Disclaimer:

1. X Reader and Five Relationship: This story is an x reader and Five Hargreeves one-shot, focusing on the chemistry and bond you shared before going your separate ways. It explores the emotions and history between you and Five, bringing to life the complexity of your past relationship.

2. Setting and Timeline: The events of this one-shot are based on Season Four of The Umbrella Academy, specifically taking place during Episode One. The storyline is shaped around the events and changes introduced in this season.

3. No Powers in This Story: In this one-shot, you do not possess any powers. This is due to the events of Season Three, where Allison reset the timeline, resulting in you and the rest of the family potentially losing your powers. This story explores your dynamic with Five in a world where you are both powerless, adding a unique twist to your relationship.

I hope you enjoy the story and the journey it takes you on!

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

I had just finished a long day at the hospital and was eagerly anticipating the comfort of my home. As I drove, the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the car windows. My eyes felt heavy, so I rubbed them briefly at a red light. That's when I noticed my phone on its clip by the dashboard—my husband was calling.

I pressed the answer button as the light turned green and continued to drive, chatting with him. "Hey, honey."

"Hi, honey," he replied, his voice full of warmth. "Calling from the office. Just wanted to say hello."

"That's sweet, baby," I said, stifling a yawn.

"Tired?" He chuckled softly.

"Yeah, busy day today. Morgan called off, so I took her shift. Three surgeries."

"Ouch, sounds tiring," he said sympathetically.

"Very," I agreed. "But I'm almost home. I'm going to change out of my scrubs and take a nice, long shower."

"Good, relax now, baby. I'm off in about an hour and I'll see you when I'm home."

I nodded even though he couldn't see me and noticed another call coming in. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Luther's name on the screen. It had been about three years since we last spoke—our lives had changed so much after losing our powers and Allison resetting the timeline. We had all gone our separate ways, and keeping in touch had become sporadic.

"Okay, honey, I have to go now. I'll see you at the house," I said, glancing at Luther's name, feeling a pang of guilt.

"Okay, love you," he said before I ended the call and hesitantly answered Luther's.

"Luther... hi," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Y/n, hey... it's been a while," he said, his tone warm but tinged with awkwardness.

"Yeah, it has," I replied.

There was a brief silence on the line, and I could hear him shifting around. "Um, how have you been?"

"Been great. Just working," I said, trying to sound upbeat.

"That's amazing," he responded.

"Yup..." I said, trying to fill the silence.

"Well, I wanted to call to see if you're coming to Little Grace's birthday party," Luther said.

My heart sank as I remembered. Grace's birthday party—it had completely slipped my mind. I hesitated, unsure of what to say. Oh, shit! I forgot about that.

"Y/n? You there?" Luther asked, his voice concerned.

"Yeah. About that, Luther... I don't think I'll be able to make it," I said, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

"Why? You know Grace loves you. She'll be bummed if her favorite aunt can't make it to her party," he said, disappointment clear in his voice.

I sighed, biting my lip. He was right—Grace was an adorable little girl who adored me, and the thought of letting her down was painful. But attending meant facing everyone again after so long. I sighed again, feeling torn. "I'll have to think about it, Luther. You know, if I have that day free."

"Okay, well, just know the family would love to have you there," he said.

"Okay. Bye, Luther," I said, pulling into my driveway and grabbing my phone from the clip.

"Okay, bye, Y/n," he said, and I ended the call. I grabbed my purse, locked the car, and walked up to the front door. Leaning against the wall, I let out a heavy sigh. Why did I have to answer that call?

I was now lying in the tub, bubbles surrounding me, the warm water easing the tension from my muscles. But no matter how much I tried to relax, my mind kept drifting back to the phone call with Luther. Should I go? Should I face them all again after so many years? It wasn't just the thought of seeing the family that weighed on me—it was the thought of seeing Five.

The last time we all saw each other was the night everything fell apart. The night we lost our powers, the night Allison reset the timeline, the night everything changed. Five and I didn't exactly leave on good terms. We didn't even say a proper goodbye. One moment we were fighting side by side, and the next, we were strangers again, our paths diverging in the chaos.

I remembered the way his eyes looked at me that night—like he wanted to say something, but the words never came. I wanted to tell him how I felt, how much I cared, but the moment slipped away in the midst of everything else. We ended things without even really saying anything. It was a silent goodbye that still echoed in my heart.

I sighed and sank deeper into the water, closing my eyes. Part of me wanted to avoid the whole situation, to keep the past where it belonged. But another part of me... a part that I'd buried deep down, still ached to see him again. To see them all again. To see if anything had changed, if maybe we could find some closure—or maybe even a new beginning.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I finally decided it was time to get out of the tub. I reached for a towel, wrapping it around myself as I stepped out, the cool air hitting my skin and snapping me back to reality.

I was sitting on my living room couch, now dressed in my comfy clothes, sipping a glass of wine. My thoughts were still swirling around the phone call with Luther, weighing more heavily on me than it probably should have. They were my family, after all. But we weren't a normal family. People see their families all the time, but for us, it was always complicated—filled with secrets, powers, and a past that never really let us go.

The sound of the front door opening made me jump, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turned to see my husband walking in. "Hey, honey. I'm home," he called out, his voice warm and comforting.

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "In here, dear," I called back, placing my wine glass on the coffee table. He walked into the living room and his face lit up when he saw me. He leaned in, placing his hand on my cheek, and kissed me softly on the lips. I kissed him back, grateful for his presence.

"How was work?" I asked, watching him as he shrugged off his coat and hung it up.

"Busy, busy," he said with a tired smile. "Thomas mentioned we might finally get that promotion."

"That's amazing, sweetie! I'm so glad they're finally noticing all the hard work you've been putting in," I said, feeling genuinely happy for him.

"Me too," he replied, sitting down next to me. He took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "And if it works out, we can finally take this marriage a step forward."

I knew what he meant. Kids. We had talked about having them for a while now, but it had never seemed like the right time. Our lives were always busy, always moving, and we never felt truly ready. But lately, as we settled more into our routines and as the years went by, the idea started to feel more like a possibility—a future we could embrace together.

I leaned my head against his shoulder, and he rested his head against mine. The quiet moment between us was filled with unspoken dreams and a comforting sense of love and stability. He was my safe harbor in a stormy world, a reminder that I had built something normal, something real, outside of the chaos of my past.

He got up from the couch and walked over to the table, sorting through the mail that had piled up. I watched him as I picked up my wine glass again and took a slow sip. "Anything interesting?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though my mind was still tangled up in thoughts of the past.

He let out a sigh. "Bills, bills, and more bills," he said with a wry smile. But then he paused, pulling out an envelope from the stack. "Well, maybe not today. Looks like you got something from your brother." He glanced over at me.

I frowned in confusion and took the envelope from him. It was from Diego. I quickly tore it open, pulling out a card inside. My eyes scanned the words, and I felt a familiar weight settle in my chest—it was an invitation to Grace's birthday party. I sighed heavily as I looked at it, feeling the pressure building up inside me.

"Which brother?" my husband asked, noticing my reaction.

"Diego," I replied. "It's for little Grace's birthday party."

"Oh, little Grace. I remember her. Sweet little girl," he said with a small smile.

"Yeah... She is," I murmured. "That's actually the second time today. Luther called me when I was driving home to ask if I was going."

"Are you?" he asked, turning his full attention to me now.

I didn't answer right away, my thoughts spinning. "I don't know yet," I finally said.

He sighed and came back to sit next to me. "Y/n... it's been years. And they're your family."

"I know..." I whispered, feeling torn.

"It's your niece's birthday. Grace would be devastated if you didn't go," he continued gently. He was right. He was always right, and he knew exactly how to tug at my heartstrings. I looked down at the invitation, my fingers tracing the edges of the paper.

"Can you come with me?" I asked, almost pleading, hoping that his presence might make it easier to face the past.

He looked down, his expression apologetic. "I work that day, sweetie. Robbie's on my ass about finishing this project," he said softly, his hand reaching up to rub my head comfortingly.

I looked down, my heart sinking a bit. I felt the conflict brewing inside me, knowing that if I didn't go, it would feel wrong. What would they say? What would they think? And more importantly, how would Grace feel?

I took a deep breath and looked back at him. "I just... I don't know how to face them again. It's been so long."

He nodded, understanding. "I get it. But maybe it's time to see them. To see how everyone's doing. And who knows? Maybe it'll be good for you."

I nodded slowly, knowing he was right, even if the thought terrified me. "Yeah... Maybe."

But deep down, I knew the real reason I was hesitating. It wasn't just about seeing the others. It was about seeing Five. The thought of facing him again, of reliving all those unresolved feelings and the pain of our last moments together, scared me more than anything. But maybe it was time. Time to face whatever was left between us, even if it was just for the sake of moving on.

_______________________________

It was the day of Grace's party, and I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of Lil' Monkeys, a children's play center with a giant inflatable monkey on the sign. After days of debating with myself, I finally gave in. Here I was, staring at the bright, colorful building that screamed fun and chaos. I sighed deeply, feeling my stomach twist with nerves. I didn't want to back out now. I couldn't.

I took one more deep breath, turned off the car, and grabbed Grace's gift from the passenger seat. Clutching the present tightly in my lap, I got out and walked towards the entrance, my feet feeling like lead with every step.

As soon as I stepped inside, I was hit with a wave of noise—kids running everywhere, bubbles floating around, party tables scattered about, and laughter echoing from all corners. I glanced around, trying to find any familiar faces amidst the chaos, and then I spotted them. The whole family, gathered together, chatting amongst themselves.

I froze. I felt my heart race, and for a moment, I considered turning around and walking right back out the door. But before I could make my escape, I heard a familiar voice.

"Y/n?"

I turned back, my breath caught in my throat, and saw Luther walking towards me. "Y/n, hey! You made it," he said with a smile, though his eyes betrayed his surprise.

"Yeah, I did," I replied, forcing a smile onto my face as I tried to steady my nerves. Behind him, the rest of the family turned to look at me, their faces a mix of surprise and uncertainty. It felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

Luther scratched the back of his head awkwardly, trying to break the tension. "Um... how have you... you know, been?" he asked.

"Good," I answered quickly, not wanting to dwell on the question. "Just been working."

"Good, working is important," he said with an awkward chuckle, clearly as uncomfortable as I was.

Before either of us could say anything more, I felt a little hand grab onto mine. I looked down to see Grace, her eyes bright with excitement. "Aunt Y/n!" she exclaimed with a huge smile.

My heart melted at the sight of her, and I knelt down to her level. "Hey, sweetie. Happy birthday, birthday girl!" I said, brushing a stray hair away from her face and admiring the braids she wore today. "Look what I have," I added, holding out the wrapped gift.

Her face lit up even more as she took the present from me eagerly. "Come, hurry! Let's go play!" she urged, already pulling me along with her tiny, determined hands.

I glanced back at the family one last time, catching a glimpse of each of their faces—some smiling, some still processing. And then, just for a second, my eyes met his. Five. He was watching me, a look in his eyes I couldn't quite decipher.

But before I could think too much about it, Grace tugged at my hand again, and I let myself be led away, a small, genuine smile creeping onto my face.

After being at the party for a while, I had to admit it was a mix of fun and chaos. Luther managed to accidentally break Grace's piñata too early, causing her to burst into tears, which was promptly followed by a round of awkward apologies and an attempt to salvage the moment by diving into the candy that spilled out. Allison showed up too, looking as out of place as I felt. We shared a few uncomfortable smiles, both of us clearly unsure of how to navigate this new dynamic.

Now, I was sitting at the birthday table, a plate of cake in front of me. The other adults were scattered around, either chatting amongst themselves or chasing after their kids. Grace was sitting beside me, her face smudged with frosting. I couldn't help but smile at her innocence. "Here, let me help you," I said softly, grabbing a napkin and gently wiping her face.

She giggled and gave me a big grin, her happiness contagious. Just then, another kid from the party ran over, shouting, "Grace! Grace! We're all going to the ball pit! Let's go!"

Grace turned to me, her eyes wide with excitement. "Go ahead, sweetie," I encouraged, giving her hair a gentle ruffle. She nodded eagerly and dashed off to join her friends, her laughter trailing behind her.

I watched her run off, a small smile on my lips. It felt good to be here, to see her so happy. But as the excitement around me continued, I found myself slowly retreating back into my thoughts. I stared down at my plate, idly poking at the cake with my fork, not really eating it.

"This seat taken?" a familiar voice asked, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Five standing there, his expression as unreadable as ever.

I paused, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of him. After all these years, he still had that effect on me. "Nope, have at it," I replied, trying to keep my tone light, even though I could feel the tension between us.

He took a seat beside me, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence felt heavy, charged with unspoken words and memories that seemed to hang in the air between us. I finally broke the silence. "How have you been? Heard you joined the CIA?"

Five gave a small nod. "Yeah, I've been good. Trying to get my boss to put me on some big leads," he said, his tone casual, but there was a hint of something else there—ambition, maybe. Or was it frustration?

I nodded, taking in his words. He had always been driven, always looking for the next challenge. "That sounds like you," I said with a small smile. "Always aiming high."

He chuckled, the sound warm and familiar, and for a moment, it was like nothing had changed between us. "How about you? Heard you got engaged."

I smiled, feeling a mixture of pride and something else—something I couldn't quite put into words. "Yeah," I said, holding up my hand to show him the ring. "Husband now. For two years."

Five's smile was tight, his eyes flicking to the ring and then back to my face. "Sounds amazing. Congrats to both of you," he said, his voice steady, but I could sense the tension beneath it. I knew him well enough to see that he was holding something back, and I wondered if he was feeling the same pang of regret I was.

"Thank you," I replied softly. For a moment, we just looked at each other, the years that had passed between us seeming to melt away.

We started to talk, slowly at first, but then more easily. We laughed about old memories—the time we accidentally set off the academy fire alarm during a prank, or when he tried to teach me to dance and ended up tripping over his own feet. It was like peeling back layers of time, rediscovering parts of ourselves that we had long buried.

"I still can't believe you managed to convince Luther to wear that ridiculous costume for a mission," I said, grinning at the memory.

Five laughed, a genuine, deep laugh that I hadn't heard in years. "I had to promise him a week's worth of chores to get him to do it. Worth every second."

We both laughed, and it felt good, like a weight had been lifted. It reminded me of how we used to be, back when things were simpler—before powers, before timelines, before we lost so much.

As our laughter died down, we fell into a comfortable silence. I looked over at him, catching his eye. There was a softness there, a familiarity that made my heart ache. "You free after Grace's party," I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Five's gaze softened, and he nodded. "Yeah, I have a few things to do later, but not much until next year. Why? You planning to cause some trouble like old times?" he teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

I scoffed, laughing softly. "Oh, please. Like I could with these legs," I joked, lightly tapping my knees as if they were the culprits. "But what I meant was... if you want to grab a coffee after this? You know, catch up some more?"

He grinned, a familiar spark lighting up his features. "I'd like that," he said, his voice warm and sincere.

_______________________________

We were at a local coffee shop, having left Grace's birthday party early. It was late, the streets were quiet, and the soft hum of the shop's fluorescent lights made everything feel more intimate. Five and I had been laughing and chatting, our conversation flowing as naturally as it had years ago. The chemistry was still there—maybe even stronger after all this time.

"How have you and your husband been?" Five asked, setting down his coffee. His tone was casual, but there was a hint of something more beneath it, a curiosity I hadn't expected.

I set my cup down too, smiling softly. "Good. He's a good man, always there for me," I said, my voice gentle.

Five glanced at the ring on my finger, then back up at me. "That's good," he replied, nodding. There was something in his eyes I couldn't quite place—a flicker of something like... regret? Maybe I was too...

I smiled a bit wider, trying to keep things light. "No kids?" he asked.

I chuckled, nodding. "No, well... not yet at least," I said, shrugging. "Just waiting for the right time."

He nodded softly, his expression thoughtful. "That's always the best time. I remember when we were kids you wanted them. You always played family with Klaus, and he was your pretend baby."

I laughed, the memory warming my heart. "Yeah, I did. But I had a good pretend husband to play his role," I said, taking another sip of my coffee. I was referring to Five, who would always step up to be the dad in our little games.

Five chuckled. "Gosh, I hated being the dad," he admitted.

"Why?" I asked, still laughing. "I was a good pretend mom."

"No, it wasn't you. It was having a fake son on drugs," he said with a grin. "But you played an amazing mom," he added softly, his tone shifting to something more sincere.

I looked at him, our eyes locking for a moment. We both smiled, and for a second, it felt like nothing had changed—that we were still those kids, dreaming about a future that never quite turned out the way we thought it would.

"Well... maybe I should go. I have work tomorrow," I said, breaking the moment, standing up and reaching for my coat draped over the chair.

Five stood up too, nodding. "Yeah, big day for me," he said.

We both paid for our coffees and walked outside. The cool night air hit us, and we stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. "This was nice... getting to see the family and you again," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Five nodded, his gaze flickering to something in the distance before returning to me. "Yeah, it's been a while," he said.

I smiled and stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him in a hug. He hesitated for a split second before hugging me back, his arms firm and familiar around me. We pulled away, and I started to walk away, feeling a strange emptiness settle in my chest. "Bye, Five," I called back over my shoulder.

He looked at me, smiling, and waved. "Bye," he said softly.

As I walked away, the weight of everything settled in. That connection we'd shared all those years ago was still there, lingering just beneath the surface. But now it was too late. I was married; he was with the CIA and would probably meet someone new someday.

But I knew, deep down, that until forever, I'd miss him. Five and I would always have a special bond—something that time, distance, and even other people could never take away.