CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
THE RETURN

[LONGEST CHAPTER EVER]

Alex still held Klaus' arm tightly, waiting for the bus to stop. Klaus wasn't looking too good. he had a sad look in his eyes. Alex couldn't judge, he had some tears in his eyes before they came back but it seemed they no wanted to fall. Alex leaned on Klaus and felt a hand going behind him and around his middle, holding him tightly. the old man on the bus looked at them and shook his head with a smile.

As the bus came to a stop they got up, Klaus's hand now moving to Alex's wrist. they walked out the bus with the briefcase in one of Klaus's hands.

They looked at each other for a second, before Klaus gently moved his hand away from Alex, and with another glance, he lifted the briefcase and the air and then brought it back down, making sparkes fly out.

He did that some more until he was sure the briefcase couldn't be used anymore.

And then he threw it away from where he and Alex stood, hearing the briefcase going up in flames. and without giving the briefcase another glance, he walked up to Alex and hugged him, shoulders shaking from his sobs. Alex ran his hands gently in Klaus's hair while whispering in his ear.

"Let's go," Alex told Klaus, "let's go home."

Klaus nodded and they walked away, holding hands.

✥

When they arrived home, no one was there. And if pogo was around, he didn't show up to greet them.

Alex led Klaus upstairs to his room, sat him on the bed and went to the bathroom. he opened the hot water in the bath and then left, going to Klaus till the bath was full.

When he came into the room he was Klaus, with his chin resting on his hands, looking at him.

Alex smiled and walked up to him, "What's on your mind?" he said as he ran his fingers gently in Klaus' hair.

"How he lived."

Alex hummed, thinking for a second, "Well, if he stayed with Robert, I'm sure he lived a happy life."

This time it was Klaus who hummed, "Can you get some towels, mine are," he waved his hands, "dirty?"

Alex smiled, "Sure."

When he came back into the room, he saw Klaus' clothes laying on the floor and he couldn't hear the water running.

he walked in the bathroom and found Klaus in the bath, "here," and he set the towels on the cabinet and turned to walk away.

"Don't go."

he paused and looked at Klaus.

"Never."

he walked up to Klaus and took off his clothes, gently sitting behind Klaus.

Klaus leaned on him, feeling safe as his lover's hands held him tightly to his chest, he closed his eyes.

✥

Alex was once again, brushing Klaus' hair with his fingers. not focusing.

one moment they were in the past, in the middle of a war, with a best friend and the next second they were in the future, back home with the threat of apocalypse threating their peace.

he could still hear it.

the sound of helicopters, men shouting, guns being fired and men screaming.

sure, he had a messed up childhood but he was never in a war. beating bad guys was not the same as killing man after man, knowing they had a family out there, waiting for their husband, father, brother to come back home.

he wasn't only killing bad guys, he was braking a family. leaving families alone, grieving over the ones they've lost.

This was war, and war was new to him.

as he was lost in his mind, he felt Klaus moving.

he came back to reality just when Klaus sat hunched over and breathing heavily

"Hey," Alex said softly, not wanting to startle him.

Klaus didn't answer for a second, still breathing heavily.

Alex softly put a hand on Klaus back, moving to his shoulder blades and rubbed it softly.

"Come back to me," Alex said and his hands making Klaus feel grounded.

he slowly leaned back on Alex, letting the man clean his hair and then he returned the favor, with some kisses being exchanged here and there.

after they were done, they got out of the bath and walked back in the room to get dressed. once done-Klaus just wearing his black leather pants and Alex wearing a simple shirt and one of Klaus' jeans-Alex took their clothes and went to put them up for laundry.

As he was walking back, he saw five standing in the doorway. quickly he made himself invisible, even to Klaus.

old habits die hard.

"You okay?" five asked as Klaus dried his hair using a towel.

"Yeah, it's just," Klaus answered, "long night."

Five snorted, "More than one, From the looks of it."

"yeah," Klaus said as he was wearing his shirt, Dave's dog tags hanging from around his neck. a parting gift.

"Don't remember the dog tags."

"Yeah they uh," Klaus said as he finished putting on his shirt, "Belonged to a friend."

"How about that new tattoo?" FIve questioned, still standing in the doorway.

Klaus looked at his arm and then huffed. "You know," he started, moving his hands, "I don't totally remember getting it. like I said, it was a long night."

Alex snorted, "liar."

Five moved farther in the room, "You did it, didn't you?"

"What are you talking about?" Klaus asked with forge confusion.

Five came closer to where Klaus was sitting on the bed, "You know, I can recognize the symptoms, Klaus."

"symptoms of what?"

Alex, once the doorway was cleared had moved and was now standing slightly behind Five.

Five let out a breath, "The jet lag, full-body itch."

Klaus sighed, resting his head between his hands.

Alex sighed as well, Busted.

Five wasn't done, "Headache that feels like someone shoved a box of cotton up into your nose and through your brain."

Klaus looked defeated, knowing he couldn't deny it anymore.

"You gonna tell me about it?"

"Your pals," Klaus stated, "When they broke into the house and they couldn't find you, they took me hostage instead.

"And in return, you stole their briefcase." Five said a matter of factly.

"Yeah, I thought there was money in it, or I could pawn it, you know, whatever."

Five started pacing.

"And then I opened it."

"and the next thing you knew, you were where?" Five turned and faced Klaus, "Or should I say when?"

"What difference does it make?" Klaus said coldly.

"what dif-" Five started, "Uh Okay, how long were you gone?"

"Almost a year."

"A year?" Five said in amazement, "Do you know what that means?"

"Yeah," Klaus said with a smile, "I'm ten months older now."

"No, this isn't any sort of joke, Klaus," Five began.

Alex narrowed his eyes, "Well, he's not joking now." and then he made himself visible to Klaus.

Klaus looked behind Five and when he saw his lover, he smiled.

"Hazel and Cha-Cha Will do whatever they can to get the briefcase," Five looked around the room, "Where is it now?"

"Gone, I destroyed it." Five turned to look at Klaus.

"Poof."

Five got furious, "What the hell were you thinking?"

"Oi!" Klaus heard Alex say and then huffed.

"What do you care?" Klaus was getting annoying. He just wanted Five to leave so he could spend some time with Alex.

"What do I care? I needed it you moron, so I could-I could get back, I could start over."

Klaus stood up waving Five off, "Just-just," he then began to walk out of the room.

"Where you going?" Five questioned.

"Interrogation's over, just leave."

"Have you-" the hesitation in Five's voice made Klaus pause. now he was standing next to Alex.

Klaus turned to look at Five, "What?"

"Have you seen Alex lately?"

That shocked both Klaus and Alex. Klaus looked around the room, "Should I?"

Five sighed, "It's just," he sat on the bed, "In the future, I saw him there. But he's dead, isn't he?" Five looked down at his hands.

Klaus didn't answer for a moment, and when he opened him mouth to talk Alex beat him to it.

"Not really," Alex said and Five's head snapped up.

Eyes wide with shock, he stood slowly. "Lex?"

Alex smiled, tears in his eyes. it has been so long since he talked to any of his siblings beside Ben. Five even longer.

"Hey bro."

Five stood there for a second, before throwing himself in Alex's open arms.

"You're alive." breathed Five as Alex hugged him back, "You're here."

Alex held Five tightly in his arms, "I'm okay, I'm fine."

Klaus smiled at the scene and then left, giving the siblings some alone time.

"But how?" Five pulled his head back from where it was resting on Alex's chest, "Why?"

Alex sighed, "The old man's plans kiddo."

Five huffed, "Don't call me kiddo."

That made Alex laugh, "Oh right, you're now an old man!"

Five snorted before he started to laugh too, "You were saying."

"He made me go invisible, I improved my powers. could choose who would see me and who couldn't. And then Reginald made it look like I died."

Five pulled back completely, "But there was nothing about you in Vanya's book!"

Alex rubbed the back of his neck, "Well that was my fault. After I 'died', I had this big argument with Reginald. Made me lose control of my power and Vanya saw me. Reginald used Allison's powers to make Vanya forget. Maybe in her subconscious, she knew that I was alive."

"Allison knows?"

"No."

"Five," Alex called when he saw the boy ready to leave the room. "Don't tell anyone."

Five frowned, "Why?"

"I'll tell them on my own, just, It was a long night."

Realization flashed in Five's eyes as he nodded, "Well, welcome back to the future."

Alex smiled as Five left.

Now time to go and see where Klaus has gone to.

✥

Alex Found Klaus standing in the hallway and when he got closer he saw what was going on.

Pogo was fixing Grace.

Without saying anything, Alex took Klaus' hand and led him downstairs.

Pogo looked up as they walked down the stairs. "Well, Everyone's back home." And then continued fixing Grace.

✥

Alex lingered in the stairs, letting Klaus go down by himself.

"What happened here?" Klaus asked Alex when he sat the chandelier on the floor.

Before Alex could answer, Diego walked past Klaus, not seeing Alex, with a briefcase in his hands.

"You look like shit."

"why, thank you. "Klaus said, "Hey, where you going?"

"Nope," Diego asnwered, popping the 'P'.

"What?" Klaus was doing all the questioning becasue Diego had yet to see Alex standing behind Klaus.

Diego stopped and turned his head to Klaus, Alex still not in sight, "I'm not giving you a ride."

"Oh, come on, man. You know we can't drive." Klaus pleaded.

Diego ignored the 'we' thinking Klaus was just being Klaus, "I don't c-" He didn't finish his sentence, admitting defeat by just looking at Klaus.

"Okay, great. I'll just go get our stuff." Klaus said and walked away to pack himself and Alex a bag, "Two minutes, You guys can catch up till I come."

Diego huffed before frowning, "Who-" he finally turned completely and saw Alex standing next to the fallen chandelier.

His briefcase fell to the ground.

"Alex," he whispered like he was afraid if he talked loudly Alex would disappear before his eyes.

"Hey." Alex smiled and waved, eyes once again teary.

There was lots of crying today and he felt sleepy.

"You-" Diego came closer until he was standing right in front of Alex. he poked Alex in the ribcage.

"Ow," Alex said mockingly and was rewarded with a punch to his shoulder.

"Ow!" this time you could detect a little bit of pain in his voice.

"What the fuck?"

Alex winced, "uhh, It was Reginald."

Diego looked at him, "That explains so much it's illegal."

Alex's laugh echoed in the empty hall and soon after Diego's joined.

Alex hugged Diego, "It's good to see you again bro."

Diego held Alex tightly, "I missed you."

They pulled back from the hug, and that's when Alex remembered something.

His face fell, "I'm sorry about Eudora." At Diego's confused face Alex elaborated, "I was there to help her save Klaus, I couldn't get to her. I'm sorry."

Diego was once again sad but he smiled at his brother and patted him on the shoulder, "knowing she had someone there when she died is better than thinking she died alone."

Alex smiled at him, "let's go. Klaus will be here any moment now."

★彡WORDS:4213★彡

LISTEN UP PEOPLE,

this is the longest chapter that I've EVER written in my entire life.

so I expect to see some votes and comment.

just joking, be your usual self. I thought I would write a long-ass chapter to celebrate having 30k!

but please don't be a ghost reader, you guys make me feel like my writing is shit!

I just saw a comment saying that "I would slap Alex then Hug him for pretending to be dead." and all I could think of was that's exactly what Diego did!

Love ya!