The car was silent as we sat there, the engine idling softly, the headlights cutting through the darkened field. I could hear the muffled noises of the world outside—crickets chirping, the rustle of wind through the tall grass—but inside the car, everything was still. I didn't want to face what was happening, didn't want to acknowledge that this was the last time I would be in this place, that everything I'd come to know over these past few weeks was slipping away from me. My heart was heavy, and my mind raced with thoughts I couldn't quite grasp.

I looked down at the notebook in my lap, its worn cover familiar and comforting. I had written so much in it, scribbled down memories and thoughts, but now it felt like those words were the only things I could hold onto. They were all I would have left of this place, of this time, of Five.

My father was quiet in the driver's seat, his hands resting on the steering wheel, fingers drumming absently as he watched me out of the corner of his eye. I knew he was worried, that he wanted to make sure I was okay, but there were no words that could make this better. I wasn't okay, and I didn't know when I would be.

"It's time, Y/n," he said finally, his voice gentle but firm, like he was trying to coax me into accepting the inevitable. "We need to go."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat as I forced myself to look up, to face what was happening. Through the windshield, I could see them—Five and his family, stepping out of Sissy's house, their silhouettes framed by the dim light from inside. Five was holding a briefcase, the one that would take them back to their own time. It felt like a punch to the gut, a sharp reminder that everything was coming to an end.

My father must have noticed the way my breath hitched because he reached over, resting a hand on mine. "Go on," he said softly, his eyes understanding. "Say goodbye."

My heart felt like it was shattering in my chest, but I nodded again, pushing open the car door. The cool night air hit me as I stepped out, my legs feeling like they were made of lead as I walked toward them. Each step felt heavier than the last, like I was dragging my feet through quicksand, but I forced myself to keep going.

They noticed me as I approached, turning to face me with a mix of emotions on their faces—sadness, gratitude, a hint of something I couldn't quite place. I stopped in front of them, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. How do you say goodbye to people who have changed your life so completely?

"I'm really gonna miss you all," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. The words felt inadequate, like they didn't even begin to cover what I was feeling, but they were all I could manage.

Allison was the first to move, stepping forward and wrapping me in a warm, comforting hug. "We're going to miss you too, Y/n," she murmured against my hair, and I could feel the sincerity in her words. One by one, the others joined in, enveloping me in a group hug that was both overwhelming and comforting. It felt like I was being wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, like they were trying to shield me from the pain that was threatening to consume me.

When they finally pulled away, I was met with Vanya's soft, tearful smile. "We can't thank you enough for everything you and your dad have done for us," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

I shook my head, blinking back the tears that were stinging my eyes. "You don't need to thank us. I'm just glad I got to know all of you."

Diego, always the tough one, looked at me with a rare softness in his eyes. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was like having a little sister around," he admitted, his voice gruff but sincere. I could see the affection behind his words, the way he was trying to mask his own emotions, and it made my heart ache even more.

Without thinking, I stepped forward and hugged him. Diego stiffened in surprise, but after a moment, he returned the hug, his hands awkwardly patting my back. It was a brief, awkward hug, but it meant more to me than I could express. I pulled away, giving him a small smile before turning to Luther.

"I'm gonna miss you, Y/n. And Sushi too," Luther said, his voice full of warmth as he pulled me into one of his trademark bear hugs. It was too tight, as always, and I could feel the air being squeezed out of my lungs, but I didn't mind. It was Luther's way of showing he cared.

"Luther, let her go before you crush her," Klaus teased, and Luther quickly released me, a sheepish grin on his face.

Klaus was next, his usual playful smirk softening into something more genuine as he looked at me. "Come on, give your favorite Klaus a hug," he said, holding out his arms. I couldn't help but laugh as I stepped into his embrace, and he hugged me tightly, his head resting on my shoulder.

When I pulled back, Klaus grinned and reached up to take off his hat, placing it on my head. "Something to remember me by," he said with a wink.

"Thanks, Klaus," I replied, adjusting the hat and trying to blink back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

"Make sure to tell Sushi her Luther will miss her," Luther added with a playful grin, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'll make sure to let her know," I said, laughing softly despite the sadness that was weighing me down.

Then, it was just me and Five. The others had already started to give us some space, but Klaus lingered a little longer, watching us with a knowing smile before Diego came back and dragged him away by the shirt.

Five looked at me, a small, bittersweet smile on his lips. The way he was looking at me, with that intense, unwavering gaze, made my heart feel like it was going to burst. "I never did get to make Sushi to like me," he said, breaking the silence with a soft laugh.

I smiled, even though it felt like my heart was breaking. "No, you didn't," I replied, my voice catching in my throat.

We stood there for a long moment, just looking at each other, the weight of everything unspoken hanging between us. I wanted to memorize every detail of his face, every curve of his smile, every fleck of color in his eyes. This was it—the moment I had been dreading.

"I'm gonna miss you," I said softly, my voice barely audible as I held onto the hat Klaus had given me, feeling its rough texture beneath my fingers.

"I'm gonna miss you too," he replied, his voice just as soft, just as filled with emotion. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching mine, and I could see the conflict there, the struggle to find the right words. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," I said quickly, desperate to hear whatever it was he had to say.

He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "I was going to ask for one more—" Before he could finish, I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that was filled with everything I couldn't put into words. His hands moved to my waist, pulling me closer as he kissed me back, and for a moment, the world fell away. It was just us, suspended in time, holding onto each other like we were afraid to let go.

When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, a soft smile on his lips. "I was going to say a hug, but that was even better," he said, and we both laughed softly, the sound tinged with sadness.

We stood there, just holding each other, neither of us wanting to let go. But we both knew we had to. I leaned into his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, trying to memorize the feel of him, the warmth of his embrace.

"I love you, Five Hargreeves," I whispered, my voice breaking as the tears finally spilled over, leaving warm trails down my cheeks.

"I love you too, Y/n Gussman," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. His hand reached up to gently brush the tears from my face, and I could see the pain in his eyes, the way he was trying to hold back his own tears.

We shared one last kiss, slow and lingering, both of us trying to hold onto the moment for as long as possible. But eventually, we had to pull away. Our hands lingered together, fingers intertwined, until I slowly turned and started to walk back to the car. Each step felt like I was leaving a part of myself behind, like the distance between us was growing wider with every second.

When I reached the car, I turned back to see him standing there, his family gathered around him, all of them watching me with a mixture of sadness and understanding. I waved, and they waved back, and I gave them one last smile before climbing into the car.

As my dad started the engine and we began to drive away, I couldn't help but look back, watching them grow smaller and smaller in the distance until they were just a blur on the horizon. The further we drove, the more the weight of everything settled over me, pressing down on my chest until it was hard to breathe.

———

As my dad navigated the familiar streets of Dallas, it all felt unreal. The stores, the buildings, everything I'd known my entire life was slipping away. We were leaving. The thought echoed in my mind, heavy and surreal, as I watched the cityscape blur by through the car window. Our bags were packed in the trunk, and the quiet hum of the engine was the only sound, apart from Sushi's occasional meows from her cage in the backseat.

I sighed deeply, leaning back in my seat, trying to absorb the finality of it all. Five and his family were gone. It felt like one moment they were there, intertwined with my life in the most unexpected ways, and now... they were just memories. Meeting them had been a whirlwind—a beautiful, tragic whirlwind that had changed everything for me. It was over too soon, like a story cut off before the final chapter. But maybe that was what made it all the more precious. A fleeting connection, something I never expected but would never forget.

I let my thoughts drift to the boy I had fallen for, to the strange yet wonderful family I had somehow become a part of, even if just for a brief moment. It hurt to think of them, of what could have been. But I also felt a strange sort of peace. Not everyone stays in your life, and maybe that's okay. I was happy—happy that I had gotten the chance to know them, to be part of their world, even for just a little while.

As we passed the "Leaving Dallas" sign, a wave of emotion washed over me. My throat tightened, but mixed with the sadness was a flicker of excitement, a tiny spark of hope. What would my life bring now, even without Five in it?

I stared out the window, letting my thoughts wander, when I felt something in my coat pocket. Confused, I reached in and pulled out a small piece of paper. How did a note get in there? I thought back to the moment when the other Five, the one who looked older but was younger, handed it to me. He had said, "When it's time, open it," and something about finding him. His words had confused me then, but now they made me nervous. Was this a warning? A clue?

I glanced at my dad, still focused on the road, unaware of the small piece of my past now unfolding in my hands. Should I open it? The other Five had said to wait until the time was right. But what if now was that time? I hesitated, my fingers trembling slightly as I unfolded the paper. I took a deep breath and flipped it over, my eyes scanning the words written there.

"April 1, 2019. The Hotel Obsidian."

That was it. No explanations, no details, just a date and a place. What did it mean? My mind raced with questions. What hotel? Why that date? And why had Five, the older one, given me this note? I stared at the words for a long time, trying to make sense of them, but there were no answers, just more questions.

I glanced back at my dad, who was still focused on the road ahead, oblivious to the storm of thoughts in my head. Should I tell him? Should I keep this to myself? After a moment, I decided to tuck the note away, folding it carefully and slipping it back into my pocket and put back on Klaus hat he gave me. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The wind gently blew through the open window, playing with my hair as I leaned back in my seat.

We were on our way to a new place, a new chapter in our lives, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of the story. The note, the date, the hotel—it all felt like a thread connecting me back to Five, to the life I had just left behind. I didn't know what the future held, but as we drove away from Dallas, I knew one thing for sure: I would find him again, someday

_______________________________

Five and his family had done it—they had traveled back to their original timeline. But as they arrived, something felt off, a nagging sense of wrongness that settled in their guts before they even knew what it was. It wasn't until they reached the Academy that the reality of their situation hit them like a ton of bricks. Their home, the Umbrella Academy, wasn't theirs anymore. It belonged to someone else—new kids, with new powers, who called themselves the Sparrows.

And Ben. Ben was alive. But not the Ben they knew. This Ben was a stranger, cold and distant, nothing like the brother they had lost. The shock of it all was overwhelming. They were standing in what should have been their home, staring at a life they should have had, now claimed by others.

The fight that followed was inevitable. Both sides clashed, a chaotic mix of powers and emotions, but in the end, the Umbrellas lost. Defeated and disoriented, they were forced to retreat from the place that was no longer theirs. They needed to lay low, regroup, and figure out what had gone so horribly wrong. Klaus, with his usual odd sense of timing, suggested a place—Hotel Obsidian.

It was an old, almost forgotten spot, the kind of place you could disappear into, where no one would think to look for you. It was perfect for now, a refuge from the madness. They all walked in, a mixture of exhaustion and defeat heavy in their steps as they checked the place out. The hotel had an air of eerie grandeur, a faded elegance that seemed almost out of place in the modern world. But it would do. They got their rooms, each of them retreating into their own space to process everything that had happened.

Five, however, wasn't ready to be alone just yet. He told the others he would meet them upstairs in a bit. They nodded, too drained to argue, and disappeared into their rooms. Five walked over to a chair in the lobby and sank into it, letting the weight of the day finally settle on his shoulders.

The Hotel Obsidian was quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed in on you, making you acutely aware of every thought, every emotion. Five stared off into the distance, his mind racing, trying to piece together how they had ended up here. Everything had changed, not just in their timeline but in his own heart. He couldn't stop thinking about Y/n—about the life he had left behind, about the promise he had made to her. Even though she was no longer with him.

Five leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to push away the ache in his chest. He had to stay focused. They had to figure out what was going on with the timeline, with the Sparrows, with Ben. But the thought of Y/n kept creeping back in, a constant reminder of what he had left behind.

Five sat down, gingerly touching the cut on his head from the fight with the Sparrows. The dull ache pulsed with every beat of his heart, but it was nothing compared to the shock he felt when a woman walked up behind him.

"Five Hargreeves?" The voice was firm but had a hint of familiarity that made him freeze.

He turned around quickly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to place the face. The woman standing before him was older, taller, and dressed in a sharp business suit, holding a journal in her hand.

"Who's asking?" Five replied, still on edge from the fight.

"Five, it's me..." The woman's voice softened, trying to reach him. "Bri, from Dallas. 1968."

Five's eyes widened in recognition as the memories flooded back. He remembered Bri as Y/n's closest friend. The last time he had seen her, she was only eighteen, full of life and laughter. But now, standing before him, was a much older woman, her features sharper with age, yet unmistakably her.

"Bri? Holy shit. I didn't—how—" Five stammered, still reeling from the realization. Time travel had taught him to expect the unexpected, but seeing Bri here, decades older, was something else entirely.

"I won't take up much of your time, Five," Bri cut him off, her tone serious and business-like, though a glimmer of the old Bri lingered in her eyes.

Five shook his head slightly, trying to catch up with reality. "How are you?" he asked, his voice softening as he attempted to process everything.

Bri smiled faintly, a mix of nostalgia and sadness in her expression. "I've been through a lot, Five. More than I ever thought I would. But that's not important right now."

Five could see the weight of years in her eyes, the unspoken stories that had shaped her since their last encounter. He glanced at the journal in her hand, wondering what she had been through and what had brought her to this moment.

"Why are you here, Bri?" Five asked, the question loaded with both curiosity and concern.

Bri took a deep breath, her grip tightening on the journal. "I'm here because of Y/n," she said, her voice almost breaking. "She wanted me to find you."

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