When you go
Would you have the guts to say
"I don't love you
Like I loved you, yesterday"?

Eight years earlier…

"Do take a seat," Hargreeves said.

"Is this about my violin again?" Vanya asked uncertainly as she did what was asked.

Summer break was over and Vanya was about to return to college. Both of her suitcases were with her and she clutched her violin case to her like a shield. She had been called up on rather short notice. The presence of Hargreeves obviously made her nervous. But Pogo was there too, taking notes in a corner. He gave her a reassuring smile before picking up his pen. After Hargreeve's talk he would be taking her back to school.

"No," said Hargreeves shortly, "It may have come to your attention that .02 is striking out on his own more and more often."

"Diego?"

"Like I said, .02," repeated Hargreeves, looking irritated, "Now he's talking about running away."

"Look, you should be talking to him about this," Vanya said uncomfortably.

"Don't interrupt," he said icily, "But I can understand your confusion. You never were terribly clever. After I've talked to .01 it appears that he's got somewhere in mind to run away to. Or rather, to whom."

Vanya shifted her eyes over to Pogo, who looked just as surprised as she was.

"He never said a word-" started Vanya.

"What did I say about interrupting?" Hargreeves said, "I'm not here to interrogate you. I never suspected he would."

"Then why am I here?"

"I won't mince words. You're got to tell him that you don't care about him and wish he'd stop hanging around you. Say something to the effect of hating everything about this place. That won't be a particularly difficult lie to tell I should think."

Pogo dropped the pen he was holding. Vanya gave out a short laugh before she examined her 'father's' face.

"You're serious," she said in shock.

"As always."

"But…you can't just…" Vanya sputtered.

"You'll find that I can. But don't worry, you won't have to come back here if you do," he said, "You won't be missed. I can afford to let you go. After all, there's nothing special about you. .02 however, is a different story."

"Maybe someone should look at your head," she said, getting up, "Because you've got to be crazy if you think that I'll do that."

Pogo said nothing but followed Vanya as she headed for the door.

".07-"

"Vanya."

"Excuse me?"

"My name is Vanya!" she snapped as she whipped around to face him, "And no I won't hurt him! Not for you, not for anyone!"

"I can make you."

"No!" she snapped angrily, "No you can't. I'm leaving now. And if he does come to me, then so be it. Maybe we can finally be free of this damned place!"

Turning around Vanya headed for the door again. Just as her hand was on the doorknob Hargreeves asked casually;

"Do you remember what happened when .03 wanted to run off with the Polynesian knife thrower?"

Vanya stopped in mid-step.

"I just want you to know that in comparison to that your punishments that was just a time-out. Do you remember the hotel? Dr. Terminal and the rest are probably getting rather lonely in there. I could always throw .02 in there if he runs off. I have no need for a superhero who won't listen to me.

As for you, you can probably stay in college and mull over what happened to .02 for the rest of your alarmingly pitiful existence. And don't think that the two of you can run away either. There's not an outlet in this world that I don't have a hand in."

Pogo looked up at Vanya. Tears were spilling down her cheeks.

"Why me?" she whispered.

"Because," Hargreeves said frankly, "That boy is in love with you. A blind man could see it. He'll listen to you."

Vanya's face contorted and she managed to choke out the words;

"No. I won't hurt him."

"Fine," said Hargreeves calmly, "I'll book the Hotel."

Still crying Vanya's head moved forward until it touched the wood of the door. Pogo moved forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Shall I take that as a yes?" asked Hargreeves.

Pulling her head up she said with deep emotion laced into every syllable;

"I hate you."

"And I don't care. Now enjoy your term and don't forget our little chat."

Flinging the door open Vanya took off running down the hall. Pogo paused for a second before saying;

"Sir, don't you think that-"

"I don't listen to a few rungs down the evolutionary ladder. Now do go and drive .07 away."

Shaking his head Pogo ran after her. She had wiped her eyes and slowed her pace slightly, but her eyes were looking around the corridors nervously. When they heard footsteps approaching she suddenly went rigid and changed her expression. Spaceboy looked at her with a touch of disapproval.

"Glad to go back to school?" he asked.

"Couldn't be happier," she said with a dead tone in her voice.

Turning his head he caught a quick glimpse of her tear-stained face. Vanya turned away before he could take a second look though. He looked at her a little strangely before saying;

"Have fun then," and moving on.

Vanya started walking slightly quicker after that.

"Please don't let me see him," she repeated over and over like a prayer.

The same thought was chanted in Pogo's mind as the two of them went out into the driveway. When her bags were loaded Vanya let out a sigh of relief. It was proved to be premature as a voice called;

"Vanya!"

She froze and bit her lip. It was obvious that Vanya didn't want to face him. Pogo reached up and gave her hand a squeeze. Slowly she turned around.

"Hey Diego," she said listlessly.

Kraken looked slightly put off by her response. Nonetheless he said;

"You didn't say goodbye. Anyone would think you were in some sort of a hurry."

Out of the corner of her eye she looked up. Pogo followed her gaze and could make out Hargreeves standing in the window, watching. A few windows down Pogo could see Spaceboy watching as well. Obviously her behavior had told him that something was wrong. Slowly Vanya placed one of her hands behind her back.

"I am," she said softly.

"So am I if I have my way," Kraken said, "Dear old 'Dad' is being an ass again. I can't stand it her much longer. I'm going to bust out of this place soon. You said you didn't like college so maybe we could… I don't know…go to Canada or something. There's no 'superheroes' there. I hear Ontario's great this time of year-"

"Diego," Vanya interrupted, "I want to straighten things out before you make a complete idiot of yourself. Hargreeves said that I didn't have to come back. He's just given me what I've always wanted. And now that I have it, I'm not going to jeopardize it for anything."

From where he was Pogo could see that Vanya was clenching the hand behind her back into a tight fist. Kraken gave a half smile before he said;

"Neither do I. But I was saying that-"

"I don't think you understood me," she said, clenching her fist tighter, "I don't want to be near the Umbrella Academy, I don't want to hear about it, and most of all I, and I mean most of all, I don't want to be within two hundred miles of anyone or anything that's ever been involved with it."

There was silence. For a minute Kraken struggled with his words before saying;

"Vanya…I know that you hate it here. I just…I just always thought that we-"

"That we what?" she snapped angrily. From where Pogo was he could see Spaceboy raise his eyebrows as he looked down at the scene. He always had had terrific hearing. And while it was difficult to tell it appeared that Hargreeves nodded slightly in approval.

"That we were friends?" Vanya continued, nearly shouting, "Family? What did you think '.02'? No one in this stupid academy is family or anything like it!"

"Listen to me for a minute!" he said, raising his voice, "I love you. Not like a sister, and not like a friend. I love you! So just please…"

His voice trailed off and Pogo saw Vanya draw blood from her hand.

"I did tell you to stop before you made an idiot of yourself. You need to start listening," she said before opening the door to the car and getting in.

Pogo quickly went to the other side of the car and got in as well.

"Drive," he said.

As the car moved out of the driveway they heard an anguished cry of;

"Vanya!"

Turning away from the window Vanya clutched her face with her hands and started to sob. Pogo put an arm around her shoulders as her tears flowed uncontrollably down her face.

"What have I done?" she sobbed, her words barely cohesible.

"You've saved him. That's what you've done," whispered Pogo.

But nothing he could say could stop her tears or comfort her in the least.