive. Lucky you." The Handlers voice sounded throughout the barn, but it wasn't directed to him. It was directed to Five.

Thomas turned his head as he gripped onto Esme's arm.

"Essie." He whimpered as he tried to sit up. "Essie, come on." Tears filled his eyes as he laid back down, not having the strength to get up. There had to be at least three bullets in him.

"It's ok...". He gasped and grabbed her dead hand. "I'm right behind you."

Start small. Seconds, not decades.

"I know that we can be your family."

The sound of Diego's voice was heard by Five as he stood by the barn door, patting himself. No bullets.  It worked.

Five looked out the door and quickly grabbed the gun from The Handler, pointing it at her.

"It's true, isn't it? What Five said."

"Answer me! Is it true?" Lila demanded.

"Well-"

The Handler didn't even get a sentence in as bullets were shot through her chest.

"The case!" Luther shouted and ran towards Lila.

"No!" Diego quickly stopped him, Lila disappearing.

Five cocked the gun as he stood in front of the last Swedish brother.

"Hey. That's the guy." Esme told Thomas softly as he looked at the two at gun point.

Five then dropped the gun. "Enough."

The man looked at the siblings in the back before looking at Five, saying something in Swedish which was most likely 'enough' as well before he dropped the gun and walked away.

"Who the hell was that guy?" Klaus asked.

"Milk gone bad." Esme told her brother.

"Vanya help!"  Sissy's voice was heard as Vanya quickly ran as Esme went to Diego's side as he stood up.

"You alright?"  She questioned, looking from the bracelet in his hand then to the side of his face.

"Fine."  He mumbled and headed with the rest of the group, Esme following behind.

A high pitch tone sounded throughout the building as Vanya held her hands to Harlan's knees as energy transferred from him to her, suddenly a wave knocked Vanya out and it seemed everything was back to normal.  Well, as normal could get.

~~~

"Owwwwww."  Esme stretched out as Thomas pressed a wet cloth to the wound on her arm.

"Soryyyyyy."  Thomas stretched out back and Esme gave him a slightly unamused look.

"You're weird."  She smiled.

"We're all weird."  He commented back then wrapped the gauze on her.

Esme watched him do it and looked at his face, reading him almost.  "What's wrong?"  She questioned.

"What?  Oh, nothing.  Nothing."  He waved it off.

"Nothing is always something."  She looked at him seriously.  Thomas letting go of her arm once she finished.

"I don't know."  He shrugged as he looked to the window behind her then to her eyes.

"Just feel like something is following us." 

Esme didn't say anything, she looked at him with just a confused expression, letting him go on.

"Like, someone is lingering here, watching us, watching every move we make."  He fiddled with his hands.

"Maybe it's Ben watching over us."  She gave him a soft smile before standing up, and giving his shoulder a small squeeze, Thomas giving her a small smile in return.  He watched her leave the room before he stared out the window once again.

No, that's not it.  It's not Ben, it's something else.

~~~

"Everyone ready?"  Five questioned as he held the suitcase in his hands, the others surrounding him.

"Let's do it, yeah."  Luther nodded.

Diego put his hand on Fives shoulder, Five about to open it when-

"Wait!"  Klaus spoke up before he ran over and grabbed a hat from the railing, putting it on his head.

"Fifty bucks if we leave him here."  Diego whispered to Five, which earned an elbow to the ribs by Esme.

"Heard that."  She gave him a look, trying to hide her forming smile.  Diego just smiled widely to her.

Esme grabbed Diego and Thomas' hand while Thomas grabbed hers and Klaus'.  Luther then grabbed Vanya's and then Allison grabbed hers, placing her other hand on top of Fives shoulder.

Five snapped the suitcase open, electricity forming out before it grew bigger and took the siblings, sending them inside their home, their horrible, beautiful home.

"Oh, good God."  Luther groaned and held his head.

"Wh-what day is it?"  He questioned as the others panted slightly, Five grabbing the newspaper.

"April 2, 2019.  Day after the apocalypse."

"Wait, so we stopped it?"  Allison questioned.

"Oh, my god it's over."

"We actually succeeded at something?  That's incredible."

The siblings kept talking while Esme was looking around.

"I don't know about you guys but I need a drink."  Klaus hugged Vanya then to Thomas.  "In fact I need several."

Esme walked over to the lit fireplace and then looked up, she heard the rattle of Klaus getting glasses.  There above the fireplace was a painting of Ben.

"Guys!  Why is there a painting of Ben over the mantelpiece?"  Esme spoke up, her eyes never leaving the painting.

The other siblings quickly stopped what they were doing and came over to look.

"I knew you'd show up eventually."  Reginald appeared on the other side of the room.

"Dad?"  Diego questioned.

"You're alive?"  Luther breathed out.

"Why shouldn't I be?"  He looked to him.

"Yeah.  You're right.  I'm...I'm just happy that we're home and...together again."  Luther started at him.

"Home?  This isn't your home?"  Reginald told them.

"Uh, what?"  Esme asked.

"This is the Umbrella Academy."  Allison piped in.

"Wrong again.  This is the Sparrow Academy."  Reginald said.

Multiple footsteps were sounded on the second floor, the group turning their heads to look, five people stood there while another person walked in front of the bar.

"Dad. Who the hell are these assholes?" 

They all looked at the man in front of them, Ben, but it wasn't their Ben.

"Shit."  The group said out loud.

"I don't want emo Ben.  I want puppy Ben."  Esme groaned and Thomas nodded at her words before speaking up from beside her.

"Time to begin phase three."

**Check out my Maze Runner Fanfic:  "The Sacrifice"

omg. I'm done with season 2, yay! I'm debating if next season I should start splitting the episodes up in two chapters so they aren't so long? What would y'all prefer? I'll do majority rules type thing

Also.  I changed the FaceClaim again so now I'm satisfied.  New FaceClaim is Samara Weaving.  Anyways enjoy the last of the memes for now and let's hope when season 3 comes we have a cure for COVID, take care and look out for my other fanfics that will come soon :)**