CHAPTER THIRTY: NO PLACE LIKE HOME

They were almost half across the field when they heard Vanya shout, all turning to catch a glimpse of the rest of the family shuffle to the basement of the barn.

"How did we forget about the kid?" Diego questioned, glancing back at the two figures they originally planned to meet.

"Does this make us terrible people?" Lotus wondered.

"No."

Both Diego and Lotus turned to Five who raised an eyebrow, "Yeah you're right. What makes you a terrible person is killing the board of directors!" Diego huffed, marching back towards the barn.

Five trailed behind his brother, "What? You wanted to get home, right?"

"Why is murder always your answer to everything?"

He glanced back at her as she followed, "Okay, so, what I'm hearing is that everyone would prefer to stay here."

"I mean," she shrugged, "Since doomsday's a no go, why can't we stay here? Present time sucks ass."

"We are not staying here." Diego called from the front of their little group, approaching the barn quickly.

When they entered and rushed down the stairs the others had, Lotus' eyes widened as Harlan sat curled up in a corner, waves of blue surrounding him as he rocked back and forth.

Vanya was in front of him, holding onto his legs. "Whatever it is I gave you, I can take it back, okay? We just, we need to stop this."

The woman raised her hands, they watched as she grasped the boys knees. Orange light flickered in his face while blue shone from Vanya's hands.

Lotus glanced over at Sissy, watching as she was bent over with eyes closed, hands clasped together probably praying to whatever god who would listen. She walked over and wrapped an arm around the older woman, "He's going to be fine." Lotus said as Sissy leaned against her, tears leaking from her eyes. "Your baby's gonna be okay."

The energy whirled around, exploding in a blue haze before everything fell unbelievably silent. Vanya flew back, Harlan stopped shaking and took a weary look around.

"See." Lotus whispered as he looked to his mother, Sissy sobbed as she ran to her child.

"Oh, my baby." She exclaimed, dropping in front of Harlan and engulfing him into a hug. They all watched as she wept, turning to Vanya and thanking her.

Sissy slowly helped Harlan up, addressing each of them as she explained they needed to get some fresh air. Diego nodded slowly, "Our visitors are still waiting."

"Visitors?" Allison questioned.

"Oh yeah." Five sighed, "I guess we should see what they want."

Lotus nodded as he walked over to Diego and grasped his arm, "We'll meet you there."

They vanished in a haze of blue, that seemed to be their reoccurring colour.

She rolled her eyes, closing them as she pictured the open field. Within seconds she felt the world adjust around her, when her eyes opened she stood on the open plain a few feet in front of the brothers.

"You did it!" Five gave her a nod, "Have you met Herb?"

They all walked beside each other as they finally met the other two, "Herb, Dot." Five said.

"Hi." The woman named Dot nodded, looking between them all.

"Herbie!" Diego cheered, extending his hand. Herb accepted, a grin on his face as they did a little handshake. "Hey! My man."

"All good?" Diego asked.

Five pursed his lips, "Good to see you guys."

"I can't believe it." Herb said as he took a deep breath, "Is she...?"

"Really dead this time?" Five cut him off, "Yeah."

"Oh."

"Now that the Handler's gone, what happens at the Commission?" Five wondered.

Herb looked to Dot, a worried look in his eyes. "Just tell them." She said.

"Oh, well, we need to elect a new board of directors. But, until then, I... uh, I've been voted in as acting chairperson."

Diego smiled, "No shit. Congrats, Herbie. That's huge."

"I'm so goddamn nervous!"

"You'll do fine." Five even gave him a smile.

"Oh, thank you."

Lotus tapped her foot on the grass, trying to ignore all the dead bodies scattered around them. Even though it wasn't that long ago when Vanya wiped them out, the smell was getting terrible.

"Can we have a briefcase?" Lotus blurted, looking from Herb to Dot.

Herb'a eyes widened, "Oh my! Lotus Ingrid, Number 14!"

"Nope. Just Lotus, thank you."

He nodded, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Herb and that's Dot."

"I gathered that."

The man pursed his lips, "You all want a briefcase?"

Five nodded, "We need to get home. Where we belong."

"Take your pick."

He turned and waved his hand around him, eyes all floating from the briefcases that lay next to their deceased owners.

"You've got to be kidding me." Lotus said as she rushed after Five and Diego who plowed into the crowd. "This is like a sick game of Deal or no Deal."

Diego snorted leaning over and scooping up a case, "I choose this one."

"That's a deal." Five nodded.

Lotus groaned in annoyance, making her way back towards the house. The house, which was half destroyed. She found herself walking up the steps, throwing the door open into the living room.

She stared at the pile of bricks, then to the kitchen where Lila and herself had fought, where she had failed miserably. Lotus leaned over and picked up a fallen brick, balancing it in a hand before tossing it as hard as she could at the wall. A tired yell burned her throat as the brick landed on the floor with a thud, she took a deep breath.

"Someone's upset."

Lotus turned to see Klaus sitting on the floor in front of the couch, clutching two dog tags in his hand. "Hey." She mumbled walking over, plopping down right next to him. "What's up."

"Dave's still enlisting in the military."

She frowned, "Oh."

"I know."

Lotus chewed her lip, glancing over at him. "When I was... when I was stuck, I saw Ben."

Klaus met her gaze quickly, eyes burning into hers. "What"

"I saw him. He told me I needed to go back." She shrugged, "He told me to tell you guys he said Hello."

"Oh."

"I know."

He chuckled, "At least he brought you back to us."

Lotus nodded slowly, mind racing. "What if this time I wasn't meant to come back?"

"What? What do you mean this time?"

Last time she was only fine because of Five, and it appeared it was like that this time as well. She feared maybe next time, there wouldn't be a do over.

"In a different timeline Luther shoots me dead and you carry my dying body up to your kitchen where I bleed out in Five's arms."

Klaus' eyes widened, staring down at her. "Pardon me?"

She shrugged, "I've pretty much gotten over it. You're fine."

The door swung open, everyone filed in expect for Five.

"This place is ruined." Luther sighed walking towards them, "It was a nice place."

"I kinda feel like it's our fault." Allison said.

Diego snorted, "Because it is."

A crack of energy made everyone jump, Five stood in the kitchen gripping the briefcase that Diego had picked tight. "I think I've got it set to our correct timeline."

"You think?" Lotus pulled herself up, helping Klaus follow her lead.

Five shook his head, marching out the front door and down the steps. They all traced after him, coming to a stop on the lawn.

The sun had set, the porch lights casted a faint glow on their faces as they formed a circle. "Everyone ready?" Five asked.

Luther agreed, "Let's do it."

Lotus placed a hand on Five and Allison's shoulder, prepared for the terrible feeling of being eaten alive by the ground they stood on. Five's hand brushed the latch—

"Wait!" Klaus exclaimed, shooting them all a sorrowful look as he dashed to the porch and pulled off a brown cowboy hat from the bushes. Diego leaned towards Five, "Fifty bucks if we leave him here."

Klaus returned, a small smile on his face and retook the hands of his siblings. Five took a deep breath, holding the case out once again and did what he had to do.

Blue energy crackled before they were all engulfed, swallowed up by darkness. They were falling all over again, but Lotus couldn't tell if she was alone or still holding on. Nausea nipped at her, the dark trying to pull her in and toss her who knew where.

When the ground was hard beneath her feet again, it was an expensive rug over an expensive floor.

"Oh, good god!" Luther exclaimed, holding his head. Everyone shared groans of pain, "What— what day is it?"

Five grabbed a newspaper that sat on the table they surrounded, "April 2nd, 2019."

"Oh thank god." Lotus sighed, "We did it."

"Did what?"

"It's the day after the apocalypse." Five clarified, tossing the paper back onto the table.

"Wait, so we stopped it?" Allison's eyes widened, "It's over?"

"Did we... actually succeed at something?" Klaus whimpered. "That's incredible!"

They all broke out in relived laughter while Five took off, Lotus gazed around the large foyer. It looked exactly the same, still grand and intimidating.

Klaus walked over and yanked her into a hug, "I don't know about you guys, but I need a drink."

"Yes." Luther agreed, following as they all shuffled to the living room.

"In fact I need several!"

Lotus snorted, trailing after them. They all wandered about, she watched as the Hargreeves take in their old childhood home.

Diego was stopped in front of the fire place, she shuffled over and followed his gaze. Where a painting of Five used to be, was Ben.

"Why is there a painting of Ben over the mantelpiece?" Diego questioned.

"We screwed something up, didn't we?" Lotus whispered.

Fire crackled, "I knew you'd show up eventually."

Sir Reginald Hargreeves slowly sat up from an old leather chair, he turned and faced them all.

"Dad?" Diego mumbled.

Luther took a deep breath, "You're alive?"

"Why shouldn't I be?"

"Yeah." Luther blinked, "Y-yeah, you're right. I'm... I'm just happen that we're home and... together again."

Mr Hargreeves brows furrowed in confusion, "Home? This isn't your home."

"What are you talking about? This is the Umbrella Academy." Allison chimed in.

"Wrong again." The old man said, "This is the Sparrow Academy."

Lotus glared, lunging forward. A hand wrapped her wrist, yanking her back. "What are you doing?" Five questioned, having blinked in behind her.

"Sending this old man to a retirement home." She huffed, "Why can't you let me whack anyone—"

Footsteps sounded from behind, they all turned and looked up to the second level where a group of shadows formed. But Lotus' eyes widened at the sight of the boy who appeared in front of them.

Ben. But, much younger. And with shaggy hair paired with a growing mess of peach fuzz on his upper lip.

"Dad, who the hell are these assholes?"

Lotus' heart dropped, as a new silence settled over the room.

"You've got to be shitting me."