"Well, you look like yourself
But you're somebody else
Only it ain't on the surface
Well, you talk like yourself
No, I hear someone else though
Now you're making me nervous"

Esme walked out after the confrontation with Ben.  She had too.  She walked upstairs to her old bedroom or what it used to be and laid on the dirty, broken bed.  Esme wrapped herself in her own arms, crying.

She couldn't take it.

She felt so sick.  Her body felt so cold and she felt sick to her stomach.  Then with everything with her power coming back made her brain and heart heart.  Not to mention her turning into a gremlin freaked the holy hell out of her.

"Esme".  Allison stood in the doorway, sighing as she walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling her sister into her arms as she cried.

"It's okay.  We'll get through this".  Allison reassured her as she held onto her tightly.

Esme only shook her head and when she heard more yelling from downstairs she started to cry even more.  Her crying continued and soon she started to gasp for air.

"No, no".  Allison looked down at her some more.  "You're okay.  Deep breaths".  Allison tried but Esme wasn't listening.  Her voice seemed so far away.  "Esme, please".  Allison begged and then she looked out from the open door.

"Diego!"  Allison shouted the first name that came to her mind.

"Diego!"

And just like that...
It felt like they were scared kids again;

"Diego!"  A twelve year old Allison shouted as she held a gasping Esme in her arms.  "Diego, please, help!  It's Esme!"  Allison shouted.

The sound of running sounded down the hallway before Diego rushed inside.  "What's wrong?"  He asked.

"I don't know.  She's crying and now she's gasping".  Allison had a few tears fall from her face.

"I got it".  Diego grabbed Esme from her arms.  Allison moved off the bed as Diego took her place.  Allison watched with silent tears running down her face as Diego held Esme close to his chest, rocking her back and forth. 

"It's okay Esme, the demons and all the bad creatures are gone.  They're staying away because they know I'm here;

"Your brother, Diego is here and he won't let them touch you. You're okay, now, Esme". Diego whispered soothingly to her as he rocked her back and forth. Esme gripped onto his arm with both of her hands as her breathing slowly turned to normal.

"Why would he do this?"  Esme whispered, her voice cracking.

Diego rubbed her back, shaking his head. "Thought he was helping everyone. But, didn't think about some people's powers". Diego through out, letting out a sigh. "Klaus, ended up not drinking the sake, so he doesn't have his powers"

"I should've faked it too". Esme mumbled.

Esme slowly started to sit up, Diego letting go as he watched her carefully.  Esme sat up straight, sitting next to Diego now on the bed.  She looked at the ground as the tears finally stopped.

Esme wiped the tears on her cheeks away and she instantly felt the difference.  She looked over to Diego as one of her hands were still on her cheek. 

"I feel so cold".

~~~

Five walked over to Thomas who was looking back out the window.  Five groaned, feeling his stomach turn.  The side effects were terrible.  Five approached Thomas and looked at the man who didn't acknowledge him.

"Thomas".  Five said but got nothing.  He was annoyed by this.  "Thomas".  Five said louder and Thomas finally turned to him.

"Huh.  What?"  Thomas asked.

Five gave him a questioning look before gesturing upstairs.  "Shouldn't you check on your wife?"

Thomas looked at him with confusion now.  "Why?"

Five scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.  "Because she had a panic attack thanks to Ben over there".  Five told him in a 'duh' tone.

"What?"  Thomas almost screeched and started to make his way to Esme but Five stopped him.

"You were here when everything went down".  Five looked at him, his eyes narrowing.  "Or were you?"  Five then asked.

Thomas looked around, seeing the ones left in the room were preoccupied with themselves or talking.  He then looked back to Five.  "Don't tell anyone this.  Especially Esme, but..."  Thomas licked his lips and breathed out.  "I've been blacking out.  Seeing things from my past.  Earlier today, I was in the bathroom and next thing I knew I ended up in the attic.  I don't know how I got there".  Thomas explained.

Five adjusted where he stood, scratching his head.  "Are you saying that, Dread is coming back?"  Five asked in a low voice.

"Don't-"  Thomas closed his eyes, gesturing for Five to stop talking.  He breathed out shakily and opened his eyes, looking back at him.  "Don't say that name". 

"Is it?"  Five asked more harshly.  "This is serious.  We don't need you to go all assassin mode and kill us all."  Five almost hissed.

"I'm getting it under control". 

Five gave him one last look.  "You better or I'm telling Esme".  Five threatened him and walked off.

Soon after the events that happened with them losing their powers six years ago, Thomas opened up to the family.  Explaining to them more of his past and what happened.  Of course, he left out the part where he killed Esme in another timeline.  They all knew about Dread.  The man he used to be.  The one he hoped was buried for good, but it seems that he's clawing the surface of the earth once more.

~~~

Everyone was back in one room after Esme talked with Thomas for a bit.  She was still upset about everything but she couldn't cry and suffer in bed.  She had to get up and be with her family.

"I'm sorry about your couch".  Esme apologized to Luther.

Luther only smiled and waved it off.  "That's okay, it's not that bad".  Luther reassured her.

The two turned to the couch where feathers were everywhere and a pillow was completely ripped in half.

It was bad.

Esme took a seat next to Five, in the middle of the couch, since she ripped up the spot she was previously in.

Ben breathed out as he looked at them and to Esme who wasn't looking at him. 

"Look.  I was trying to help".  Ben said honestly.

"No, no, no.  Like what Viktor said earlier.  None of us asked for this.  I could have lost my job".  Luther said from next to Ben.

"Did you?"  Thomas asked.

Luther looked over to him and then to the others.  "Well, actually, no.  My boss bumped me up from brunch buffet to prime time".  Luther smiled.  "And I have been booked in Atlantic City next weekend, but still!"  Luther got serious again to Ben.

Ben patted Luther's chest before walking over to;  "Allison.  Come on.  You can't tell me you're a little glad to have your powers back after all these years?" 

Allison looked over at Ben as she was leaning against a couch.  "Why would I be Benjamin?  Why would I want my powers back?"  She asked him.

Thomas raised an eyebrow as he saw Lila on the other side of the room holding out her hand that had a rubber duck on it as she moved with a look of concentration on her face.

"Maybe you can rumor your way out of those corny-ass laundry commercials you do and finally get off the B-List".

Esme's eyes widened a bit as she pursed her lips.  "Oh, my".  Esme whispered.  Maybe she shouldn't have showed Ben the commercials Allison had been doing.

Ben laughed at his own comment and Allison's expression.  "Right?"  Ben asked and held his hand out, expecting Klaus to high five him but got nothing so he did it himself.

"The B-List?  Excuse me, I-I am the face of a national campaign, something I made happen out of nothing while you were too busy playing backgammon with Bernie Madoff".  Allison defended herself.

"Tell him, sister".  Klaus commented.

"Wow".  Ben waved her off and turned to Esme, walking over to her.

"No".  Esme mumbled, looking away.

"Esme, my favorite".  Ben gestured to her as he stood in front of her.  Esme looked at Ben with not a so happy look.

"I truly am sorry but I did what I thought was right.  I didn't know anything really about your powers".  Ben apologized.

"I now turn into a gremlin".  Esme  said deadpanned.

"I didn't see that".  Ben mumbled.  "But, you always tell me to look at the positive side and put one foot in front of the other". 

Esme kept her gaze on him.  "How dare you, use my own words against me".  She mumbled with her arms crossed over her chest.  "Still no".  Esme stood by it.

Ben groaned and turned to Klaus, walking over to him.  "All right, Klaus".  With each step, Klaus was scooting away from him.  "Come on, Klaus.  My brother.  It's not too late for you to get on this action".  Ben tried to pursue him.

"I already told you it's not going to happen".  Klaus looked away from him.

"Why not?"  Five asked, holding the remainder of marigold.  "Maybe with your powers back you won't have to keep living life like a human sippy cup". 

"Huh?"

"It's a slippery slope, all right?"  Klaus told them.

"Into what?"  Five asked.

"Powers, ghosts, drugs, sex, oblivion.  It's one big spicy gumbo of bad, and I'm not going back to that old Klaus".  Klaus paused.  "I like this Klaus.  'Hey, he collects coupons, he's frugal, respectable, reliable and most importantly he's a Klaus that Claire likes and trusts and looks up to'".  As Klaus was going on, Ben closed his eyes feeling more nauseous and then started to shake.

"Hey, guys.  Ben doesn't look so hot".  Lila said and then Ben leaned forward, puking.

"Ok.  Come on".  Luther grabbed his one arm and then pulled at the top of his hair to keep him from falling over.

"Get him on this.  Lay him down".  Klaus told Luther.

Ben started to convulse once he got to the couch.  "Whoa!  What do we do?  Call 911?"

"Yeah and how are we supposed to explain the tentacles?"  Esme gestured to Ben.

"No, no, no, no.  No cops".  Ben pleaded.

"Yeah.  They'll think he's on drugs and send him right back".  Thomas agreed from where he stood.

"All right.  We need to go back to the dry cleaners and get more information".  Five stood back up.

"Agreed.  I'll drive.  Let's roll, mofos".  Diego headed out.

"Let's get him out of here, quick".  Klaus told Thomas as the two of them helped get Ben out of the house.

"Watch the tentacles".

~~~

Everyone stood in the empty dry cleaners, Five looked at a map that was left behind. "Look at this, New Grumpson, Maine". Five showed Diego since he was right next to him.

"The hell's in New Grumpson, Maine?" Diego asked.

"Maybe Sy's daughter, Jennifer". Lila spoke.

"Or maybe that's where our dry cleaner scampered off to". Allison suggested.

"Or maybe this is all one big setup". Viktor said.

"Well, there's only one way to find out". Five looked to them.

"Road trip". Esme hummed.

"Hell yeah". Diego looked back to Esme as he grabbed his keys. "Road trip".

Diego was first to exit the dry cleaners, the others following, trying not to vomit as their stomachs turned.

"How long is this going to last?" Thomas grumbled.

"Really? Are we really doing this?"

"Hell, yeah we're doing this". Diego said.

"You do realize we have three small children? Yeah?" Lila called.

"Lila?" Diego stopped and turned around going to her.

"This better be done in a few says, I have to teach". Esme said as she went over to the car and leaned against it, groaning.

"I need to call in". Thomas told Esme, stepping to the side for a moment as he called in sick for the next few days.

Allison pushed Ben to lean up against the car next to Esme.

"I only have one spare of underwear". Klaus moaned.

"You'll be fine". Five gestured to him.

"At least you have a spare". Thomas gagged, holding down his vomit.

"Alright, listen up people". Diego walked towards the others with Lila.

"Road trip?" Five mumbled.

"First mission back, baby!" Diego said all pumped up.

"Woohoo!" Esme cheered, her hands fisting the air. She then grumbled as her stomach turned again.

"We're back".

"Car"

"Get out the way". Diego told Five as he started to open the side of the car.

"Get in". Diego slid the door open.

"I get the front". Lila called.

"Everyone in!" Diego yelled.

"My ears". Thomas groaned from his yelling.

"Why are you yelling?"  Lila asked.

"First mission back!"  Diego said even louder, all excited.

"Shut up".  Ben groaned as he followed Esme into the car.

"Get in the car and turn on the heat".  Allison told Diego once he opened his door.

"It's actually very spacious back here".  Thomas told Luther.

Luther looked at Thomas as the two were crammed in the very back, facing one another.

"Stop lying to yourself, buddy".  Luther pleaded.

"Okay".  Thomas nodded with a groan.

"All right".

"We're doing it".

"First mission back!"  Diego yelled and punched the roof five times.

"Why are you so loud?"  Five groaned.

Lila clapped and Esme smiled at Diego's behavior.  "Yay!"  Esme cheered and Ben had his eyes closed nodding his head from beside her.

"Woohoo!"  Lila said as well when the car turned on.  "Yeah!"

"Hell, yes!  Let's go kill this bitch!"  Ben shouted.

And there went the excitement.

Esme turned to Ben, giving him a questioning look.  Ben opened his eyes from the silence and looked to Esme, seeing the look on her face then to Lila and then Allison.

"This is a rescue mission".  Allison told Ben.

"Right."  Ben looked straight ahead.  "Yeah, sorry".  He apologized quietly.  Esme rubbed his arm soothingly.

"Right spirit.  Wrong words".  Esme told him and he nodded.

As Diego started to drive the song Baby Shark started to play.

"God!  Will you please turn that song off?"  Viktor asked from beside Esme.

"I can't.  It's stuck".  Diego said.

One hour later...

"Grandpa shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo"

"I wonder what shark is next".  Esme commented softly, her stomach trembling as her head was leaned on Ben's shoulder.

"Let's go hunting, doo-doo, doo-doo"

Ben felt his stomach gurgling as he was looking straight ahead, wishing that he was anywhere but here.

3 hours later...

Esme had her hands over her ears.

"We get it. There's a bunch of sharks". Esme groaned. "How long is this song, Diego?"  She asked.

"I thought out of everyone you would like it".  Diego commented.

"I did...the first hour...and a half". She told him.  "Now it feels like I'm being tortured."

"Diego, will you change that song?"  Thomas pleaded.

"I can't!"  Diego shouted in frustration.

Klaus opened up some weird green drink making some of the others gag.

"Oh, my god. That smells rancid".  Lila said.

"What?  You don't like my kale-kiwi-carrot-cabbage-kombucha?"  Klaus asked.

Esme felt her stomach turn again.  "Please don't mention food".  She pleaded.  "And please close that.".

"Klaus, unlike you, we're all feeling sick to our stomachs".  Thomas grumbled.

"But, it's good for the soul and great for the bowels".  Klaus told them.

"Diego, uh, maybe pull over".  Five suggested.

"Can't.  We're making good time".

"Okay, well, I'm gonna hurl". 

"Diego, pull over.  I need to pee".  Lila said.

"You don't want a sippy of this potent elixir, so good for you".  Klaus shoved the open drink up towards Five.

"All right.  Heads up.  Here".  Diego held up a plastic bottle.

"Oh, no".  Lila said.

"You know what it is".  Diego commented.  "Right.  Use it".

"Not the pee bottle".  Lila grumbled.

Diego tossed it to her and Lila whacked it away.  Everyone groaned as it flew at them as it made its way to the very back.

"Great".  Thomas groaned.

"Diego, pull over".  Esme said loudly.

"We are sticking to the itinerary".  Diego said.

"Fine.  Don't complain to me when your car is about to get destroyed".  Esme grumbled, leaning back in her seat.

"Five, open the window".  Luther called from the back.

"Open the window".  Ben agreed.

"I need fresh air".  Esme took in some rapid breaths.

"Oh, god".

"Open it!"

"What the-"  Five was holding the handle in his hand.

"Did you just break my window, man?"  Diego shouted, leaning over to grab it from Five as he swerved making everyone shout.

"Diego!"

"Hey, you spilled my kombucha".  Klaus complained and his eyes widened as Lila leaned forward and puked.

"Hey!"

Then Allison.

Then Five.

Diego and Esme screamed from everyone puking.  "Everyone hold it in!"  Diego shouted.

Klaus scrambled up onto his seat.  "Pull over!  Pull over!"

"And turn that stupid song off!"  Esme shouted, but it came out in a dark voice making everyone freak out more.

"Esme, if you go gremlin mode in my car-"

"Pull the car over!"  Thomas shouted, setting Diego off.

"We're making good time!"  Diego continued to drive.  "Stop puking!"

"Thomas, you better not puke on me".  Esme turned to him who had his eyes closed and his hands over his mouth.

"I'm good".  He grumbled into his hands.

"It smells like death in here".  Esme couldn't believe what she was hearing from Diego.  "That's it.  Diego.  I can't believe you-"  Esme started to climb forward.

"Esme".  Ben groaned as she stepped on his leg, pushing on it to get over.

"Ow! My shoulder!" Lila complained as Esme pushed on her shoulder slightly.

"Don't touch me".  Klaus begged.

Esme gagged from the puke and then launched forward, grabbing the wheel. Her knees sitting on the center console as she was hunched forward.

"Esme!  What the hell!"  Diego yelled.

"Pull over!"  Esme said loudly.

"Let go!"  Diego said as the car started to swerve from side to side.

"I will puke on you".  Esme threatened.

Diego gasped, turning to look up at her; "Don't you dare!" 

"Listen to her, pull over." Five grumbled and then puked again.

Viktor suddenly exploded, making the windows shatter.  Everyone screamed and the song finally stopped.

"Son of a bitch!"  Diego shouted as Esme held onto either side of his and Fives of seat as he swerved over to the side of the road.

"All right enough!"  Diego shouted.

"I win".  Esme breathed out, pushing his head forward in a playful manner.

"nu-uh"  Diego childishly said. 

Esme crawled back to her seat, plopping down just in time for Diego to turn fully around.

"No more fighting!  And no more puking, all right?  And no, no more powers!"  He said sternly. "Not until we get to Maine. We'll get there, we'll find this girl. After that, we'll go back to our regular lives. Are we clear?" Diego asked in the end.

"Yes, dad". Thomas looked over to him.

"Are we clear?" Diego asked again.

"Yes".

"Yeah".

Everyone groaned, agreeing.

"Good". Diego's stomach then gurgled and vomit shot from his mouth slightly, making Lila groan.

"Wipe?" Diego asked.

"We've run out of baby wipes".

"Here you go! I've gotcha, buddy". Klaus handed him a wipe he had.

Diego snatched it and got out of the car.

"Well". Esme started. "At least the windows are opened now".

"Where's he going?" Klaus asked.

"What are we supposed to do? Turn around?" Allison asked.

"No, we've come this far". Luther spoke. "It's only another 13 hours until New Gampson".

"Jesus".

Everyone groaned.

Suddenly Esme twitched and she went all gremlin mode, jumping up and down in her seat as she sounded like Donny from 'Wild Thornberries'.

"Not again". Lila groaned.

Viktor scooted further away as Ben looked at her in horror. "What is that?"

"Her new Gremlin power". Thomas leaned forward. "Esme, hey. Essie".

Esme shook her head as she went back to normal. "Did I do it again?" She asked.

"Yes". Everyone groaned in unison.

"Joy". Esme grabbed her head.

"I'm sorry". Ben looked down at her.

Esme took her hand away from her head as she looked at Ben with a soft smile. "It's okay...I'm not mad at you anymore". She told him honestly.

~~~

Five out the phone back in its slot as he turned to the group.  "No Sy Grossman listed.  No Jennifer Grossman either".

"Well, we'll just have a look around, if she's here, we'll find her".  Allison said with her hands in her coat pockets.

"This is why you do recon, assholes".  Ben grumbled.

"Recon?  Why are you saying recon?  We're not the A-Team".  Viktor looked to Ben.

"Oh, really?  Shit, you fooled me".  Ben said sarcastically.

"At least we still have a team".  Diego spoke.

"What's that supposed to mean?"  Ben asked.

Diego grabbed Ben, pulling him forward with a glare.

"Diego, let him go".  Esme went over, trying to pull Diego's hands off Ben.

"Okay, everybody.  Look over here and smile!"  Luther said, holding a camera.

Esme moved slightly as Diego wrapped his one arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him.  His other arm was around Ben's as he stood in the middle.  Ben leaned more into Diego as he smiled widely.  Esme smiled as well while Diego held his serious face.

Meanwhile, Thomas stood in the back, behind Lila slightly with his hands in his coat pockets as he looked like a stalker, staring straight ahead at the camera with no emotion.

"You know what?  Screw this".  Ben said once the picture was taken, walking away from Diego.

Diego patted Esme's back before walking over to Lila.  Esme stayed where she stood.

"One or two of you are fine, but all of you together?  You're a bunch of drooling, stunted toddlers".  Ben told them as he was slowly walking away.  "I'm going back to my penthouse downtown". 

"Ben, that penthouse belongs to the federal government now".  Luther called to him.

Ben kept walking; "shut the hell up, Luther"

"All right".

Some of the others snickered as they watched Ben walk away, one of his tentacles falling out.

"Should one of us go with him?"  Esme asked worriedly.

"Nah, he's fine".  Thomas waved Ben off.

"Aw, poor Ben-a-rino"

"We're better off without him!"  Diego called from the back of the car.

"He's right".  Viktor gestured to Diego.

"I think we're our best selves when we're all together".  Esme smiled.

Viktor and Allison gave her a; 'really' look.

Esme nervously played with her fingers as she met their gazes.  "Is it too much to ask for all of us to spend more time together?"  Esme suddenly became defensive and started to get worked up.

"Yeah, okay, okay".  Five walked over to Esme and looked to Allison and Viktor, sending them a slight glare.  "Pay no mind to them.  Oh, look".  Five gestured over to Thomas.  "He wants a hug".

Esme turned her head, seeing Thomas with his arms out.  Esme, forgetting what she was getting worked up about hurried over to him and wrapped her arms around him.  Thomas wrapped his arms around her tightly and swayed back and forth slowly.

Snap her back

Thomas was quick to let go. 

Esme gave him a questioning look of how fast that was.  "You alright?" 

"Fine".  Thomas gave a nod and looked to Five who was already looking at him.

"All right, everyone.  Let's split up and look for this girl".  Luther said.  "Let's be discreet.  If you find her or the dry cleaner guy, don't do anything on your own".  Luther looked to them.  "Let's just wait for the team".

Diego finally came out from behind the car, fixing his old uniform on himself.  "Oh, sweet Jesus".  Allison muttered.

"Like a glove".  Diego told them as he made his way over slowly.

"Perfect!"  Esme smiled to Diego.

"Sure, like OJs glove". 

"Klaus".  Esme's head snapped to his direction, scolding him.

"Here".  Diego tossed the keys to Klaus who jumped back, letting them fall to the ground.  "You're in charge of Wanda.  Don't go anywhere without us".  The group started to move and Allison looked over to Diego.

"You do realize you're waddling, yeah?"  She asked.

"Yeah, just trying to walk like you".  Diego told her.

"Hey!"  Allison kicked his leg while Esme laughed.

"Let's just find Jennifer and get out of here".

"Good luck, don't get killed".  Klaus called to them.

~~~

"This place is so cute!  It's like Santa's little village!"  Esme happily squealed and then she gasped. "Let's go into this store!" Esme was quick to turn right and go through and open door.

"Esme". Thomas sighed. "We're not supposed to go shopping. We're supposed to look for Jennifer".  Thomas called to her, but she was already in the store.  Thomas let out a sigh before walking in as well.

"I'm behind on Christmas gifts for my siblings".  Esme told Thomas as she looked around.  Esme picked a snowshoe up and shook it, watching the fake snow fall on a little log cabin.

Thomas gave her a confused look.  "No you're not.  You bought all their gifts in July".  Thomas pointed out.

"That was only part of their gifts".  Esme shrugged, yup.  She tended to spoil her siblings when it came to gifts. Esme turned back around and continued to shop.

Thomas watched her and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When he opened up his eyes again, he wasn't in the store but in an empty alleyway.

Thomas looked down, seeing the sword in his grasp as he breathed out heavily. He didn't know where this came from or where he got it.  Or most importantly, where the hell it was this entire time.

"Tom?"

Thomas turned around slowly, meeting the questioning gaze of Esme. Her eyes looked down to the sword he was holding and he could see the gears shifting in her head.

"Why do you have that?" She asked.

"Brought it just in case". The lie easily slid from his lips.

"You didn't tell me?"

"Didn't want you to worry". That was true.

Esme took a few steps closer to him. "Where did you go? You randomly disappeared. I've been looking for you for over fifteen minutes".

Esme kept walking closer and when she reached her hand out to him, he grabbed her wrist with his free hand all of the sudden. Both Esme and Thomas' eyes widened. The grip was a little tight. Thomas was quick to let go, slowly lowering his hand as he didn't meet her gaze.

"Tom?"

Before Esme could get any further they heard the sound of a gun cocking.  The two turned their heads down the entrance of an alleyway where a woman from the store earlier stood with a shotgun pointed to them.

"I didn't shoplift".  Esme glared at the woman.

Esmes eyes moved from the woman to a few more people that came to the entrance with weapons.  Thomas' eyes went on the other side of the alleyway where it was blocked now.

"What should we do?"  Esme whispered.

"Duck".  Thomas muttered to her as Esme did so, just in time as he grabbed a lid from a trash can and through it like a frisbee towards the closest group.

Gunshots started to go off, Thomas kissing each one as he used his sword to stop the bullets, the bullets reflected back, piercing the enemies as they fell to the ground.

"Come on!  Come on!"  Esme chanted to herself trying to use her new power.  "Gremlin on!"  She shouted and then she turned.

Esme made those wild noises as she jumped on one of the walls and started to crawl, going towards the other group.  They tried to shoot at her but she dodged each one and then jumped on a man, his gun going towards the sky as it rapidly started to fire.  The man screamed as Esme started to claw at the man and then bite a nearby one.

When Thomas was done with his side he turned the other way, throwing his sword as it killed the last man standing.

"Ok.  Esme, we need to find the others".  Thomas told her as he jogged over, ripping his sword from the man's chest.

Esme started to jump up and down in place and spoke very quickly.

Thomas looked down at her, breathing out heavily as he shook his head.  "I have no idea what you just said".

Esme looked up at the sky, her head turning from left to right before she jumped on the wall and started to crawl up it and around the side of the building.

"Esme!"  Thomas shouted, but she didn't come back.  "Great".  He sighed.

Thomas ran out from the alleyway, stepping on the sidewalk as he saw how empty the place was now.  He looked down the right side of the road, deciding where to go when he heard the song 'Baby Shark' playing.  Thomas turned to the other direction just in time to see Diego driving the van when it came to an abrupt stop beside him, the wheels squealing.

"Get in!"  Diego shouted to Thomas through the shattered window.

Thomas didn't waste time in opening the back door and getting in.  "What happened?"  Thomas asked as Klaus was laying there.

"He got shot.  Where's my sister?"  Diego asked Thomas.

"She went gremlin mode and Spider-Man crawled the building".  Thomas answered.

They continued to drive when they saw Santa running towards Luther, Allison, Viktor, and Fivr, rapidly firing two guns.

Diego shifted geared, letting out a shout as he pressed on the gas pedal more.  Thomas grabbed onto the dashboard with one hand while the other was holding onto the bar up top.

Santa went flying once the van hit it.  Diego slammed on the break, turning the van slightly as it spun to its side.  Thomas then leaned out the window at the group.  "Come on!"  He shouted to them and then his eyes widened;  "look out!"  He then yelled.

A not so dead man aimed his gun at the group and went to fire, but was not fast enough.  Gremlin Esme jumped from a nearby car and screeched as she started to rip his throat out, biting into his face as the man screamed in pain.

"Oh, god".  Allison gagged from the scene.

"Come on".  Five ushered the others in.

Esme swipped her claws at the man's throat, finishing him off.

Ben moved, hurriedly, crouching out the open door of the car;  "Esme.  Get in!"  Ben yelled.

Esme snapped her head over to him, her black covered eyes widening as she ran over, making random noises.  Ben moved back to his seat, just in time as Esme jumped in the last empty seat.

Esme let out a loud gasp as the blackness went away in her eyes, claws and fangs, extracting and she shook her head.

Esme groaned as she could taste the blood in her mouth and I the feeling of it on her chin.  "Gross.  I ripped out throats".  Esme whined before turning to the girl next to her. "You must be Jennifer. I'm Esme".

Jennifer only stared at Esme.

"Guy. He's dying!"

Esme turned around, seeing the commotion now. "Oh, my, Klaus". Esme turned around as she was in her knees on the seat, facing the opposite direction, looking at Klaus shaking figure.

"Five, marigold". Lila told Five as she held Klaus in her arms.

"On it. Yeah".

"No, no! He doesn't want that!"

"He's going to die without it". Esme stared at Allison.

"You can't just let him die. He stopped breathing". Luther spoke.

Five turned around slightly, handing Klaus the jar of marigold. "Do it".

"He's right. Give it to him". Viktor told Allison.

"What are you waiting for?" Diego then asked.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Allison cried as Lila moved his shirt and Allison poured some of the marigold onto his wound. "I'm so sorry, Klaus".

Esme gripped the seat as she watched the wound slowly close but he wasn't moving or blinking. "Klaus?" Esme asked, hoping he would say something.

"Hey, Klaus?" Lila asked. "Come on".

But still nothing.

"Klaus?" Esme asked again, her voice breaking.

Thomas looked away from Klaus from where he sat in the back with Luther, shaking his head.

And then Klaus let out a gasp, causing some people to yell and Jennifer to jump.

Esme let out a breath of relief, resting her forehead on the seat for a moment.

"You okay?" Thomas asked.

"Scared me". Esme told Klaus as she looked at him.

"Thank, God". Five muttered.

"He's good". Lila confirmed.

"What did you do?" Klaus coughed.

"You're okay. You're okay". Luther told him.

"What did you do?" Klaus asked again.

Esme saw the disappointment look on Allison's face and she reached forward, grabbing her sisters hand, making her look towards her. "You did what any of us would have done". Esme nodded to her sister.

Allison squeezed Esme's hand and then let go, looking back down to Klaus. "I saved your life".

"Well that was a weird, fucking town". Viktor commented.

"You know it was all Hargreeves goons?" Luther asked. "I should've known. Those sconces were too perfect". Luther grumbled and Thomas just gave him a weird look.

"At least we got what we came for". Five said.

"Oh, yeah. Good job, buddy. Where did you find her?" Luther asked Ben with a smile.

"Diego I need a wipe". Esme said, turning back around to the front.

"We're out". Diego told her.

Esme whined, she wanted the blood off her face and chin. "Mouth wash?" She asked.

"No". Diego shook his head.

Esme let out a small whine. "Vodka? I need this taste gone".

"You'll be fine". Five reassured her.

"I might throw up". Esme gagged.

"Don't even think about it". Diego warned her.

Esme breathed out heavily, as she turned back around once more to look at Klaus who was now holding a stuffed reindeer. "Klaus, I know this isn't a good time but do you have a wipe?" She asked.

"Huh? Ohhh, yeah, yeah. I got you, little gremlin, you". Klaus laughed as he started to dig in his pocket for his bag of wipes.

"Hey, we're going to get you back to your dad safe a sound". Ben told Jennifer.

"My dad?" Jennifer questioned.

"Yeah, Sy Grossman". Ben nodded.

"Who?"

BAM

Esme was always good about wearing her seatbelt. But, this time she wasn't wearing it. Esme's head slammed into the side of the door before she launched forward to Five's seat, slamming into it. Then when the car started to flip to the side she was no longer in her seat. She started to fly towards the opposite end of the car, her hands grazing the ceiling as she tried to stop herself with blur vision, her legs hitting Jennifer as she passed by. Esme then slammed into Ben's door and everything went black.

Ben groggily lifted his head as Esme was half on him, half against Diego's seat. Ben watched as someone took Jennifer and was placing her knocked out figure into the other car, reaching out, hoping he could stop them, but nothing helped.

She was gone.

**her new power is peak gold. Also, poor Tommy boy.
Also- Esme + Diego = Best BROTP**