Coming from Vanya they made a quick tour to the Argyle Public Library to look up MeriTech, the logo standing at the backside of the glass eye, on the internet. It turned out that it was a company in the city that was specialized in prosthetics and not all that far away from the library. On the way to the address listed on their website Five also quickly blinked into a closed shoe shop to finally get Elizabeth a change of shoes, at least. He returned with white sneakers and a pair of socks. Already having blisters and sore feet from wearing high heels all day long she was more than thankful for that, even though it clashed horribly with her current outfit.
Now they were parking before the building, waiting for the company to open for the day. It was early morning and Elizabeth was tired, but finally the first people begun to trickle into the companies entrance, prepared for another day of work. She stated as much and then continued "but we should wait at least another half an hour. To make sure the person we need to talk to really is in the building and we don't have to wait some more or even be told to come back another time."
Five hummed in agreement, but didn't say anything more. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. After some time she felt her eyelids slowly droop, sleep waiting to overcome her, when her husband suddenly spoke up. "Back at Vanyas apartment," he started and her eyes shot open again. "When you went into the bathroom to get the stuff to treat my wound. What did you two talk about?" Elizabeth looked at him and smiled. "Aww, are you scared she told me some nasty secret from your childhood?" She teased him and Five scoffed. "There was nothing ever nasty about me, I can assure you that."
The blonde girl looked at him with a fond gaze and reached for his hand, interlacing their fingers. "She actually told me something very cute about you." She giggled and he pulled a face, fearing the worst. What the hell had his sister told her? Because 'cute' mostly meant 'humiliating' for him. Maybe about that ONE time he had cried, after forcibly receiving his tattoo? Or how he and Vanya used to hold hands until they were 6 years old? Or how he had once given a false answer on a test everyone else had answered correctly, even Luther? Suddenly he could remember all the embarrassing moments of his childhood he would rather not have her know about. But the answer she gave he hadn't expected.
"She told me that you had a crush on me way before everything happened." He stared at her, surprised. He hadn't really intended to keep it a secret. But he also hadn't really considered telling her. He looked away, out of the windshield, focusing on the building in front of them. She squeezed his hand. "Why did you never tell me?" She inquired gently. "I always thought that we both fell in love in the apocalypse." He didn't answer and after a few moments of uncomfortable silence Elizabeth sighed deeply. "You still think you don't deserve me." She then stated and Five flinched a little. Bullseye.
"Can you blame me?" He hissed and finally looked at her. "Liz, I ruined your life. All just because I wanted to impress you. I was stupid and conceited and the one who had to suffer the most because of it was you. So sorry that I didn't tell you when the girl of my dreams decided to forgive and even wanted to love me." He averted his gaze. "I- I was afraid you would hate me again if you knew the full truth." He looked at her with pain in his eyes. "I wouldn't have been able to get over it if you pulled away from me again after finally having you."
She laid a hand on his cheek, nothing but fondness in her eyes. "Did you purposely arrange that accident to take me with you?" She gently asked. He shook his head. "Of- of course not." He stuttered. "It was an accident, I swear." He sighed. "Did I want to take you with me when I was able to control my power? Yes. But that day, I-" he was unable to continue when Elizabeth gave him a deep kiss. For a few minutes they did nothing but that, Elizabeth pouring all the affection and love she had for him into it. Then she looked into his eyes, massaging the back of his neck with one hand.
"I told you many times before, but..." she started, her voice soft but determined. "I don't care about the past anymore; the 'what if's' and 'what could have been'. We've been through what we've been and here and now I'm deeply in love with you and never ever want to be with someone else. Past, present or future." She gave him another peck on the lips and leaned back into her seat again.
"It would have been nice to know about your crush on me though." Five looked at the blonde questioningly. She looked away, blushing slightly. "You're not the only one who sometimes wondered and had doubts." She then mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. "I also asked myself, from time to time, if we would have gotten together if this accident hadn't happened... or if we would have even met."
The boy clicked his tongue and leaned over her, taking her chin between two fingers and gently making her look into his eyes. Warm brown met intense baby blues. "Liz, you had me under your spell the moment I first saw you at Griddy's." He reassured her. "I would have given everything to get to know you, apocalypse or not." Then they were kissing again.
It didn't take long and they blatantly made out. Sighs were heard and tongues danced with each other, the atmosphere getting heated and charged with sexual energy and Five definitely was in the mood for, maybe, a quickie in the car; when Elizabeth suddenly pulled back, much to his disappointment. "We should stop." She sighed, her hair disheveled and her lips deliciously swollen. Five chuckled and moved to her ear, fully knowing how sensitive she was there and licked, making her gasp. "Really?" He whispered seductively. "Because I think we should have a bit of fun."
She put a hand on his chest and gently pushed him away, smiling up at him. "And have my first time in your dad's car, in full view of a whole building? I think not." Now Five was confused. "Your first Time?" Elizabeth nodded. "You know that we had our first time when we were, like, 17 or 18?" She explained and he nodded. "Well, we are 13 again and in this body I'm still a virgin." He stared at her and she continued "we also don't have any protection and I'm not in menopause anymore. And as much as I love you, I don't want us to become parents at 13."
That got his attention. "Okay, okay." He finally let up from her, leaning back into his own seat. "I get it. I'm going to get condoms later." He sighed and she giggled, lightly patting his cheek. Yet there still was this little pang in her heart at the thought of children and, unconsciously, her hand wandered to her belly.
The blonde dropped her hand from the boys cheek, looking outside. It was much brighter now. "I think we can go in now." Five put a hand on her thigh. "I'm going alone. Stay here and get some rest." He said and Elizabeth looked at him. "Are you sure?" She didn't like him going anywhere alone, but she was tired and had almost fallen asleep half an hour ago. She probably wouldn't be much help to him in this state and he was more than capable of looking after himself. He leaned over again, giving his wife a soft peck on the lips. "Yes. Try to get some sleep. I'll be back soon."
He got out of the car, walking a few steps. Then he had to stop and readjust himself. Being young again did have some perks. But he was unsure if feeling horny all the time and getting aroused at the slightest physical contact with his wife, now young, too, and beautiful as ever, counted as one.
.
.
He returned some time later, angrily getting into the car and slamming the door shut. Elizabeth jerked awake and Five clicked his tongue, apologizing quickly. She yawned, feeling a little refreshed. "Let me guess: they turned you away because you look like a young boy." He hummed. "So what now?" He started the car, maneuvering into the traffic.
"I hate to say it, but I guess we don't have a choice." He answered after a while. "We will have to ask one of my siblings for help." Elizabeth thought about that. "Oh, you mean like asking Allison or Luther to play your parent and demand the information on the glass eye?" Her husband gave her a side eyed glance. "I thought more about asking Klaus." Her eyebrows shot up. "Klaus?" She asked in disbelief. "Don't get me wrong; he seems nice and I really like him so far. But he clearly has a drug problem and is currently not in his right mind." Five shrugged with his shoulders. "Exactly. Easy to manipulate"
She sweat dropped. "You know, I sometimes DO shudder about how cunning you can be to even your closest friends and family." He chuckled. "To everyone but you."
.
.
They arrived at the house shortly after and Elizabeth had to convince Five to not just blink into Klaus' room but enter like normal people. His brother had been in his room, lying in his bed and knitting (or whatever it was he was doing with that ball of wool and one needle). Convincing him was no problem with the promise of 20 dollars and Five told him to wear professional looking clothes. Then they went to his own room, waiting for him. Klaus came in just as they heard someone climb the stairs, so Five grabbed his brothers arm, shoved him into his closet and then blinked to the window, pretending to look out.
Elizabeth thought that was a bit overkill, because they could have just said they wanted to do something with Klaus for whatever reason, but if her husband so desperately wanted to be hush-hush about it, so be it. She would remain silent about it. But she would do so while continuing to sit on the bed.
Vanya entered the room. "Oh, thank god. I was worried sick about you two." She sighed in relief and came further into the room, looking at the blonde girl and then her brother. Elizabeth averted her eyes, feeling bad all of a sudden. She hadn't thought that Vanya would come looking for them. "Sorry we left without saying goodbye." Five apologized, looking at his wife. Vanya slightly shook her head. "No, look, I'm the one that should be sorry." Five came closer to his sister.
"Yeah, I was dismissive, and... I- I guess I didn't know how to process what you were saying. And I still can't, to be honest." She was babbling now and Five interrupted her. "Maybe you were right to be dismissive." He scoffed and turned around, walking over to the blonde girl sitting on his bed. "Maybe it wasn't real after all." While he said that he gave his wife a look that clearly said "play along".
"It felt real. Well..." he continued aloud. "Y-yeah," Elizabeth stuttered. "Like, totally real... but maybe I have just been stuck with him for too long." She smiled uncomfortably. She could clearly feel Fives annoyed glare on her. "You know... got drawn into his illusions." He knew that she was terrible if she had to tell a somewhat elaborate lie on the spot. But still, Five would pout after this. Or 'brooding', as he liked to call it. Because 'grown man don't pout'.
He gave her one last glare then turned around, walking back to his sister. "Like you said, the old man did say time travel could contaminate the mind." He smiled and Vanya nodded lightly. "Then maybe I'm not the right person for you to be talking to." She glanced between the couple. "Look, I used to see someone. A therapist. I could give you her information."
"Thanks, but..." Five declined, looking at his bed. "I think we're just gonna get some rest. It's been a long time since we had a good sleep." Vanya sighed, averting her gaze. "Okay." Then she looked at the blonde girl. "Elizabeth?" She offered. Elizabeth raised her hands. "Oh, ehm, thank you Vanya, really. But..." her eyes shifted to Five. "Like he said: first we'll get some sleep." And she would actually really like to follow up on that suggestion. "The rest we will figure out after."
The brunette nodded defeated and then slowly turned around, leaving the room. Five went after his sister, wanting to make sure that she really was leaving, when suddenly Klaus came stumbling out of the closet, some stuff clattering out after him. "That's so.." he gasped and put a hand over his heart. "...touching, all that stuff about family and Dad and time. Wow!"
"Would you shut up?" Five hissed at his brother. "She'll hear you!" He pointed at the door when Klaus suddenly declared "I'm moist." Elizabeth was confused by that and Five looked his brother up and down. He was wearing a dress shirt with some kind of flower print and ruffles on its shoulders... and leather pants.
"I thought I told you to put on something professional." Her husband asked irritated. Klaus pouted. "What? This is my nicest outfit." Elizabeth giggled and got up from the bed. "Well, I admit it kinda suits you, Klaus." She smiled and put a hand on his arm. "But you need a different outfit for our mission." Klaus grinned down at her and Five sighed, taking Elizabeths hand and turning around. "We'll raid the old mans closet." Klaus declared "Whatever, as long as I get paid." to what Five answered "when the job is done."
"Okay, but just so we're clear on the finer details," Klaus requested in the hallway, "I just gotta go into this place and pretend to be your dear old dad, correct?" Five gave him a disparaging look. "Yeah. Something like that." Elizabeth nodded. "What's our cover story?" Klaus continued and Five gave him a confused look. "What? What are you talking about?" Elizabeth looked at Five, her face thoughtful. "You know, I think he is right." She said and Fives gaze landed on her. "I'm always better, too, when I know the cover story beforehand." Five huffed and made a pouting face. "Oh, I know."
"So, was I really young when I had you?" Klaus interrupted them. "Like, 16? Like, young and..." he put both hands over his heart. "Terribly misguided?" Five looked at him irritated. "Sure." He answered and Klaus continued his act. "Your mother, that SLUT. Whoever she was. We met at..." he made a thinking face and Elizabeth put a finger on her chin. Then she excitedly exclaimed "the disco!" and Five looked at her in bewilderment for playing along with his brother. Klaus chuckled. "The disco. Okay? Remember that."
The boy just nodded his head, clearly annoyed, and Klaus snapped with his fingers. "Oh my god, the sex was amazing." He declared and now Five really had enough. "What a disturbing glimpse into that thing you call a brain." He huffed, pulling a giggling Elizabeth after him down the stairs. "Don't make me put you into time-out" Klaus 'threatened' and now Elizabeth really had to laugh.
.
.
After fleshing out their story they had went to Reginald Hargreeves huge walk-in closet were Elizabeth chose a nice blue pinstripe suit for Klaus and they went on their way to the MeriTech building; walking this time, as it was pretty near to the Hargreeves house. Elizabeth didn't mind as she now had comfortable shoes and the weather was nice and sunny. There they made her wait outside and she leaned on the handrail at the entrance, enjoying the sun shining down on her and its warmth.
"Well, this is not good." She heard her husband's voice after a while, coming out of the building with his brother. "I was pretty good, though, right?" Klaus argued. "'Yeah. What about MYconsent bitch?'" Elizabeth gasped when she saw them. Five had a swollen lip and Klaus a gash on his forehead... and broken glass with glitter in his hair for some reason. "Klaus, it doesn't matter." Five exclaimed just as she was stepping up to him, taking his face between her hands. "What the hell happened to you?" She asked concerned, gently touching the swollen part of his bottom lip with her thumb. He hissed lightly, but it didn't seem to be bad. She looked to Klaus.
"What? What?" He asked the boy, who glared at him. "What's the big deal with this eye, anyway?" Five removed his wife's hands from his face, not in the mood for an explanation, and took a few steps towards his brother. "There is someone out there who's going to lose an eye in the next seven days." He raged. "They're gonna bring about the end of life on this earth as we know it." He walked past his still bleeding brother and Elizabeth was unsure if she should follow Five or offer help to Klaus.
The bleeding man turned around. "Yeah, can I get that 20 bucks, like, now, or what?" Five stopped and stared at him in disbelief. "Your 20 bucks." Klaus nodded. "Yeah, my 20 bucks." Five moved towards his brother again. "The apocalypse is coming and all you can think about is getting high?" He angrily asked to what Klaus answered "well, I'm also quite hungry. Tummy's a-rumbelin'." He wiggled his fingers over his belly and made a groaning sound, smiling while doing so. Five stared up at him. "You're useless." He suddenly stated. "You're all useless!"
Elizabeth went between them and laid her hands on his chest, gently pushing him backwards a few steps. "Not now." She warned and he rolled his eyes, going over to the stairs to sit on them. "Oh come on!" Klaus groaned. "You need to lighten up, old man." With a sigh Five sat down, Elizabeth following and Klaus made a face like he had just understood something. "Hey, you know, I've just now realized why you're so uptight." He walked over to them. "You must be horny as hell!" He laughed and sat down between them.
"You're 13 again and all these hormones and stuff." He 'explained'. "It's gotta screw with your head. God knows I was constantly thinking about sex at that age and you better never went into my room when it was silent in there. You would have seen some nasty things." He grinned and nudged his brother with his elbow, who was stubbornly trying to ignore him. Elizabeth sweat dropped and stood up, taking Klaus' chin between her fingers and making him look up at her. "Let me see this wound." She muttered, examining his forehead. It wasn't as bad as she had feared. He didn't even need stitching.
"Ah, but you do have a girl to take the edge off you, don't you." Klaus noted and Five huffed. "Klaus, shut up. We're not going to talk about our sex life with you. Or our relationship in general." Elizabeth lightly patted Klaus' cheek and then walked to Fives other side, sitting down. Klaus looked at them, interested.
"How long did you say you were together already?" Five didn't answer, staring before him, but the blonde girl smiled at him. "Well, we're married already for 35 years. But our relationship goes on longer than that." Klaus raised his eyebrows, impressed. "35 years?" She nodded. "Oh, wow!" Klaus averted his gaze and chuckled. "God, the longest I've been with someone was..." he made a thoughtful face, "I don't know, three weeks? And that's only because I was so tired of looking for a place to sleep."
Elizabeth looked at the man in sympathy. It was clear that he hadn't had the simplest life up to this point. The next moment she was staring at Klaus from afar, through the window of a moving car, a Taxi, driving by the MeriTech building. Five pulled away his hand from her thigh and the driver before them gasped. "Don't stop." The boy commanded. "Just keep going." He gave Klaus a salute through the open window. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, what about MY MONEY?!" he shouted after them.
Elizabeth huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "God, I hate it when you blink us somewhere without so much as a warning." Five scoffed. "I was not about to hear some sob story about his life." She gave him a glare. "He is your brother. And I really get the feeling from him that it would do him mighty good if someone listened to him for once." Five rolled his eyes. "Fine, but this someone doesn't have to be my wife." She blinked. And smiled. "Is that the problem? You're jealous because I get along with him well?"
Five glared at her. "Well, maybe I just have some illusions again." She sighed. "Okay, I get that you are angry about that." He huffed. "Of course. You basically told Vanya that I had manipulated you into believing some crazy story. As if I was some bastard that can't keep a girl otherwise." She made a surprised face. She hadn't even thought about that. She had assumed that he was just angry about her accidentally implying that he was mentally unwell. She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on his pouting lips. "I'm sorry, okay? I'll make it up to you." She promised and his mood slowly perked up. That is until his wife sniggered "your jealousy really got worse with your age, you know?"
The driver flinched as he saw the boy suddenly lean over the girl, pinching both of her cheeks and making her squeak. He was thinking about saying something, breaking up a seemingly commencing fight; when, in the next moment, he was kissing her, deep and passionate. What an odd couple; suddenly appearing out of nowhere and talking and behaving like they were much older than they looked.
—
AN: This chapter was so much easier to write, thank god. I actually had so much fun writing it that I've done most of it on one sitting. Took me like 10 hours and I had a headache the next day, but it was worth it in my opinion. You probably have noticed already that Five is much more affectionate than in the original, but I try to keep it only directed to Elizabeth.
I figured with how attached Five is to Delores in the original, because she had been his companion for 45 years, and that he never had been embarrassed to talk about and show this attachment, it would only be natural for Elizabeth to take this place. Delores is still an important companion for them both, but she takes in a smaller part in my version. I also think beneath all that grumpiness Five has a soft and tender core and that he would actually be a really affectionate partner. So I hope you are okay with how I'm portraying him with Liz.
Next chapter will explore their past a bit more and I'm warning you now that it will be somewhat dark. Because it always has to get worse before it gets better :) I hope you look forward to it! And thanks to the people who encouraged me after the rant about my last chapter. You rock!