"Ah, shit."

Staring at herself in the mirror in Fives cute little room he had called his own in his childhood, she heard him rummaging through his closet. Every outfit in it was exactly the same: the uniform of the Umbrella Academy. She giggled. "I see you already had great taste in your childhood." He smiled. "Well, I admit I never had any interest in fashion." She knew that, of course. Even after so many years together he still usually let her choose the outfits for him. "What's the matter?" He asked while taking out one hanger with said uniform on it. "You've been staring at yourself quite intently." She sweat dropped, laughing at herself. "Ah, ehm. You see, it's just so strange looking at myself right now." She looked back into the mirror. "Just this morning I've been an old dame, and now..." She touched both her cheeks, which were still a little red from Fives pinching. "I almost can't believe that we've really been this young once. I've actually been somewhat pretty before everything went downhill fast."

Her hair, prematurely turned grey through intense stress and hideous living conditions, was again a nice, radiant blonde, tumbling down her shoulders in gentle, natural, if a bit messy waves. Her skin was a creamy light color without any of the deep wrinkles it had been marked with before. Though now her freckles across her nose and cheeks were more visible. Her brown eyes were big and shining with youthful energy, not the dull and tired gaze she sometimes had of someone who had just seen too much bad in this world. For the first time in a long time she actually felt beautiful.

She felt arms wrap around her, folding across her stomach and Fives warmth pressing into her from behind. He kissed her temple. "You know that you have always been the most beautiful girl in the world for me." She slightly turned around in his arms. "Hm. But I've also been the only girl in the world for 45 years. So it's a bit hard to believe with so much competition now." She smiled, but there was a kernel of truth behind it. Ever since they had started to work for The Commission, seeing people other than themselves again; people younger and more beautiful, more well-kept than they were able to in the apocalypse, she sometimes felt really ugly in her wrinkled and sunburnt skin. Five kissed her, slow and softly.

"That's not true." He then said and she looked at him questioningly. "There was also Delores." He explained. "And I still chose you over her." He smiled and she laughed, burying her face in his neck. Coming back up again she gave him one quick, last peck on the lips before looking behind him on the bed were his new outfit was laying. "So, your clothes are taken care of, but what am I going to wear?" She went to the closet, pulling out one hanger. "I guess I could fit into the pants, but the dress shirt will definitely be too tight around my breasts." Five started to undress. "As much as I love seeing you in my clothes Liz, we should probably go ask Allison or Vanya for something to wear for you. Maybe mom. She is a bit taller than you, but just as petite."

Elizabeth thought about it. Then she smiled. "You know what, I'm going to ask them myself." He stopped unbuttoning his shirt. "You sure?" She nodded. He was hesitant because he knew how crazy his family could be, and she was a normal girl through and through. Still, as his wife, she was now part of this crazy bunch - voluntarily even. He nodded. "Okay then."

.

.

Finding the way back to the kitchen was no problem at all for Elizabeth and by then big guy and assassin had left, leaving behind three people.

"Ahhh, there is our sister in law!" Klaus exclaimed, climbing down from the table and coming to her with outstretched arms. "Welcome to the family." He said while enveloping her in a big hug. "We're a seriously fucked-up group, but you are more than welcome to join." She hugged him back. Klaus smelled a bit like an ashtray mixed with old sweat and stale alcohol, but she had still lain with Five when they had both smelled way worse, so she simply and discretely wrinkled her nose and returned his kindness. "Thank you so much. It's so nice to finally get to know you, Klaus." He broke the embrace and looked at her with exaggerated surprise. "Ohh, and she already knows our names!" She smiled. "Of course. Five has told me so much about you, I actually feel like I've already known you all for a long time." Her eyes wandered over to Vanya. "And, ehm, I've also read your book."

Vanya and Allison both sighed, Vanya defeated and Allison in annoyance. "Great," the dark skinned beauty huffed. "Then at least you already know in what kind of family you have married into. I guess you are better off than my ex in that regard." She made a thoughtful face. "Actually, how did that happen with the both of you? One day that boy just vanishes and 17 years later comes back looking like no time had passed for him at all. With a girl at his side no less. Did you two run away together back then or what?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "That's all a very long story." She sighed and made in apologetic face. "But it's not the reason I came into the kitchen. All you have to know for now is that everything was a huge coincidence, it was nobodies fault and I'm okay with how it all turned out in the end." She sheepishly scratched her temple. "And it would be nice if you told that to Five in case he asks... the rest he will tell you himself. Probably."

Allison gave her a long look. "Alright then." She then said. "So, what did you want from us?" Elizabeth held up her arms, showing off the huge suit jacket she was still wearing. "I wanted to ask if it would be okay to borrow something to wear from you girls." She smiled ironically. "Unfortunately, Five sent us here with nothing but the clothes we were wearing."

Vanya shook her head. "Sorry, as I still live in this City I came without luggage and I also don't have any clothes left here." Allison looked her up and down. "I have some clothes I could borrow you." She said. "But I'm not sure they're going to fit you." She stood up from her place at the table and walked over to her. "Come on." She said friendly and took her arm. "We're going to find something. Maybe mom has something in her closet. I think her size is nearer to yours than mine."

"Ah, I wanna come to!" Klaus cried out. "Mom has this amazing pair of shoes I always wanted to try on." Allison made a grimace, but laughed. "Seriously Klaus? Your feet are way bigger than hers. You're only going to ruin them." Together they went out, not noticing Vanya was left behind. For a few minutes she remained sitting alone; wondering, hoping someone of her siblings would notice or care that she had failed to follow and come back to get her. But as always, no one came. With a sigh she stood up, deciding to go into the living room.

.

.

With a bit of improvisation Elizabeth soon had a somewhat fitting outfit: a dark blue cashmere pullover from Allison, a black Jeans from Klaus (of all people, but Allisons had been too wide on her hips) and a pair of black pumps from Grace. The pumps wouldn't have been her first choice, but she and Grace had the same shoe size and the robot didn't seem to believe in comfortable footwear. She went into the living room, having heard Fives voice. Seeing her, he ended his conversation with Vanya. "Whoa," Elizabeth greeted, noticing the huge portrait of her husband above the mantelpiece. "Now I know how your huge ego came to be." She teased and he shrugged. "Well, it's a great piece of art, don't you think?" She gave him an unimpressed, if somewhat amused look. "If you mean that it perfectly portrays your high and mighty attitude, then yes. In that aspect it's honestly kinda disturbing how perfectly it hits the mark. I feel like you are judging me harshly just by looking at it." He sniggered and put a hand on the small of her back. "As I said: a masterpiece."

He guided her outside with the rest of his family. It was raining now, and everyone, except for Luther and Diego, opened an umbrella. Five took her with him under his own, an arm securely around her waist. They gathered in a semicircle in the inner courtyard, right before the statue of Ben. The atmosphere was dull and dreary.

"Did something happen?" Grace suddenly asked, looking like she had some problems understanding what was currently going on. Everyone looked at her. "Dad died." Allison then answered. "Remember?" Grace' face fell. "Oh. Yes, of course." Allison was obviously concerned about that reaction. "Is mom okay?" she asked no one in particular. Diego answered. "Yeah, yeah, she's fine." He looked at his mom. "She just needs to rest. You know, recharge." Now the atmosphere was also a bit awkward.

Elizabeth turned her face to Five, bringing her mouth near his ear. "Should I really be here?" She quietly asked him. "I mean, isn't that like, a family thing? Maybe I should wait inside." His hand lightly squeezed her waist. "Liz, you are my wife. You are family."

"Yeah sis, you stay with us." Klaus, standing next to them, squeezed in his own thoughts without being asked and Five glared at him. But she did feel reassured.

Pogo joined the group and Elizabeth blinked. Of course she knew of Pogo, but seeing him herself for the first time was still a bit surreal. Maybe even a bit more than having a robot for a mom. "Whenever you're ready, dear boy." He told Luther, who then opened the urn and poured out the ash of his deceased father. It rained sadly down on the earth covered by rotting leaves. No one said anything and the silence turned awkward fast. "Probably would have been better with some wind." Luther muttered sheepishly.

"Does anyone wish to speak?" Pogo asked into the round, but still no one said anything. Elizabeth looked at Five, but he remained silent. "Very well." Pogo, trying to end the awkward silence, then started his own speech. "In all regards, Sir Reginald Hargreeves made me what I am today. For that alone, I shall forever be in his debt. He was my master... and my friend," His voice began trembling. "And I shall miss him very much." A Pause. The rain got stronger. "He leaves behind a complicated legacy-"

"He was a monster." Diego suddenly interrupted. Klaus sniggered, but everyone else remained silent. "He was a bad person and a worse father. The world is better off without him."

"Diego." Allison scolded. "My name is Number Two." He answered sarcastically. "You know why? Because our father couldn't be bothered to give us actual names. He had mom do it." Elizabeth had to turn away her gaze from Diego and felt Fives thumb soothingly stroke her waist.

She didn't know Reginald Hargreeves and had never personally met her husband's adoptive father. Still, what she had heard from Five and read in Vanyas book... some of the things he had done had made her furious and still did. Like not giving his own children decent names, calling them by numbers instead.

Coming from a loving family herself, whose parents had told her that they had chosen her name before she had even been born, she couldn't understand how someone could be so cruel. It had been their robot mom, years after their birth, who had then finally given them real names. And still Five refused to recognize any other name than his number. Though, by now, she understood that he needed it. Dehumanizing himself by adopting a number as name helped him stay grounded and keeping apart the various personalities living in him: the loving, caring person, the sarcastic asshole and the ruthless killer.

"Would anyone like something to eat?" Grace suddenly asked into the silence and Vanya gently denied her, saying "no, it's okay mom." Grace slowly smiled. "Oh, okay." Diego made a few steps forward. "Look, you wanna pay your respect? Go ahead. But at least be honest about the kind of man he was."

"You should stop talking now." Luther growled. Both men glared at each other, the atmosphere between them becoming explosive. "You know, you of all people should be on my side here, Number One." Diego said maliciously. "I am warning you." Luthers growl turned even deeper. But Diego didn't let up. "After everything he did to you? He had to ship you a million miles away."

"Diego, stop talking." Luther demanded now. But his brothers voice only got louder. "That's how much he couldn't stand the sight of you!" Diego tapped his brothers chest and then everything happened quickly. Luther slapped away Diegos hand and took a swing with his other arm, which Diego easily avoided though. But then they begun beating each other up. Everyone made some steps back, but no one tried to break up the fight.

"Boys, stop this at once!" Pogo called out. After an especially nasty blow of Diego's Elizabeth attempted to make a step forward, wanting to break up the fight, but Five immediately grabbed her and instead pulled her behind himself. "Let them brawl." He simply said to her. "Get it out of their systems." Klaus suddenly pushed them a few steps back, apparently in an attempt to protect them, but Five angrily slapped his hand away.

"Stop it!" Vanya cried but Klaus instead cheered them on. Pogo left in a huff, obviously disgusted. They looked on for a few seconds, Elizabeth feeling helpless and overwhelmed by the situation, when Five took her hand and pulled her away from the scene, back to the house. "We don't have time for this" he muttered while doing so.

She tugged on his hand, trying to at least slow him down. "Shouldn't we stop them?" She asked concerned. "They're your brothers... and they could seriously hurt each other." But Five just huffed. "No way in hell will I get between these two buffoons. Let them beat each other up; maybe that forces some common sense into them. Also, I seriously need some caffein before I'm able to deal with that shit."