Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen

You had a busy day today

-Tiny Dancer; by Elton John

On the 12th hour of the first day of October 1989, 43 women around the world gave birth. This was unusual only in the fact that none of these women had been pregnant when the day first began. Sir Reginald Hargreeves, eccentric billionaire and adventurer, resolved to locate and adopt as many of the children as possible.

He got eight of them.

"What's it called again?" Rani turned her head slightly, looking at her friend, Kerstin. The two had been driving for the last couple hours, stopping every once in a while for gas, snacks, or bathroom breaks.

"What?" Kerstin asked. "The town?"

"Yeah."

"Puente Antiguo."

Humming, Rani turned her head, looking at the road as Kerstin drove. "A small town in the middle of nowhere?" Rani sighed. "Not my first choice if I wanted to start over."

"It's a start," Kerstin responded. "Besides, it's a little no-name town. It'll be impossible for Al to find me."

"Honestly, it would've been better if you'd pressed charges on him," Rani exclaimed. "Or even put in for a restraining order."

"Do you honestly think Al would've cared about a restraining order? And putting him in jail would've made it worse."

Sighing deeply, the twenty two year old looked back at her friend. Worry was etched on Rani's face. She wasn't happy with Kerstin's decision to move so far away, especially because of an abusive and now scorned ex-husband. From the very beginning of Kerstin's relationship with her ex, Rani had hated him. She could see all the warning signs, those little red flags most people overlook. They were there from the beginning; the young woman didn't need to use her telepathy to know he was an asshole. It only took Kerstin a couple years to really see it. Rani was just thankful the two never had any children, that would've made the situation even worse.

"Still, any kind of legal action could've helped even a little," Rani murmured. "Al's a dick, and I don't want you getting hurt."

"I won't get hurt, okay?" Kerstin sighed. "I'll be fine. I've got a new place and a new boyfriend. All I need now is my best friend's support."

A twinge of guilt bubbled in the pit of Rani's stomach. She'd known Kerstin for a number of years. The two met in community college and became instant friends. They supported each other through everything — from Rani's dancing lessons and transfer to Juilliard to Kerstin's choice to become a nurse. Even after their academic careers led them down different paths, the two women kept in touch, meeting up every so often to catch up. Occasionally Kerstin would attend one of Rani's dance recitals, and occasionally Rani would go to Kerstin's college on occasion to help if necessary. That was how they worked. They would go to the ends of the Earth to help each other if they could. Hell, Rani considered her best friend more of a sister than she ever considered her own adoptive sisters.

"Don't say that," Rani said. "I've been there for you whenever you needed me. For school, whenever Al was being an ass, I was there."

"I know you were," Kerstin stated, "and I'm grateful, but I don't need you getting all overprotective on me now. This new guy's really nice. He's not even close to how Al was when we first met."

"How can you know for sure?"

"I just know."

With a defeated sigh, Rani dropped the subject. She'd have to see for herself if the new guy was any good. For Kerstin's well-being.

—Whatever It Takes pt. I—

Puente Antiguo was everything Rani envisioned it to be: small, filled with mostly older people, and really nothing to do or see. The apartment building Kerstin was moving into was small, standing at maybe three stories at least. And, of course, the building housed mostly older people. All in all, Puente Antiguo was just a retirement town. An area for people who wanted to live the quiet life after decades of working their asses off. There were only a small handful of younger people and families, but that was about it.

In conclusion, Rani was unimpressed. But that was to be expected. She wanted the best for her friend, but Kerstin was adamant on moving somewhere not even close to being on the map. All Rani could do was shut up and move on.*

"It's not much," Kerstin sighed, "but it's better than nothing, right?"

"I suppose," Rani murmured.

"I know you're not really into small towns, but this place is nice and it's quiet." Kerstin shrugged. "I can get comfortable here."

"Trust me, I know you can," Rani said, "I just don't know what to think right now. This place is a retirement town."

"That's why it's so nice. Al won't find me and I won't have to deal with pointless drama like back home."

"Whatever works for you. Let's get your stuff inside, okay?"

Getting out of the car, the two women opened the back doors and started unloading piles of boxes and trash bags. Kerstin only took what was valuable to her, not wanting to spend another second in the house she once shared with her husband.

"What floor is your apartment on?" Rani asked.

"The second floor," she responded.

"Do you have the key, or. . .?"

"Yeah, I've got one." Kerstin put a trash bag down to dig through her pocket. She chose to keep her apartment key as close to her as possible, downright refusing to attach it to her lanyard. Rani wanted to believe her friend did that as a means of comfort, to ease any additional anxieties she might have. Of course Kerstin would never admit it, and Rani didn't have to use her telepathy to know it was true.

"Why don't you give me the key," Rani suggested. "I can head up there with some of this and then unlock the door."

"Are you sure?" Kerstin asked. "I could help you if you want."

"It's fine. Just get everything out of the car, okay?" All Rani got in response was a look before Kerstin handed over the key. "What's the number?" Rani asked.

When it was given, the twenty two year old nodded before heading toward the building. Adjusting the box in her arms, Rani opened the entrance door and walked in, grinning at an older woman who was shuffling by and to the employee at the front desk. She was trying to be polite, no harm in that, right? Unfortunately, before Rani could make it to the stairs, she was stopped by the employee. He approached her with a look she couldn't quite recognize. That look made her bristle, and she resisted the urge to bolt up the stairs.

"Can I help you?" Rani asked. She kept her tone light and civil, hoping she could at least keep everything calm.

"Are you Rani Hargreeves?" he asked, his tone hesitant. He stopped only a few feet in front of her, shifting from one foot to the next, looking almost anxious.

Oh God no, she thought.

"Yes," she said slowly, unsure on the direction of the conversation. "Again, can I help you with anything?"

"Oh uhm," he stammered, "I-I just wanted to say I was a huge fan of you back during the Umbrella Academy. My brother and I always admired you guys, thought you guys were amazing."

Swallowing thickly, all Rani could do was nod. She didn't think any of what she'd done while at the Academy was amazing. She didn't want anyone's admiration and she definitely didn't want to be stopped by some stranger hoping to bring up her childhood. Rani's childhood and teenage years were filled with a whirlwind of emotions, the kind she would rather bury deep than relive. But this man seemed so adamant — for whatever reason — to gush about his admiration and amazement of Rani's past.

"We've always envisioned how awesome it'd be to be part of the Academy." He gave a sheepish smile the young woman's way, his eyes darting from her to the ground.

Rani wanted to throw up. How awesome it'd be to be part of the Academy? Why would anyone want to envision something like that? Reginald was the last person who should've been given children, and the Academy should've never been formed in the first place. But of course that shitty October phenomena had to happen.* Rani and her siblings had to be born under unusual circumstances. Seriously, though, how do forty-three women around the globe just give birth without any prior signs of pregnancy? It didn't make sense. And this man admired eight of these unusual circumstances made Rani sick. She wanted, more than anything, to have a normal life. She wanted to be able to go about her day-to-day life without worrying about her abilities. She wanted to be recognized for her dancing, not for her contribution to the Academy.

"Would it be okay if I took a picture of you, Ms. Hargreeves?" the man asked. "I'd like to send it to my brother."

Swallowing again, Rani felt her throat tighten and her heart-rate pick up. She wanted nothing more than to shake some sense into the guy, to tell him whatever fantasies or whatever he had on the Hargreeves family was a lie. Reginald was a shitty father figure. All eight of the Hargreeves siblings hardly got along. Scratch that, all six of the Hargreeves family hardly got along. After Five's disappearance and Ben's death, things fell apart. No one was the same, and once they were of age, the siblings went their own way. Luther was the only one who stayed. He couldn't let go of the old days, of when everyone was together and worked as a team. He just couldn't let go.

For Rani, she knew that she'd never be able to forget about Five or Ben. She'd been close to them, viewing them as actual brothers. She thought the same way about her other brothers, Diego and Klaus. Growing up, the five of them were nearly inseparable. But life has a funny way of ruining things.

Forcing a smile on her face, Rani nodded silently. She couldn't trust her voice, not wanting to hear the words that would come out of her mouth. Shuffling closer to the man, despite every fiber in her body wanting to leave, the twenty two year old waited patiently as he got his phone ready.

You've got the next couple of days to forget about this encounter, she thought. Just remember that, okay?

Just remember that.

(A/N):

Sorry for the wait on this chapter. If there's anything you think could use improvement, be sure to let me know. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

Do I own anything in the MCU? No. No I don't. All I own are my OCs, my subplots, and excitement for Endgame. If you've got suggestions for OCs or subplots, be sure to PM me or leave a review. I'll add them in as soon as possible.

How many of you are excited to see Endgame? I've heard reviews for it have been great, saying it's an amazing way to end an 11 year franchise. I know there'll be more movies to come, but I'm sure by "franchise" they mean with the original 6. Let me know your thoughts on the movie and what you think will happen.

Peace out, my dudes,

Calcifer McGonagall