Sometimes Klaus thought Ris was psychic, or at least had some sort of sixth sense at least when it came to Five. It really freaked him out, when he was half asleep, he heard her grumbled. "This idiot."

"You've got a good nose." The Handler said, watching Lila struggle under Five's shoe. "You know, planting her in a psych ward," Five breathed out, pressing harder on Lila's throat.
"Taking advantage of my simpleton brother, that was smart."

"Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Five turned around, staring at her, Lila chocking beneath him. "She's your..."

"Daughter. Yes." The Handler said brightly. "And she's my only one, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't crush her windpipe."

Five paused, before slowly releasing her. Lila springing up, staggering towards him. "I am so going to enjoy killing you someday." she gasped out.

"Lila, darling, would you give us a minute, please?" the Handler said, Lila turning to her surprised. "Yes, the grown-ups need to talk." Five said giving them a painfully cheerful smile.

Lila rolled her eyes, swatting something over in anger. The clatter echoing with her slamming footsteps as she jumped onto one of the metal crates, swinging her legs. She reminded him of a spoilt pouting child.

"What is it you want?" Five hissed instantly glaring at the Handler. She smiled, taking out her thin cigar. "Do you like jazz, Five?"

"I'd rather lick a cheese grater."

The Handler chuckled, shaking her head. "Jazz is like a beautiful woman." she walking around the room, her red heels clicking against the concrete floor. "Complex, emotional, hard to please. She doesn't just give it to you...she makes you work for it. Remind you of anyone?"

"I'm really hoping that you're going somewhere with this." Five said, gritting his teeth. Of course someone instantly came to mind at the first sentence, which was ironic, since she was not a big fan of jazz.

"Under my leadership, the Commission would sound more like...jazz." she whispered, a maniac look in her eyes, as she hummed a soft jazz rhythm under her breath.

"And what about the board of directors?" Five shot back. Ris had been right. Sometimes it was bit annoying.

"Well, that's where you come in." The Handler said, 'booping' his nose.

"Nope. No, it isn't."

"In exchange for the assassination of the board, I'm willing to get you and your family, Ris included out of this timeline and back to 2019 where you belong." The Handler replied, walking around him.

Five paused for a split second, turning around. "And what about World War III that's due to kick off in just a few days?"

"Once you, you little sweetie and your siblings are gone, that goes away."
"And the apocalypse when we get back to 2019?"
"That too."

"I distinctly remember you telling me that that apocalypse had to happen, that it was supposed to happen." Five snapped. What did Ris always say to him? Her words were like venom, they pieced into your skin and could alter your mind if you let her.

"Back then I was toeing the company line, but once I'm in charge..." the Handler sang, walking behind him again, dancing lightly against him, humming her jazz. "We can riff..."

"Jazz." Five breathed out. Ris's voice was internally rolling her eyes at him, he could almost hear her groan and whine about her deep desire to slap him at that moment.

"Exactly."

Five paced, running his fingers though his hair. "What about the board of directors, hmm? I mean, nobody knows who they are."

"Correct." The Handler said leaning against a pillar. "But once every fiscal quarter, they get together for a board meeting."

"Where?"

The Handler lightly shook her head. "The question is when. They meet somewhere in the timeline but never in the same place twice. The exact location and date of these board meetings is the most closely-guarded secret in the Commission."

"But you know where it's gonna be, don't you?" Five said knowing. He knew her too well, it almost made him nauseas, his stomach flipping in all the wrong.

"Would I be any good at what I do if I didn't?" she replied, waltzing towards him. Five folded his arms, leaning against the metal cart. "I need some time to think about it." Five mumbled, walking away.

He needed to talk to Ris.

The Handler attempting to stroke his face, which he quickly dodged. "Fine. But remember, doomsday's right around the corner, and the way things are going," she said. "I'm your only option."

Five paused, scoffing quietly. "Not yet you aren't."

Ris always said. Her words were like poison, but he drank it happily.


"This is a mistake." Ben said, watching Klaus stretch in his bandage panties. "Don't mess with my flow." Klaus groaned. "Yeah, don't mess with his flow, I'd rather not have him start all over again and scar me with his chicken legs." Ris said, turning a page in his book.

"You can't just go out there and tell them the world is gonna end. You know what can happen to cults when things go sideways." Ben said, glancing at Ris. "You can't let him do this."

"I'm not his babysitter." Ris said, putting down her book. "I'm not anyone's babysitter."

"Ignoring Ris's obvious marital issues, that is causes her hostility."
"I'm not married Klaus!" Ris shouted, half slamming her book shut.

"And first off, it's not a cult." Klaus said. "All right? And second of all, relax, all right? I'll make sure there's no Kool-Aid in the house." Klaus chuckled.

"You might as well be," Ben said to Ris, turning to Klaus. "Oh, what are you gonna say? 'Prepare to die?'"

"I can't believe how I haven't kill you two yet." Ris groaned. "But Ben's right, you can't just say the bad news right away. Sugar-coat it…say," Ris paused, her nose wrinkling in a way that reminded Klaus of Cher from Clueless. "You're all going to die together, or something. Trauma as a collective may soften the blow."

"That's a terrible suggestion." Ben cried.
"You asked!"

"They deserve a better explanation, Klaus." Ben said, folding his arms. "What, better than the truth?" Klaus said pointly. Ris shrugged. "He's got a point. Honesty is the best policy."

"Say's the girl whose been crushing on the same guy for what 80 years?" Ben sassed.

"You know I'm not that old, leatherhead!" Ris snapped, slumping in her chair. "And it's not a crush." she mumbled unconvincingly.

"Yeah, it's a whole teenage hormonal Bonnie and Clyde situation without any of the fun bits." Klaus said dryly. Ris flinging her book at him, the hardcover smacking him on the back.

"Listen, this whole thing started by accident," Klaus said, taking the book at simply balancing it on his head. Ris rolled her eyes at him, mumbling "Showoff." under her breath.

"And it was fun helping people for a while."
"Oh, this whole thing started because you're a narcissist." Ben replied sharply.

Ris humming quietly deciding not to pick a side just yet.

"Oh, is that right?" Klaus groaned.
"There isn't an altruistic bone in your body."

"If the world's gonna end, Ben, these people should go back to their families." Klaus said, surprisingly reasonable. "He's got a point." Ris chimed in.

"Most of them don't have families to go back to." Ben replied. "Jill gave up an Albright scholarship to Berkeley to follow you around the world. Her parents won't even talk to her."

"He's got a better point." Ris said gesturing to Ben.

"Jill...Jill... Oh, that's the, um..." Klaus clicked his tongue. "...the Dutch girl with the lazy eye, right?"

"No."
"Not even close. Lazy-eye is Jenny." Ris said.

"Jill," Ben breathed out, his features softening at the thought of her. "Brown skin, glasses. Almond-shaped eyes you get lost in."

"Benny's bookwormed lover." Ris said easily, Klaus ahhing. Ben face palmed at the two of them. "She gave up her entire future for you." Ben added.

"Maybe she freed herself from the prison of the American education system and decided instead to come and learn from the school of life. Clever girl, I say." Klaus said. Ris watching Ben's jaw clench.

"I'd be careful, he's not above punching you again." Ris said dryly. Ben smirking at that, before looking back at his brother. "Klaus, these are real people. They're not just...scarves you can try on and toss out whenever you feel like. You owe them."

"You know," Klaus breathed out, stretching out. "It's a teensy-weensy bit frustrating when you seem to always want exactly the opposite of what I want."

The two stared each other down, breathing heavily.

"All right, fine."
"Thank you." Ben said, Klaus sighing, he walked out of the room.

"This is gonna be a trainwreck isn't it." Ris stated, stretching out in her chair like a cat. Ben glanced at her looking her up and down. "You know if you want to talk about you and Five-"

"I hope you know, I'm not above punching a ghost, Ben." Ris said firmly. Ben nodded. "I know. Hope you know, I'm not above pushing a child."

Ris smirked. "I know. That's why you're my favourite."

Ben chuckled, walking out of the room following his brother. Ris leaned back in her chair. Groaning loudly, before pushing herself up. She had work to do.


"Late night?" Ris guessed, leaning against the sink. Five rubbed his eyes, clearing still waking up. "Where were you?" he asked, taking the pot of coffee pouring himself a cup.

"Klaus's."

"Hmm." He hummed, his grip unknowingly to Ris tightening on the handle. "You guys, pretty chummy?"

"Chummy?" Ris replied. Five took a deep drink, drinking half of the coffee in one gulp. "How was the Handler?" Ris asked, playing with the felt on the edge of Elliott's dishcloth.

Five swallowed hard. "Lila's her daughter."

"Figures." Ris said absentmindly. "She planted her at the institute to toy with Diego didn't she?"

"Seems that way." Five said, trying not to look at her. Ris nodded, leaning her head back.

The sunlight hitting her face at an angle, illuminating her dark eyes, making them look lighter and filling them with almost golden flecks. Her short hair dark hair, a mixture of the most brilliant hues of brown and gold, brushing ever so gently on her chin, her warm beige skin glowing in the light.

Her features were a little softer, reminisced of their youth. He never really appreciated how beautiful she had been then, though to be fair Ris had always been beautiful. She was like coffee or wine, she only seemed to get improve over time.

Clever, dangerous, beautiful and kind, she was like something out of novel. A beauty of mythological kind, ethereal and effervescent. Like a brunette Aphrodite, with the brilliance of Athena and will that could rival-

"Five?!" Ris said, snapping her fingers impatiently.

Five blinked. 'Shit.' he thought, drinking more coffee the heat burning his throat. He'd done 'it' again. 'It' was the only name he could give, to the thing that would bubble up, and…usually when 'it' happened he would grab the closest liquid to him and chug it down like it was...

Ris sighed, in clear disappointment. the sound making his heart sink slightly. "You know what, you can talk to me when you've got your head out of the Handler's ass. Kay?" she snapped, walking out the room, running her fingers though her hair.

Five set the mug down, running his fingers though his hair.

Today was going to be hard.


"She wants you to do what?" Ris said, after he relayed the information the Handler had given to him. "She's finally hit the deep end. Assassinating the Board? It's ludicrous." she said, licking her ice-cream.

Five nodded, trying not to look at her, after this morning's…he internally shivered. He and Ris had been friends for years that when feelings like the ones he had, first appeared he had burned his hand. This action had poor results, as then Ris proceeded to help him, gently bandages, little jokes that made her nose wrinkle, that made her look so damn cute. Her warm presence making him want to reach out and just

"You said no right?" Ris said, glancing at him.

Eventually he had chalked it up to it, really just being the two of them. Hopefully it was just a minor relapse, due to their age regression. He didn't like how that thought, stung him harder than when Pogo had smacked him.

"Of course." Five replied. biting the urge to smooth down his hair and clothes.

Ris looked at him, her eyes seeming to read into him mind. He had to admit, he was glad she had lost that minor ability. There were so many things he had to try and push out of his mind when she was around.

"Good." Ris said, taking another lick of her strawberry ice-cream. Lucky. Usually chocolate was her favourite, but Ris was not someone who stuck to the same old patterns. It made her incredibly endearing hard to kill.

"My father sent us a message." Five said, holding out the invitation to her, popping the last bit of his ice-cream into his mouth. "Honestly I think you just inhale your food." Ris said lightly, taking the note, looking it over.

"You going?" she said handing it back to him. Five tucked it into his pocket. "Yeah, dad's probably the only one with answers around here. It's the best option, considering-"

Ris nodded. "Agreed, you just need to be careful when your there, you know how he play-"

"Well, that's why your there." Five said simply. Ris paused, looking at him like he had grown two heads. "It's a family dinner, Five."

"So?"

Ris's lip quirked. he wanted . "So, that mean's I can't come." she said, popping the last end of the cone into her mouth, the napkin in the bin. "He requested you guys, family. Not weird future girl best friend." Ris said, making jazz hands.

"You're coming."
"Five, I really don't think-"

"I don't think I can do this alone, Ris." Five said suddenly. "I need you. I need to help."

Ris sighed, running her fingers though her hair. He had convinced her. He could tell, she looked vaguely annoyed.

"You know, I really hate you sometimes."

Five smirked. Ris couldn't help it, she smirked back.


"Nice building." Ris said lightly, following Five into the huge curving building. Walking up a few stairs, passing some beautiful murals and artwork. They finally made it to the evaluator, walking inside.

Five took a deep breath, pressing the button to the top floor, waiting patiently, hands in his pockets. Ris was next to him, lightly swaying back and forth, her hands clasped behind her back, an easy smile on her face.

If she was nervous, she hid it very well.

"Wait up." Diego shouted, appearing in the distance, running in. Ris grinned, looking him up and down. "Nice hair, El Mariachi." she said quietly. "What?" Diego asked, scratching his head.

Ris rolled her eyes, as more footsteps approached the elevator. "El Mariachi." Ris repeated, Diego staring at her blankly. "I-I cant, I can't even." Ris said, shaking her head in disgust.

"What?"
"Uncultured swine."

"Hold it." Allison called walking in, giving Ris a greeting squeeze on the shoulder. "Hey, everyone." Klaus greeted, stumbling in with Vanya behind him. "Excuse me." Luther grunted, Ris stepping back behind Five and in front of Allison.

"Good. We're all here." Five said, as the door closed behind them with a ding. The seven (well eight) stood in silence. Ris glancing over her shoulder. "Allison, Klaus," she said inclining her head at Diego. "Nice hair, El Mariachi."

The two snorted, Allison grinning.

"Nice one, Rissie." Klaus said weakly. Ris smiled. "Redemption is great."

Lapsing back into silence, Luther grunting softly.

A smell that came straight out of hell apparently filling the space.

"Oh…ugh!"
"Oh..."
"Oof."
"Luther!"
"Oh, my God."

Ris making a face, covering her nose with her long sleeved shirt. "Really?"

"Sorry, I'm nervous."

"Aah!"

After what seemed like forever, the doors finally opened, Ris, Five and Vanya, squeezing out easily, half running for fresh untainted air.

"Nasty."
"I'm choking!"
"None of that."

After taking a few breaths, they walked into a Hawaiian themed restaurant. "Great venue for a deep and meaningful conversation." Ris said dryly.

Maybe if she were more aware, she might have noticed it in the air. The smell of change. For she just took the first step. Into her new life.

Hiya!

Aplogises for the lateness, but I hope this one makes up for it. First time I really main POVed Five, so would love ya thoughts! (Seriously, freaking out) PS. Just saying the underlined italics, were if you guessed Five's really thoughts and internal dialogue, I had it originally 'struck' out for effect (becuase Five would DIE if anyone knew what he really thought, but I digress), but FFnet, took it out. So try to imagine, it all struck out.

I loved the effect so, yeah.

Anyways! Special shout out to purplepecky, for the amazing review that had helped my writers block! You awesome, thank you!

And a HUGE Thank you, to all my amazing readers! Amazing!

kk. as usu.

THOUGHTS?

Ps. remember to Like, fav, foll and review.

You rock!

Till next time...