Dusk's head rolled around in the passenger seat, her eyes slowly fluttering opening as the sun's rays reflected off the car's side mirror. The sun was starting to peek over the land behind them, the lingering clouds intensifying its rays as they continued to shine in her eyes. "I'm up... I'm up!" Dusk yawned, sitting up in her seat. One of the girls must've thrown a blanket over her, as Dusk did not recall falling asleep with one, looking down at her lap. "How long was I out?" She asked, looking over to Victoria. "About nine hours," Victoria answered, glancing over at her briefly before going back to the road.

"We should be reaching New Grumpson soon," Dahlia said as she cleared her throat of the early morning raspiness. "Good, I'm gonna need at least three cups of coffee if we're going to be out here looking for this Jennifer girl all day," Dusk commented. "It doesn't help that Sy didn't bother giving us a description of her," The redhead sighed. "Right? If you're that desperate to look for your daughter, it'd be best to provide one so we can narrow her down!" Dusk nodded. "Feel free to call me crazy, but this whole situation seems kinda shady to me," Dahlia admitted. "Doesn't it to you guys?"

"How so?" Dusk questioned. "The vague description, a town in the middle of nowhere, and not to mention the way Sy managed to track Viktor down and kidnap him? That's a sea of red flags if I've ever seen one!" Dahlia answered. "Fair point, but we've made it this far. We can't just turn around now," Dusk nodded. Victoria adjusted the mirror, noticing the blinding headlights behind them. Against the rising sun, she saw the outline of Diego's van trailing right behind them. We've got to be close now! She glanced at the GPS, and sure enough it announced they were about three minutes away from the town.

Off to the right of the main road was a sign welcoming them to New Grumpson. And while none of them were expecting it to be a large town, it was still rather shocking to see they only had 515 people living there. A stark contrast to the bustling big city they had grown accustomed to. As Diego pulled off to the side of the road, the girls pulled over, meeting up with the group as they exited the van. "Finally, some air!" Klaus sighed with relief as he sprayed himself with sanitizing spray. "Klausy, there's air everywhere!" Dusk placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm talking about air that isn't polluted with my sibling's mouth germs!" Klaus clarified, gagging at the memory. "Still wish you would've let me come with you!"

"Well, how about I make it up to you with some hot cocoa, and maybe a souvenir?" Dusk offered. Klaus tapped his chin in thought, raising a playful brow. "Deal! But I also get to ride with you on the way back home, okay?" Klaus added. "Hmm... I'll have to see if the girls agree to that little arrangement," Dusk smirked. "You little rascal!" Klaus slipped a gloved hand around her waist. "It's only fair," Dusk reasoned. "If you say so, doll," Klaus pressed a kiss to her neck, making her blush. "Ugh, really? Are you trying to make me throw up again?" Ben scoffed as he caught a glimpse of the couple.

"Aw, poor baby! You mad you're missing out on all the action with your girl?" Dusk taunted. "Whatever! At least I'm not sucking someone's neck off in public!" Ben rolled his eyes. As the couple and the Squid boy were going back and forth, Five approached the lone phone booth and searched for any sign of either Jennifer or Sy being listed as a resident. "Nothing. No Sy Grossman listed, no Jennifer Grossman either," He informed the group - another dead end. "Well, we'll have a look around. If she's here, we'll find her," Allison looked off into the distance, towards the town.

"This is why you do recon, assholes," Ben muttered, and everyone turned to stare at him. "Recon? Why are you saying 'recon?' We're not the A-team!" Viktor squinted. "Oh really? Shit, you fooled me!" Ben retorted. "Hey, at least we still have a team!" Diego reasoned. "The hell's that supposed to mean?" the Squid Boy inquired. "Okay, everybody! Look over here and smile!" Luther instructed, pulling out a small camera. "What?" Allison looked confused at first before noticing the object and turning her eyes away from it.

"Smile!" Luther said, and nearly everyone closed their eyes, the only exceptions being Dusk and Klaus, who had their arms wrapped around each other's waist, and Ben and Diego reluctantly posing together. "You know what? Screw this! One or two of you are fine, but all of you together? You're a bunch of drooling, stunted toddlers!" Ben shook his head in disgust as he walked off. "Where are you going?" Luther questioned. "I'm going back to my penthouse downtown!" Ben called back to them. "Uh, Ben? That penthouse belongs to the federal government now," Dahlia reminded him.

"Shut the hell up, Dahlia!" Ben snapped. "Hey! Don't talk to her like that!" Luther yelled out, ready to storm over towards him but Dahlia put a hand on his bicep, stopping him. "I got this," Dahlia assured. With a flick of her wrist, a ball of snow and ice spikes formed within her hand, and with just enough precision, she aimed it right at the center of Ben's back. He stumbled over his feet but caught himself just before he fell, taken completely off-guard. "You want to try that again, Benny?" Dahlia conjured another one, ready to throw it in case he wasn't wise enough to keep his mouth shut. But all Ben could do was mutter incoherently, tucking his tentacles into his jacket as he kept walking.

"Poor Benerino," Klaus shook his head. "We're better off without him!" Diego called from the trunk of the van. "He's right," Viktor nodded in agreement. "Alright, everyone. Let's split up and look for this girl. Let's be discreet, if you find her or the dry cleaner guy, don't do anything on your own. Let's just wait for the team," Luther advised. "What the hell are you wearing?" Dusk questioned as Diego rejoined the group, finally catching a glimpse of what he had been searching for, his old outfit. "Fits like a glove!" Diego adjusted his pants, realizing just how much his body had changed within the last six years.

"You sure about that, man? You look like you just barely fit yourself into a corset!" Victoria desperately tried to hold back her laughter from how ridiculous he looked. "Sure, like OJ's glove!" Klaus added, Dusk playfully smacking his shoulder. "Here, you're in charge of Wanda," Diego reached into his pocket, throwing the keys towards Klaus, making him quickly jump away. "Don't go anywhere without us!" Diego warned. "Why would I do that? There's practically nothing out here!" Klaus raised a brow. "Don't worry about him. You'll be fine," Dusk assured.

"You still keeping your word on the cocoa?" Klaus looked at his wife with puppy dog eyes. "I promise, I'll bring you some on our way back," Dusk vowed, pecking his lips as he hopped into the passenger seat, and she ran off to catch up with the rest of the group.

~~~~~~~~~

Christmas carols and the smell of peppermint and chocolate filled the air as Dusk's eyes wandered around the town. Approaching the main square, the siblings broke off in different directions with Diego and Lila heading towards the Christmas fair, Luther, Dahlia, Viktor, and Allison taking a look through the shop windows. "I don't suppose we can just walk around and keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary?" Dusk asked, leaving just her twin brother and best friend. "It wouldn't hurt," Five shrugged. As they continued walking down the main road, Dusk's stomach grumbled with hunger, and as the door of the coffee shop opened, the scent of sweets filled the air again, she couldn't hold back her hunger for much longer.

"Anyone in the mood for some cinnabuns?" She asked, not waiting for an answer as she approached the cozy little shop. "Dusk, we need to keep an eye out for Jennifer!" Five reminded her. "Well, if you want to find her so bad, you keep walking, and I'll catch up with you!" Dusk responded. "The girl likes her food," Victoria commented, picking up the pace with her friend, and Five quietly groaned, following after them. The tiny bell above the door rang as Dusk stepped inside. Bookshelves covered nearly every wall, and just above her fake vines hung from the ceiling, Christmas lights twinkling right behind them, sending bursts of color throughout the room.

Couples sat at the circular tables, some holding hands while others were chatting away and sipping on their coffees. The line leading up to the counter was about three people long, one person was patiently waiting their turn while keeping their young child in check, while the other person stared at their watch and tapped their foot with impatience. You think you're impatient for coffee? You should see my brother when he's caffeine-starved! Dusk rolled her eyes. For a moment, Dusk caught a glimpse of the glass display case, her mouth watering the moment she saw the cinnamon rolls that were bigger than her hand. Just the right amount of icing and dough, she didn't know how the shop managed to make such a delicacy, but whatever their secret ingredient was, it looked and hopefully, would taste delicious. 

Finally, it was their turn to order, and as the cashier started ringing them up, Dusk suddenly caught the whiff of an overwhelming odor. She couldn't quite place her finger on it as she tried to suppress the urge to vomit, but it smelled like the cross between a rotting eggplant and severe BO. "Whoa, you feeling okay?" Five asked, watching her face twist with discomfort. "I'm fine," Dusk nodded before continuing her order. "Can I get a large cinnamon roll, two hot cocoas, and some egg and bacon bites? You guys want anything?"

"One hot cocoa and a large cinnamon roll for me," Victoria added.  "Anything for the boy?" The cashier gestured to Five, to which he scoffed and glared at him. "The boy wants coffee, black," He answered. The clerk nodded, and as Victoria was about to reach for her wallet, Dusk insisted that breakfast was on her. "You sure? I've got no problem splitting it," Victoria double-checked. "I'll pay for it," Dusk nodded. With a swipe of her card, another employee walked to the glass case and pulled out the rolls and bites, they then sat at an empty table and waited for their drinks to be finished. But Victoria couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong with her friend. And while no words were spoken, she could see the worry in Five's eyes too.

"You sure you're feeling alright? I've seen you sick before, but not like this," Victoria pressed on. "Like you said, it's probably the marigold," Dusk brushed it off. "I mean, we all did throw up in the van, but you... you've been getting sick more often than normal," Five treaded carefully. "It's nothing, okay? Just drop it!" Dusk crumpled up her napkin before moving on to her bacon bites. But before she could even bring it to her lips, a young woman walked past them, the whiff of her floral fragrance, smacking Dusk in the face. She scooted out of her chair and quickly ran to the back of the store, and without a second thought, the Bonnie and Clyde couple ran after her and into the bathroom, hearing vomiting from one of the stalls.

Dusk hunched over the toilet bowl, just wishing for the torture to end. By the time she was done, she felt like a wrung-out dishrag, all her energy had dissipated with the sensitive smells and bathroom trip. Coming out of the stall, she saw Five and Victoria staring at her with concern. "Guys... you shouldn't have to see me like this," Dusk pressed her back against the tiled wall, sliding onto the floor. "Well, considering the fact we've seen you at your worst before, this is nothing we can't handle," Five reasoned, as he and Victoria sat next to her. "This isn't just the Marigold, is it? Something else is going on with you," the redhead whispered.

"I haven't been feeling good recently. I thought maybe it was food poisoning, but now, I don't think that's the case," Dusk admitted. "You guys don't think I might be..." Silence grew between the couple, neither of them wanting to bring up the mention of her condition. "Oh my god, you guys think I am!" Dusk gaped at the both of them, standing up. "Hey now, I never said you were!" Five clarified. "And look, Klaus may be hella germophobic now, but it's not like you two haven't slept together in years!" Victoria pointed out.

She does have a point there... Sure, they weren't always on top of each other, going at it like rabbits, but they did have their moments of intimacy. But they were always insistent on protection, or at least Klaus was. Dusk's heart beat rapidly as she paced back and forth. "Should I..." Five looked to his girlfriend, who nodded. "There's a pharmacy down the road, just pick one up," Victoria said. And as Five walked out, Victoria walked over, grabbing Dusk by the shoulders. "Hey, listen! You're not alone in this, alright?" The redhead tried to comfort her, finding it a bit difficult since she had yet to experience the same anxiety.

"Just... everything is so screwed right now! First, Klaus's crippling fears, then getting our powers back, and now I might be pregnant!" Dusk cupped her hands over her mouth. Victoria guided her back to the wall as they sat back down, and the redhead wrapped an arm around the small of her back. Truth to be told, Dusk never thought motherhood was in the cards for her. Not to say she never wanted to be a mother, but she never thought she'd have that opportunity...

Not again...

~~~~~~~~~~

TW: This flashback contains scenes of physical abuse and miscarriage. So, if you're easily triggered by either of these topics, please skip these paragraphs and look for the ☂☂☂ emojis when the flashback is over.

February 27th, 2017

"Fuck..." Dusk hunched over the bathroom counter, staring at those two pink lines. The longer she kept staring at them, the darker they became, as if they were taunting her with this new information. Slowly, she looked up at the mirror, her face twinged with red and tears streaming down her face as a mixture of shock, sadness, and anger flooded within her. "This isn't how it's supposed to be..." She muttered to herself, out of every emotion she was feeling, she didn't feel an ounce of joy.

How could she be happy when she had a toxic, manipulative, and abusive man as her baby's father? They deserve better than this, I deserve better than this... Dusk wiped the tears from her eyes, sticking the test inside her pocket. After washing her face, she plastered on a fake smile, hoping that Sebastian wouldn't take notice of her demeanor. She had a show in less than two hours, all she had to do was act like everything was okay, and when she was alone, she could weigh her options.

"You were in there for quite a while," Sebastian commented, taking a sip of his beer as he sat in front of the TV. "Yeah. I just had a lot to eat for breakfast," Dusk reached into the fridge for some water. "I've gotta get ready for my show soon, you want me to make you anything?" She asked. "Duh! You're the one who does all the cooking around here!" Sebastian replied snarkily. Dusk sighed quietly before looking back in the fridge. Nothing but leftovers and alcohol galore. There was no way she could convince Sebastian to eat the same food they had from the night before. He had always been insistent on having something else every day, leaving their leftover meals to rot and the stench to fill their apartment.

But as she looked at the clock, she knew she didn't have much time before she had to leave. Screw it, he can make his own dinner tonight. But as she closed the fridge and backed up, her back pressed against Sebastian's chest. She turned around slowly, his hand going to her cheek as he stroked it roughly. "Listen, I can't make dinner with so little time. I have to get to my show!" Dusk spoke calmly, hoping not to provoke the monster. "Then don't go," Sebastian said bluntly. "I have to! Talent agents are gonna be out there tonight. I'm trying to make this dream a reality for us! Don't you want to see it happen?"

Sebastian backed away and folded his arms across his chest. "You care more about singing than you do me," He grumbled. "That's not true!" Dusk shook her head. "I do care about you!" "Then if you cared about me, you wouldn't want me to starve!" Sebastian bit back. Dusk looked at him incredulously, was he really trying to paint her out to be the villain? "You are a grown man! You can make your own food! I do all the cooking and cleaning around here! You can at least pitch in for once!" Dusk snarled.

Sebastian swiftly turned around and before Dusk could even brace herself, the back of his hand made sharp contact with her face, knocking her to the ground onto her stomach. "Seb..." She gasped. "Say it again... I dare you!" Sebastian challenged. Dusk's mouth flew open, but as she tried to protest his abuse, the only sound that escaped her lips was sharp gasps and stutters. But as she finally snapped out of her shock, anger filled her body again. She slowly stood up, he was about to slap her again, but she tightly gripped his wrist. "Don't you EVER lay a fucking hand on me!" She growled, her eyes starting to turn orange with rage.

"What are you going to do? Burn me? You can't do that, you don't have the guts!" Sebastian spat. "You even think about laying a finger on me again, and that's exactly what's going to happen!" Dusk threatened. As she walked him over to the wall, Sebastian kept trying to pry her hands off his wrist, but her grip was too strong. "Make your own dinner, I'm leaving!" Dusk let go as she rushed into the bathroom, grabbing her things and she caught a taxi to the bar. Her body quivered with rage and sadness. Sebastian had threatened to do terrible things to her before, but this was the first time he followed through with it. And as her cheek continued to burn, the tears kept on coming.

She did her best to conceal the bruise with heavy foundation and makeup, but not even three layers completely covered it. I can't do this... it's not healthy. Not for either of us. Her hand went to her stomach, though the bump had yet to form, she could still feel the presence of the little being inside her. As she slipped into her stage outfit, a sparkling silver mini dress, her hand tightly gripped the chair as a brief wave of pain crashed over her.

But she didn't have much time to think about it as her name was called and as she made her way to the stage, she stepped back into the role of an entertainer, hoping any talent agents that were in the crowd would whisk her away from this town, from Sebastian. And she could finally live the dream she hoping to live. With every song, the memory of her fiancé slowly slipped away and so did his wrath, but as the first notes of her final song of the night escaped her lips, screams came from the front of the crowd, causing her to stop. "What's... what's going on?" Dusk asked. An older woman frantically pointed at the ground, and just underneath Dusk, she could see blood spilling onto the floor.

Murmurs of concern and screams echoed throughout the bar. Even someone who claimed to be a nurse stormed onto the stage as the blood spread onto Dusk's thighs. "I-I... I don't..." Dusk stuttered as her hand went underneath her dress and as blood continued to drip onto her hands, her heart sank into her stomach. "No, no, no, no, no!" She sobbed. "It's going to be okay, sweetheart. We're going to call an ambulance, okay?" the nurse patted her back. But nothing could stop the tears from flowing now, not when the baby she barely knew but already loved, despite the circumstances was dying. "No..." She croaked, gripping onto the nurse as tightly as she could.

☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂

~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, I looked around for a while, but I found it," Five handed his sister a small plastic bag. Sure enough, inside was a box containing two pregnancy tests. "You feeling alright?" Five questioned. "I'm just a bit nervous..." Dusk sniffed. "We're right here with you, okay? If you need anything, we're right outside," the redhead assured. As Dusk was about to walk back into the stall, she looked over her shoulder, back to Five and Victoria. But she couldn't work up the courage to go back in. She dashed back over to them, wrapping her arms around the both of them. "Thank you for being here..." She muffled. "No problem, sis. Now, go take that test," Five uncomfortably patted her back.

As Dusk finally disappeared back into the stall, Five and Victoria sat, waiting for those long five minutes to pass, five minutes that would determine Dusk's future. All Victoria could do was stare blankly at the black and white wall, taking a sip of her hot cocoa, but as she adjusted herself in her seat, Five scooted closer to her, his hand resting against her thigh. That damn smile never failed to make her squirm. "You tryna sneak a sip of my cocoa?" Victoria squinted playfully. "Maybe, maybe not?" Five teased. "I can never get a decent cup of coffee,"

"Well, maybe you should've gotten your own!" Victoria smirked. Five chuckled before leaning to kiss her cheek. "Maybe I will..." He whispered, pressing another kiss to her lips. Victoria sighed against his lips before they both moved in sync. "What are you crazy kids doing?" Dusk's voice echoed throughout the bathroom. "Oh, nothing!" Victoria started blushing upon knowing they had been caught. "Sure..." Dusk's voice grew quiet and soon the toilet flushed as she exited the stall.

Dusk's body shook with every step she made, the hand containing her test, shaking like a leaf in the breeze. "So...?" the couple questioned, carefully eyeing Dusk as she finally looked down at the small stick.

"Positive," 

A/n: Hey everyone, I know this chapter was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. But I do want to talk a little about the topics that were mentioned in this chapter. First of all, abuse is NEVER okay! I do not condone any violent actions that were depicted in this chapter. If you've read some of my other stories, you know that I tend to bring awareness to these situations, not as a way to glamorize or poke fun, but as a way to show everyone that these situations are very much real, and there needs to be a change. And if any of you have unfortunately dealt with abuse, I'm truly sorry you've had to go through that, and I pray that you can get the healing and justice you deserve. 

While I may not have gone through a miscarriage, I have people in my personal life who have unfortunately dealt with such trauma from it. I can't even imagine the pain that comes with losing a child, nor will I ever truly understand that depth of pain. I truly hope in some way that by me shining a light on these difficult topics, I hope it can encourage a conversation or encourage someone struggling to seek help.

With that being said, I hope you all are taking care of yourselves, and I'll see you all in the next chapter.

With love,

Dusk Marie ☔💖