17 years into the future - the old timeline

Everything happened too fast and yet incredibly slow. That was at least how Vanya would look at it. Dad's funeral, Five's return, her making the first chair, her kidnapping, her powers, the ambush, the kiss, the shot, her death. It all felt too rushed. In the eight days until the apocalypse, Vanya experienced more than she did in the seventeen years Five was gone. And even if it was breaking her not-beating-anymore heart to watch him hold her body in his arms, she was grateful. She was glad for every second, every single moment she got to spend with him. Every touch, and smile and word, she would hold onto it forever even if only in the afterlife whatever that turned out to be.

It was strange to feel this way. She felt so empty, numb beyond anything she experienced with her pills, and yet she still could feel her love for Five, and her care for her siblings, she still felt the pain of what she just lost.

Isn't the life cruel?

All her life she wanted powers. Powers that would make her belong to the Umbrella Academy, the mansion, among her siblings. She craved and prayed for it all her life feeling pathetic at her own wish. Once she finally got them, she wished for nothing more than for them to be taken away.

As for Five? How many nights did she fall asleep because she exhausted herself with crying? How many meals did she spend absently looking over at his seat only to know he wasn't there? Only to know he would never be there? She spent wishing and praying he would come home, she left the light on and sandwiches on the floor and table and counter and everywhere she could think up trying to lure him back. And now that he was finally home she ripped herself from his life in the most horrible way imaginable, a suicide.

She remembered all those times her siblings and Five got hurt. All those times she thought they would die. When Klaus oded on drugs? When Ben died...

She looked over at her dead brother who was shaking his head in disapproval, 'You broke his heart.'

'I…I broke mine too,' she said.

Death should be peaceful, but there was nothing peaceful about the way she took the gun and pressed it against her head and pulled the trigger. There was nothing peaceful about Klaus's desperate screams or Allison's cries or Luther's silence or Diego trying to talk to Five.

There was nothing peaceful about the way she felt either. She wished the shallow feeling of her body would take away the pay but looking down at Five she found it impossible.

He was about to time travel. Would he save her? Would he change it all? Fix it? Fix her? Stop the apocalypse for good? She had no doubt. He was Five. Number Five. He managed to time travel, and survive on his own in the future. He managed to join an assassination organization and came back home. She had no doubt he would find a way to avert this.

'I love you,' she whispered as she put her hand on Five's shoulder. She wished she told him that sooner. When they were kids? When he came home? When he first came to her apartment? She wished she told him sooner, and more often.

If she could cry, she would. She would cry because at that moment Vanya Hargrevees wanted nothing more than to have that one single moment, a second really to be able to say one last time to him loud and clear I love you.

'Ben? I'm touching him,' she said when she realized it, she was feeling the solid bone, and flesh and muscle, and fabric of his clothing under her touch.

'What?' she heard Ben ask confused taking a step closer to her.

'I'm touching hi-'

Then she suddenly felt something warm and a flash of blue light swallowed her along with Five.

26 years ago

If Vanya could still feel her body she was sure she would be throwing up now. If teleporting was like getting yourself pulled into a keyhole and pushed to the other side, what the hell was time-traveling? Pushing yourself through the eye on the needle?

She didn't understand how could Five enjoy it.

'Time-travelling sucks,' she said before she covered her mouth and looked over at Five who was coughing on the ground the jump too much for him.

Right. He couldn't exactly hear her when she was a ghost. Ghosts couldn't just talk to people. Well, they could talk to Klaus, but not like with people who couldn't see them. At least, she didn't think they could.

She crawled toward him and put her hands against his back only to feel...nothing.

She blinked and tried to touch him on the head or the shoulder, but the sensation from before was gone.

'No, no, no, no!' she said and stood up looking around. But she felt him. She felt him. She couldn't feel Ben, but she did feel Five, so why couldn't she feel him now?

Because you're dead.

She looked at Five as he was shaking his head his fingers digging into the carpet under them.

She was dead. She killed herself. She was dead, and Five time-traveled to save her.

Vanya turned around not having the strength to look at how devastated he looked. It was too painful even if the pain felt different given that she was hollow inside.

As she turned around she spotted someone in the doorway.

It looked like a little girl.

She looked around. The lounge. They were inside their mansion but it looked different. She looked back at the girl. If there was a kid and they time traveled that could only mean...

'Who're you?' asked her past self.

Vanya couldn't look away from her. This was her! This was her past self standing in front of her in her nightgown looking at Five who was in his thirteen-year-old body.

She didn't remember that. That didn't happen, right? No, it didn't. Five time-traveled which meant now he was creating a new timeline, but shouldn't she disappear? How could she be here when he went back he had to change the future, so she should be gone, right? Wasn't that how it worked?

Maybe basing your knowledge of movies wasn't the smartest idea.

'You're creating a new time-line,' she said and turned to Five only to find him looking shocked and in awe at her little past self.

She couldn't help a fond smile as well, 'Already smitten?' She would have giggled at her own ridiculous thought.

'Vanya,' he said and the little girl titled her head smiling a bit.

She was surprised when she found her younger self walking toward Five casually with little worry that there was a stranger in her house.

'Hi,' he said softly. It pained Vanya in a place which should have been empty now that his voice sounded do devastated and weak.

The little girl smiled at him before she rose her little hand and touched his cheek right under where he had a bruise.

Apparently, all Vanyas wanted to comfort Five past or future.

'Are you hurt?' she asked in a hushed voice looking at the bruise. She looked curious, but also caring, 'Nanny says we have to say if we're hurt.'

'No,' he said and shook his head and whispered back at her, 'I'm...alright.'

Vanya didn't remember if she was always this caring. If she always hated when her siblings got her. She didn't remember a lot before her father pushed pills down her throat and Allison's rumor through her ear. Maybes she was like this, a carefree and caring child who liked to wander around the house in the night.

Why was she up in the middle of the night though? Did she use to have bad dreams or insomnia as a child?

Her little past self skipped to the lamp next to him as she started to turn it on and off.

Vanya looked at Five again, he looked so broken looking at her. She wished she could tell him, he didn't have to be, that it was her choice and even if she was sad about, she knew he would figure out a way for them to be together and happy, even if not with her.

That caused her to pause. Was that what would happen?

She looked at her past self. Right now, Five could literally change any time-line, and the Vanya he would meet there wouldn't be her. It would be a different version of her, but not her. She wouldn't have her memories and maybe wouldn't even have her experiences or past. She would still fall in love with Five. Given the past eight days, it was the only thing Vanya was absolutely sure about.

No matter the time past, present or future, she would always fall hopelessly in love with Number Five.

'Seven,' she heard another whisper come from the doorway. Vanya blinked and her eyes widened as her past self turned on the lamp again and the light revealed a little boy in the doorway.

'Holy shit!' she couldn't help but scream before she covered her mouth with her again only to roll her eyes. She was dead! They couldn't hear her.

Vanya walked closer to the little boy and kneeled down looking at him astonished and absolutely adoring how cute and tiny he was.

'Five,' she said feeling if it was even possible happier than she did since she died or how long has passed since Five jumped them here.

'Five, you're so smol,' she tried to touch his hair before she stopped and put her hand away remembering she wouldn't feel anything or touch him.

'This will take a while to get used to,' she mumbled before she stepped a bit away as her younger self who smiled at younger Number Five before she turned to older Five and pointed at his younger self, 'That's Five, we're married and we're playing hide and seek but don't tell the nanny.'

Vanya's eyes widen again, 'We're what? I mean you're what-?'

She knew she lost a bunch of her childhood memories, but she never remembered that.

'M-married?' repeated Five the word slowly apparently this came as a shock to him as well.

Little Seven nodded and gave him a smile while younger Five continued to frown at him, but he didn't look embarrassed by it either.

'Yes, she's my wife,' he said and nodded as if he was making a point.

With all that happened Vanya could only chuckle. Maybe she didn't shot herself maybe she lost her mind? Maybe it was all a dream? Five came back looking thirteen, they made out in a secret bunker in the basement, she shot herself, traveled through time, met her baby self and Five's baby self who said that they were married and acted like it was no big deal but at the same time an important fact. Maybe, this was a dream. She then, however, realized even in her most creative moment, she could never produce such wild dreams.

'Okay,' he said and Vanya watched as his younger self started to walk toward them frowning at him before he took Vanya's hand and tried to make her step away from him, 'Who're you?'

She couldn't help but smile at how suspicious and protective he was.

'Looks, like some things, never change,' she said looking at Five even if she knew he couldn't hear her.

'James,' he said and Vanya blinked. She knew he probably just picked it up randomly, but at the same time she couldn't help, but think why did she pick it up that day when Leonard first showed up. Could it have been that she remembered it from the time she was four? But there wasn't a thirteen year old looking Five who came to visit. This was a new timeline.

She shook her head and brushed her hair a bit trying not to spiral. She knew she didn't understand time-traveling enough to get to the bottom of it. Not to mention Five never time-traveled like this. She just picked the name because it was the first one she could think of.

'What do you want?' asked his younger self clearly not happy about her little self having a new friend. Vanya found it a bit amusing. She could definitely see Five reacting this way even now when Leonard came to her apartment. She had no doubt he must have stayed somewhere close to make sure he would leave after the lesson and Vanya would be alright. She used to doubt Five cared, now she knew that was maybe the only thing she could never doubt, well that and that she loved him.

Little Seven pulled at his younger self's hand, 'Don't be mean.'

Vanya suddenly heard someone slowly walking toward them from the other room.

She grew anxious. What if it was Pogo or the nanny?

Vanya walked out of the lounge and went to the main hallway. It was dark, and maybe if she didn't remember she was a ghost she would feel a bit frightening. Did the house always look like a horror house from some gothic novel?

She paused once she finally spotted a man standing by the stairs. He was tallish with black hair and dark eyes wearing a suit and to her absolute shock a briefcase.

She saw one just like that with the Handler and since she knew there were no strangers allowed in the house, she immediately guessed who the man was or at least who he was working for.

He didn't see her. Of course, he didn't, he was alive and she was a ghost.

He was just standing there in the hallway looking to the lounge through the open door, even if it was night, her child self turned on the lamp and of course, in the silence of the night, it was clear to hear someone talking.

She started to walk backward before she finally got to the room only to catch the blue light which swallowed Five and then disappeared.

'No!' she gasped looking around before she rushed to the spot where Five just vanished, nearly colliding with her kid self forgetting she was a ghost and couldn't collide with anyone.

'No, no, no, no!' she started to look around feeling something close to panic but it felt different with her stomach not being in a knot and her heart not beating.

She looked over at the younger Five who was frowning at the spot Five had disappeared as she realized she really was left as a ghost in 1993-ish, she couldn't help but wonder if this was the first time the idea of time traveling ever crossed Five's mind.

She went back to the hallways, but the man from the Commission was gone. Did he go to report that Five was in the past? Was that his purpose to be her? Did he watch her? Was she supervised by the Commission to make sure she fulfilled her task to end the world? That was a chilly thought. Suddenly even though she was a ghost Vanya felt very paranoid that someone could see her.

With nothing else to do Vanya followed the kids upstairs only to let out a sob as she saw all of her siblings so young and small. It was probably the first and only time she was ever taller than them, and in the bizarre situation, she was left it made her smile.

She tried to wave at Klaus, but the boy looked too distracted by Diego whispering something into his ear making him laugh.

She tried to recall the first time, Klaus started to see ghosts but it was like she couldn't tell which parts were memories and which was just her own imagination trying to fill in places.

They all went to bed and Vanya was left alone in the hallway. Somehow it reminded her of the time, she was a child. Always on the outside from the Umbrella Academy. Apparently, it didn't use to be that way. She seemed more than involved with Allison taking her hand and the two of them skipping for a while and Five touching her cheek before he went to his own room. Before her powers got in the way, before dad pushed her to the side, she used to be a part of the family. She used to be a part of her siblings, and she couldn't help but envy her younger self. She looked very happy. She looked happier than Vanya ever remember feeling...that was probably the whole tragedy of her life.

It was night, and Vanya had a hell of a day, but she didn't feel tired. She didn't feel anything of the human needs. She missed Five, but at the same time the shock of his leaving vanished, and she didn't feel anything about it. Was this what it meant to be a ghost? The recognition that there is nothing you can do about things so you just carry on? But what should she do now? Do ghosts just walk around all the time? That couldn't be right. It would have been crowded here if that was the case, also she would see others when she saw Ben like dad or the nannies she briefly remembered, maybe someone's parents?

She looked around.

What should she do now? She was a ghost stuck in the past haunting her family's home now? What could she do? Should she wait until Klaus learned his powers and try to tell him about the apocalypse? He was four, there were still a few good years before she could put any of those heavy things on him. But what was she supposed to do until then? Hang around, and watch them sleep?

With absolutely no clue what to do now, Vanya sat down against the wall in the hallway and waited until the morning sun thinking about all those things she lost by pulling that trigger. Suddenly her brilliant heroic idea didn't feel so right at all. It felt like a mistake. She wondered if all people who commit suicide feel like it was a mistake.

She pulled her legs to her chest and hugged them. Even if it was selfish, she wished Five, her Five, was here with her. That was they could be lonely together. She really did not think this suicide thing through. But maybe people never do? She was only a ghost of a couple of hours but she already missed it. The touch, the feeling of her body working, being alive.

There is no peace in death just emptiness.

Vanya wasn't sure how many hours passed but after a while, she heard a soft voice of one of her brothers coming from one of the rooms.

'No, I said go away,' she heard Klaus whisper as he was lying under the covers.

'I didn't want to do it! I didn't want to do it! Edgar believe me! I didn't want to do it! It was a mistake!'

As she got into the room, she found an elderly looking woman standing in front of Klaus's bed with a large open wound on her back.

'Edgar, it was a mistake!' she kept on repeating.

'Please, I want to sleep, please,' whispered Klaus from under the covers without peaking up, 'I will tell nanny if you don't leave.'

'I didn't want-'

'Hey!' called out Vanya suddenly the ghost ignored her continuing to mumble to herself.

Vanya bit the inside of her cheek before she gathered some courage and walked to the ghost. She wasn't sure how to actually deal with other ghosts now especially ones which were like this woman, but she stepped in front of her, 'I said hey.'

She winced as she saw the bloody face of the woman. Whatever happened to her, was bad.

The woman's blue eyes pierced into Vanya, but she stood her ground, 'Leave him alone.'

The other ghost watched her for a moment silent, and Vanya was sure she would start to talk again, but after a moment she looked away and then disappeared.

Vanya was confused. Could she do that as well? Disappear? If yes, where would she go?

'Hello?' asked Klaus the covers now lower so he was peaking into the room, 'Is anyone there?'

Vanya watched him. He could hear the woman, but maybe he couldn't see her. Somehow she was grateful that at least a little boy, he had some relief from those horrible looking ghosts.

'It's okay. She's gone now. You can sleep,' she said trying to sound as loud enough that he would hear her but quiet enough so she wouldn't scare him.

He looked around a bit before he smiled, 'Thanks, Miss.'

She smiled back at him, 'Goodnight, Kl-Number Four.'

'Goodnight, Miss,' he mumbled back before she saw him close his eyes exhaustion from the day and their night games finally taking over.

She watched his sleepy face for a moment. She forgot how little and sweet Klaus looked before it all. Before all the terrible ghost stole his innocence and drugs corrupted the rest.

For that night she stayed in his room, in case the creepy lady would come back. Oddly she felt a little bit better knowing she was at least a bit useful.

With the adding months Vanya learned a lot of things, she didn't remember. She knew most of the kids didn't remember their childhoods, but this was different, she knew all those little things were stolen from her by the pills and the abuse of their father.

Growing up after her powers were suppressed, she would give anything for their father to give as much attention to her as he was to her younger self, but now watching it all as a third person, Vanya wished nothing more than to take herself from Reginald pushed her into her arms and run away. In fact, Vanya wished she could take all her siblings and ran away with them from him, and never come back.

She almost wished she didn't have to watch as with every day, every new game, every new test she witnessed how their father ruined them and form into the traumatized people they were in the future.

Vanya felt sick as she watched him put Luther and Diego against each other, or force Ben to push the tentacles inside his stomach out, or Klaus look into the faces of some of the creepy ghosts who sometimes came attached to the objects Reginald brought. She wanted to hug Allison as he ordered her to rumor one of the test subjects to cut themselves or stand still for hours only to see how long her compulsion could last. She hated watching the exhaustion in Five's face as he had to jump over and over again until he was sick to his stomach and threw up in the gym. They were kids. Little kids, they were six. Why would he do that to them? Why?

However, she felt absolute rage and disgusted as she watched him cheer on her younger self as she was a little bit little breaking the glasses to his liking. He was a terrible man. She always knew so, but she was blinded by the simplest fact that she still viewed him as a father. They all did. He was the person who took them in and gave them meaning even if hers was to be ordinary. He was their father, but now seeing it as a viewer instead of a participant Vanya could see through the charade. He wasn't a good man. He was a bloody bastard, and she couldn't believe how much time she had wasted wanting his approval and love. He forced them to do all those things and for what? How could he let her and Ben kill all those nannies? Like it didn't matter? Like their lives didn't matter. They were kids, and they didn't know better, but he did, and he let it happen. Helped covered it all up, hide the bodies and hired a new one like it was a game, which nanny would survive the longest?

'Focus, Number Seven,' he said again making that noise as he hit one of the glasses which would have made the hair on the back of Vanya's skin stand up if she still had a body.

'No,' she found herself saying, 'stop it! She doesn't want to do that anymore! Her ears are hurting,' she said as she watched the little traces of blood run down her younger self's ear every time after the experiment. She was sensitive to sounds and with him purposely creating new ones with the glass, it was hurting her.

'Stop!' she snapped standing behind her younger self. She felt so upset at that moment. She just wanted all of those experiments to stop. She just wanted to stop him once and for all!

'I don't want to anymore!'

And just like that Number Seven started to break all the glasses until she broke the one in Reginald's hand scratching his eye in the process.

Vanya blinked a bit startled as well. Did her younger self also hated the tests and wanted them to stop as well?

'Number Seven, that is enough for today,' he said, but he didn't sound angry.

Vanya blinked as she watched in shock for the first time something on her father's face she never saw before.

Fear

That very day she followed her father and herself downstairs to the bunker. She tried not to hold it against Pogo as he closed the door on her before her father left with him. She really did.

Vanya looked over at her younger self. If she could she would hug her and tell her it would be alright. Soon she would get out, but in truth, she had no idea of knowing how long she would stay there.

Feeling just as useless as she did every day since she time traveled with Five, she sat down on the ground and listen to her younger self sobs and cries as she started to beg dad to come back, or Grace, or Five or anyone. She only now realized she was left alone in the dark. It all came back to Vanya, not the memories, but the nightmares she then had when she was thirteen. Nightmares of being in the dark all alone and forgotten. No one cared. No one would come for her. No one would save her. No one...and she would be all alone in the dark like she was right now.

'Please, don't leave me here! I'm scared,' cried little Seven.

Vanya pressed her hands against her ears, but the noises of her cries couldn't be shut out. It felt like an eternity went by until the door finally opened and instead of a plate of food dad brought Allison and Grace with him.

'Just as we practiced Number Three,' he ordered and Allison looked at Vanya before she said.

'I heard a rumour...'

20 years ago

Ghost Vanya was sitting by the desk of her younger self listening to her read out loud a book Ben generously lent her. She couldn't help, but corrected her whenever she said pronounced the word incorrectly or said it before her, but since her younger self didn't hear it was more or less pointless.

Days, weeks, months went by. It was strange but sometimes it felt like it all happened too fast like Vanya was losing track. Maybe it was just the whole situation of being a ghost and not being able to talk or do anything.

Klaus finally saw her. It didn't go as well as she hoped so she started to hide away from him.

Seven was in the third chapter when Vanya heard the noise outside.

There was a car parked by the front door and Reginald was walking toward it with Klaus who was dressed in his uniform.

'It's a bit late for a night visit,' she said and looked at herself as she continued to read not even looking up from the book.

'It's close to bedtime,' she continued liking sometimes to talk out loud when all of the sudden her younger self said, 'It was a mystery and all mysteries deserved to be solved.'

Vanya smiled a bit, 'I agree.'

She walked outside. It was strange, but she had a bit of an attachment to Klaus. It might have been because he was the only one who could see her and other ghosts, but no matter in what room he was Vanya could sense him and appear inside it if she wanted to. It was much calmer than when she teleported with Five. No sickness or claustrophobe it was like she stepped through the doorway and appeared in another room. She often wondered if all ghosts could sense Klaus which caused them to seek him out so often. Not inside the house though, even with how many nannies and maids were killed inside they still seemed to avoid the house, maybe it really was haunted, but so bad no one wanted to be inside, not even the ghosts.

She was surprised when she found Dad in front of the large mausoleum who did it belonged to, and why was Reginald bringing Klaus here in the middle of the night? The man was obsessed with them sleeping every night by nine almost as much as he was by their powers.

She didn't like it. She walked closer to it but keeping a distance since she knew she scared Klaus a bit too. All ghosts scared Klaus by that age. Then again, she didn't blame him. She couldn't see herself in the mirror but she noticed her clothes were dusty from the explosion and caught the dry blood in her hair probably from the shot into the head. She couldn't be too nice to look at. Maybe not as bad as the man with the ax wound from last month, but still bad enough.

As she walked inside only to step back at the hearing Klaus cry in agony. At first, she thought he was physically hurt until she saw all those ghosts walking around trying to talk to him or touch him crowding him.

'Hey, leave him alone!' she called out and tried to run past them. Some were even scarier looking than the man with the ax.

'Get away from him!' she waved her hands at them to try and get them to step back, but they kept on blocking her way and Klaus was crying so hard it hurt something inside her, not her body of course not, but her soul. It hurt to hear him cry like that all terrified and panicked and scared and everything between.

When one particular ghost of a man stepped in front of her and screamed into her face like he was trying to scare her, she lost it. She felt pissed off. She always forgot how it felt to be so angry with someone. Not to hate them the way she did dad now but to genuinely be pissed off at someone.

She ran in front of the ghosts and screamed, 'GET OUT!'

All of a sudden the door opened with a strong wind. Vanya didn't feel the gathering of her powers inside her the way she used to when she was alive, but the wind felt all too familiar to be mistaken for something else.

'OUT!' she shouted and it was like a wave of something ran through the ghosts and shattered them.

Her eyes widened. Did she really destroy them? But they were ghosts, dead, how could she have killed the dead?

The wind calmed down now, and she turned around only to find Klaus looking at her with shock, his cheeks were still wet but his eyes were no longer crying.

'Are you alright?' she asked feeling a bit awkward and unsure standing there.

Klaus watched her for a couple of moments before she noticed his breathing calmed down.

She took a few steps closer toward him. She knew she wouldn't be able to touch him so she just kneeled down in front of him making sure to keep some distance so he wouldn't feel crowded, 'They're gone now. Wherever they went they won't come back so soon.'

She hoped it gave him some comfort. She really wanted to hug him now.

Klaus looked at her again, and she half debated if she should leave too. She was really dirty and the wound. She remembered how freaked out he looked the first time, he saw her.

'Thank you,' he said suddenly and started to wipe the tears from his face.

'Come on, I will walk you home,' she said and stood up before Klaus reached out and tried to touch her.

'So you really are a ghost,' he said before he looked up at her, 'You're different.'

'I will take it as a compliment,' she said and nodded toward the open door, 'Come on.'

Walking through the streets with a little boy felt strange since Vanya knew to the people passing them boy he was walking all alone. She hoped no one would try and stop him or do something to him. If by some miracle it was her using her powers she wasn't looking forward too much found out if she could also use them on alive as well as dead.

Klaus skipped by her side close to her. Despite what happened, he didn't seem to be so shaken after he wiped away his tears.

'Do ghosts often fight?' he asked, and Vanya shrugged her shoulders, 'I don't know. This was the first time.'

'Where did they go?'

'I don't know that either.'

'Did you kill them?'

'I hope not, but Kl-Number Four.'

It was strange to have someone to talk to. She wondered if that was why so many ghosts wouldn't leave Klaus alone. They wanted to be heard.

'You don't know a lot of things, Geisterfrau,' he said suddenly and Vanya shot him a look, 'Ghost lady? Don't call me that,' she whined a bit. That was a terrible nickname. Even dead she would like to think she had some standards.

'So what do I call you?' asked, and Vanya noted someone started to follow them.

She hoped the man wasn't planning anything shady with Klaus.

'Esther,' she blurred out the first name she could think off.

Seriously? That was the first she could think of?

Klaus chuckled, 'You don't look like an Esther.'

'Well, you don't look like Four so,' she watched as the man continued to follow them. She wondered if they would be able to make a run for it when luckily some people started to walk out of the near bar.

'Let's hurry,' she urged Klaus and they run the rest of the way to the Academy.

'Why were we running?' asked Klaus in a hushed voice as they walk the stairs to his room. Dad didn't even wait for him inside to make sure he got home safe. Vanya would at least think he would care somewhat for his investment if not for his children.

Klaus paused by the doorway and looked at her, 'Did you use to sit next to me and scare away the other ghosts? I could only hear you when I was little, right?'

She nodded after a moment of hesitation. What point was to lie about it now?

Klaus was left standing holding his door handle, 'Can you do that tonight too? They don't come often but sometimes they do, and all they do is shout things at me like that they're sorry or how much they hate someone. You're not like them. You seem nice.'

He smiled at her, and it was that precious ten-year-old smile she could clearly see older Klaus and his conning way to get whatever he wanted when he smiled at someone like that. Apparently, when it came to that smile she was just as helpless as the rest of the idiots who fell for his tricks.

'Okay, I will hold guard for you,' she said and followed Klaus to his room. He changed to his PJs and went to bed smiling at her brightly and waiting as she sat down at the end of his bed. How strange it was that she could sit on furniture but not actually touch anything? Shouldn't she fall down from it?

'Geisterfrau,' whispered Klaus, and she groaned, 'Don't-don't call me that, alright? Come on pick another name.'

'But it's a nickname. Nicknames are meant to be funny but also carry meaning. This one does,' argued Klaus, and she shook her head wondering how Ben dealt with Klaus for all these years. Then again Ben was dealing with a dysfunctional junkie. Vanya was dealing just with ten-year-old Klaus.

'Alright.'

He grinned at her, 'Goodnight, Geisterfrau.'

'Goodnight, Klaus. Sweet dreams.'

It was the first time, she ever stayed in Klaus's room since he first started to see her. She was worried about scaring him so she tended to hide away from him. Mostly sticking to her own room and past self. It was strange to watch herself. How little did a person actually remember or caught on when he was only a viewer of his life?

Growing up, after the pills came, Vanya used to think she was very observant of her siblings. She used to think she knew a lot of things about them even if they never let her fully in. She thought she was a good sister, a better sister than them somehow, but looking at Klaus's sleeping face she wasn't so sure now. She didn't know about dad locking him up in the mausoleum like that. She didn't know many things. She never knew about Five's problems to read. She noticed the other day how after Grace finished her speaking lessons with Diego, she had two hours of reading with Five. She herself had problems with reading words, but Five was barely managing through them. She never knew Luther used to pee himself or that Ben refused to talk for almost six months when they were nine. How could she forget those things? Maybe in her own way she was self-centered too. She always felt like she had it bad because she didn't belong, but she understood little of the trauma her own siblings went through.

Everyone always said how nice and kind she was but as she watched Klaus she couldn't help, but wonder just how much of a good person was she if she focused on her own trauma and sadness and didn't notice the others. She wondered a lot about that actually, especially when she thought about the apocalypse. Was it really just that she had this unstoppable power? Or was there something bad inside her which forced her to cause it every time?

Time went by different when you were a ghost incredibly fast and yet very slow. It was morning and Klaus woke up wishing her good morning before he had to go get dressed. She left him and walked around the busy corridor her eyes set on herself as she was trying to get to the bathroom without touching anyone in the way.

'Do you want to go first?' asked Allison as she was standing by the door first.

Her younger self shook her head embarrassed without a single word and Vanya couldn't help but wonder how much of the isolation she felt as a child was her own doing. Dad didn't help as he constantly reminded her how unimportant and ordinary she was how she didn't belong, but she also tried to pull away whenever someone showed interested in her. She remembered that first night Five offered to lay with her so she wouldn't have nightmares. She was quick to tell him it was fine, and she didn't want to burden him with herself. She always did that. She wanted to be involved but the moment they tried to involve her somehow something inside her something which had nothing to do with Dad, or her powers, or even the Umbrella Academy or them, just herself, pushed them away.

'Suit yourself,' said Allison and went inside while Vanya watched her younger self hold her towel closer to her chest and look down at her feet no doubt feeling upset at herself that she should have gone first because Allison would take ages to get out.

Maybe Vanya was always just one of those people who wanted to be involved but sabotaged every chance they got, destined to be alone.

As she remembered she was now a ghost who only Klaus could see stuck in her past, she couldn't help but think it was a spot on assumption.

She did kill herself instead of try and find a way to solve this all with Five and the others.

As if on cue past Five passed her and stopped before her past her. His hair was sticking to every direction, and Vanya allowed herself to smile knowing her younger self would have as well if she was brave enough.

'What?' he asked her younger self yawning, his eyes a bit sharp which caused her younger self to look away scared she offended him while whispering Sorry.

Vanya really couldn't believe they went from this to I love you in just nineteen years. Or better yet they went from saying they were married like it was nothing to this.

17 years ago

By that time Vanya was long passed the feeling of being intrusive, or pervy or weird as she walked around her siblings' rooms learning all their little secrets she hadn't before. She learned Diego liked to dance in secret. Luther might have opening turn on the music, but Diego claimed it was stupid, only when he locked himself in the room, he full-on broke his weird moves and Vanya couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked. She found out Ben read romantic novels by changing the covers with some boring books about Biology. She knew about Allison and Luther, everyone did, but the fact that all they did was sit upstairs and talk was a little bit disappointing. She often went to torture herself by watching her younger self and Five. Being the third person now she could a full-on look at Five's face and see and read all his reactions and expression knowing he probably started crushing on her the same way she started for him and at the same time.

Even if she didn't want to she felt a bit sad as now he looked exactly the way he did when he time traveled and the way he came back.

She wondered if she just wasn't torturing herself with that, but she couldn't not look. Being able to watch them at that age meant a lot to her. It was beautiful. They way they were together with one another, it hurt, but she found it beautiful all the same.

She met others at that time. Most of the ghosts she met were mindless often like a broken record talking about their deaths or saying the things they regretted about life. But there were others too. Ghosts like her who weren't consumed by their anger or damaged by the way they died.

'How come there aren't more of us?' she asked Dorothy and old woman who sit every day in the park on her old bench looking at her birds. Once the kids passed the age of seven Vanya lost the ability to tell time. She couldn't tell if a month or year went by just noting occasionally that everyone got bigger, but apart from that it was like the concept of time lost its meaning to her. Five would have been frustrated with that, no doubt.

'Because we aren't meant to stay here this long. We're meant to go further. Sooner or later those who stay end up just like the others consumed by their death, anger to what happened and cannot be done, not being able to let go of what their mistakes.'

She blinked at her, 'Further? To heaven or hell?'

'Maybe?' the other woman shrugged her shoulders, 'Those ghosts which stay they don't end well, Vanya. Something happens to them and sooner or later they bring their loved ones nothing but cold rooms and spaces left empty by their deaths.'

'Do you think I should go to the further?'

'You will,' said Rose and smiled at her. She died of a heart attack. As far as Vanya could tell she was the nicest looking ghost she ever saw. No wounds or blood. She looked almost alive.

'You're just taking your time,' she said as she looked somewhere in front of her, 'Just don't overstay your welcome, dear.' She then stood up and vanished and Vanya wondered if it was really that simple. Just decide you no longer wanted to stay and vanish somewhere away.

But she couldn't find herself to do it. She wasn't scared per say, but she felt like something was holding her back. Dorothy told her that was how old ghost felt like they had some business to finish or someone needed to stay, but in Vanya's case, it was more than just a feeling. She felt like it was destiny.

She knew about the apocalypse, Five's time travel, Ben's dead. She knew all those things. So why wouldn't she just stop them? Why not just tell Klaus and make him say them to others?

It proved to be easier said than done, as apparently eight, thirteen or twenty-nine, no one took Klaus seriously. She didn't exactly blame them.

Right now he was in Allison's room trying her lips sticks, 'What'cha think?'

He asked as she pushed his lips like he was about to kiss her.

'Who are you talking to?' asked Allison and showed him the hand mirror so he could look.

'Just my-'

She quickly shook her head at him. After a few times that she literally chased away or made other ghosts vanished, Reginald assumed Klaus could make ghosts appear and make them disappear at his will. It wouldn't exactly help if he knew that it was Klaus's ghost friend and not him, so Klaus had to keep her a secret.

'Uh, there's this really big hairy guy,' beamed Klaus and Vanya rolled her eyes.

'Super hairy,' he said and she chuckled before she walked away.

'Hey, wait up,' called Klaus after her and she turned around as he motioned for her to come to his room, 'Don't go yet.'

'I'm not going anywhere,' she grimaced, but Klaus looked a bit serious, 'Yes, you are like last time.'

'What do you mean? I haven't left the house for days,' she said, but Klaus shook his head, 'You did. You were gone for a week. Before that too. Don't you remember?'

This surprised Vanya as she honestly did not recall such events, 'I did?'

'Yeah, I also found you on the stairs one day, you were mumbling to yourself, do you remember that?' he asked sounding actually worried.

If Vanya still had a body she was sure she would feel chills now instead she looked away accepting what Klaus was saying, 'I've stayed here too long.'

'What?'

'My friend, Dorothy from the park. She's also like me, not violent or angry all the time. She said even if we're calm if we stay too long we can turn into that,' she looked at him, 'I think that's happening to me now. I'm losing myself.'

She looked at her hands wishing she could hold herself, 'Maybe I should leave before that happens.'

'No,' he said immediately.

Vanya smiled at him softly, 'Klaus-'

'No, I meant it. You're my ghost. You protect me from the others and you're my friend. You can't just leave me,' he said before he looked away.

She could see his whole body shaking with emotions before he said, 'Are you my... my mom?'

Her smile fell a bit. She could see the smallest piece of hope behind his bright eyes.

'Right now I wish I was when you look at me like that,' she confessed before she shook her head, 'but no. I'm sorry.'

He nodded sobering up a bit, 'I didn't really think you were. I just saw how you were always here always around, and it made me wonder if maybe you weren't you know? Maybe not my but maybe one of the others? You seem like you like us and want to keep us safe.'

She nodded and said honestly, 'I think you're good kids and you deserve someone to look out for you.'

Klaus smirked, 'Jeez, you sure you're not someone's mom? That was a very mom thing to say.'

She beamed at him before she stepped closer to him, 'Listen, I will try to stay as long as I can, but if I'm really losing myself there's something I need to tell you. I-I didn't want to at first. In fact, I hoped I wouldn't have to because you're so young and it's so big and heavy and messy,' she sighed knowing if she lost herself, there would be no one to warn Five and the others, 'Something really bad is going on. You probably don't know, but dad has been giving Vanya too many pills drugging her.'

'What?'

'Yes, but that's not as important as Five right now. Very soon, he will try to time travel, and he will get stuck in the future. In the future, there was the apocalypse-'

'Wait what?' asked Klaus shaking his head, 'The apocalypse and Five gets stuck? But he's Five. He jumps everywhere he wants it's not a big deal.'

'But this is time travelling. It's different harder, and he will get stuck and he will be all alone. You have to stop him-'

'Whoa, how do you even know all this? I mean I get the pills, but the future? What? How would you even know this?' he asked and Vanya noted that he stepped away looking at her differently now.

'Klaus-it's important,' she said again, 'Something really bad is going to happen and you're basically the only one who can stop it. You have to stop Five from time traveling.'

'How would I do that? And how do you know something bad will happen? Can you see the future or something? I...that's the crazy talk, right? You losing yourself?' he asked looking like he understood something and Vanya shook her head, 'No, it's not. It's real, Klaus.'

His face fell, 'Yes, it is. How could you know about the future? And Five time travelling and an apocalypse? That's crazy.'

She closed her eyes trying to gather her thoughts. She had to convince him. She just had to. Five would leave soon and everything would just turn on the way it-

'Besides, Five is just throwing one of his tantrums. He ran away, Vanya went after him so did dad and now he's just scared about the punishment so he's hiding-'

'What did you just say?' she asked horrified.

Klaus shrugged his shoulders, 'Five's hidin-'

'He already ran away? When?' she asked shocked. Did she miss it as well? How much did she miss from what was going around her in the past few days? She felt like time went by fast and slow like always since she was a ghost but maybe she missed things without noticing. Was that what happened when she lost herself?

The alarm for a mission went off, 'Great.'

Vanya went to stop Klaus as he rushed to his closet, but her hand was left in the air without touching his shoulder.

'Look, I'm sorry this is happening to you. I-I...If it's better for you to go, maybe you should go, I will miss you though. You're my friend.'

She shook her head seeing how sad Klaus looked. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it was meant to go. She thought she had more time. She thought she had another life. She couldn't burden them with the apocalypse when they were kids but did she waited too long and now it was too late.

Klaus ran out of the room, he told her something else but she didn't hear him. She tried to follow him only to found herself standing in her old room again during the night.

Vanya stopped in track and looked around. Her room was empty.

Very slowly she walked out of it and went to search the house. She found the rest of her siblings in their beds expect Five and herself. She searched the house easily enough until she found them inside the hospital room.

They were both lying on separated beds holding hands with at least six different machines attached to Five's body.

Vanya stepped closer. If there was a beating heart in her chest it would be beating like a drum now. She recognized the bruise on Five's face. It was the same one, the future Five had the last time she saw him.

The same one.

She spotted a pile of clothes on a nearby chair, no doubt Five's. They were a mess all covered in dirt and white dust from the collapsed bunker as were hers.

This was the Five from the future.

She was sure of it. He had to time traveled just as the past Five did and took his place.

She let out a chuckled-cry if that was even possible before she collapsed to the ground. Even numb the realization that at least one version of herself would grow up with Five was too much for her soul.

She looked at the two of them calmly sleeping both in the bodies the same aged, both alive, both in the same place.

Not for the first time, she envied her past self the chance to be happy which Vanya was robbed off. Yet, she felt grateful. Grateful that there was a version that would be with Five, and that Five would still be with her, and be happy.

She rose her hand and even if she knew she couldn't really feel her, she touched her face.

'Experience it all for me, please,' she said to herself, but the moment she touched her skin she felt a bit of a static and her past self sat up woken up and confused.

Vanya blinked she tried to touch her hand, but she didn't feel anything.

What happened?

Did she imagine it?

Then the scariest thing happened, her past self rose her hand at one point and touched a spot on her head. The same spot Vanya had pressed a gun against and fired.

Could she remember it?

Vanya felt horrified.

Could she feel it?

Now

Time went by for ghost Vanya. There were moments when she was present and could think properly and see everything, but more and more there were those which were lost to her. It was often that she would realize she was in one room before and then be somewhere completely else.

She begged Klaus to tell her, if she was like the others bothering him, but he always said she just stood or sat by the stairs and mumbled something to herself. The best way Vanya could describe it was to say she had ghost dementia. She still had moments of clarity, but very far in between. It wasn't good. Vanya knew she was staying too long. She knew she should leave, but she couldn't. She found herself impossible to leave instead watching all her siblings, but especially her new self and past-new Five. It was strange. All their moments, all their experiences were new and unfamiliar and breathtaking for her. She wanted to see it all, or as much as she was allowed to.

She didn't envy herself anymore, she was cheering for her every step of the way, wanting nothing more than for them to be together. She supposed it was because of the fact there was nothing she could do about it anyway, but at the same time she would like to think it was because she loved Five enough to let him be alive and happy even if not with her. There was also another part of her which saw it for what it was like he was with her. She couldn't feel his hand on her shoulder, or his breathing against her cheek, or later his lips on hers, but it still felt like it was her. It still felt real, and ghost Vanya was in peace with that. She was happy for both herself and Five. She no longer looked at the other Vanya as Seven, past, or young, but simply saw her as Vanya.

Since future Five lost his memories of the past and future, he became just Five. Ghost Vanya was glad because she could tell if he was still past-future Five he only be burden by all his memories. This way he started fresh and clean, and this way he could be with Vanya. This way they were just perfect and right for each other.

She missed a lot of things. Because of her blackouts, or ghost dementia, she found out only too late about Vanya's powers manifesting and Five and Vanya cutting some sort of deal with someone called the Fixer. Given that she was present when he first appeared in front of Vanya when she was thirteen, ghost Vanya knew he was also the same man who was there when past Five time travelled her to the past. If she could still feel properly she would be anxious about what his plans were, but so far he has been very helpful. She felt better knowing Five didn't trust him though.

She wanted to tell them about Vanya's powers, but realized she didn't really know how and was worried it would only end with dad locking her up. She still didn't know how they found out about them or if the Fixer told them, but she was glad.

She passed over Five who was now in his room reading something. She didn't find it strange or bizarre to see a seventeen year old Five on the bed. She never got to see him grew up before, but it didn't feel weird. She was only glad.

There were science magazines and books all around him. His room was a bit messy for her taste. If she wasn't a ghost she would most likely start to lean it all.

As if on cue Vanya came into the room groaned at the items on the ground and started to pile them up while ghost Vanya watched with a fond smile.

One of the magazines caught her eye as it had Astrotech written in large red letters in the title.

Astrotech

The name sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where did she hear it.

'Hey, you don't have to do that,' said Five not looking up from his reading, but somehow still knowing what Vanya was doing.

'If I don't, you definitely won't,' argued Vanya before she kneeled down to start pulling books and magazines from under his bed.

Five marked the magazine before he looked over at her, 'Please stop. I can't watch you do this?'

'What?' she smiled at him, 'Ruin your little chaos?'

Ghost Vanya chuckled at Vanya's comment. It was true Five always argued he didn't have a mess just a perfectly organized chaos.

He rolled his eyes.

'Stop, come on,' he said and took a book from her hand, 'You're not the maid. You don't have to do this.'

Ghost Vanya looked at the magazine again instead of at the heart eyes Vanya and Five were giving each other.

'I know you don't think you're one of us, but you are. You don't have to wash dishes or clean after us,' said Five in the distance as ghost Vanya kneeled to the magazine reading the title over and over again.

'I know, but I don't mind helping mom. It makes me feel-'

'Useful?' asked Five, 'You are. So much.'

Ghost Vanya read it again.

Astrotech

Why was it so familiar? Why did she find it important?

Vanya giggled. 'There is nothing wrong with helping you guys.'

Astrotech

'It's Ben. We had in Astrotech in city and it... it went wrong...'

'But there is everything wrong with doing it for us-'

Ghost Vanya didn't hear the end of the conversation before she rushed out of the room to find Klaus. He was in his room rolling up a joint.

'Jesus Christ, Geisterfrau,' he said putting a hand against his chest, 'Warn a guy, will ya?'

'Something bad is going to happen to Ben-'

Klaus blinked stopping in his work again, 'Ben? What's going on? Dad again?'

Ghost Vanya shook her head, 'No, not dad, it's Ben! He's in danger. Something will happen in Astrotech soon and he will...he will...,' she couldn't say it.

'Something very bad will happen in Astrotech,' she tried again her voice calmer now.

Klaus blinked, 'Did you hear someone planning something against Ben there?'

'I-I no, but it will I...it's hard to explain, but I know it will.'

'How?' asked Klaus and ghost Vanya pressed her lips together. She couldn't say. She didn't want to tell him. She didn't want him to know she was his dead sister, and ask about the future where everything was a fucking mess and they were old strangers to each other and nothing good happened. That wasn't real. That wasn't the real future anymore.

Five stayed and everything was different. They were all nice to Vanya in this present. They were all family. Even if they were still the same they were somehow...different. Their eyes were lighter, still hopeful, still filled with something which dad didn't steal from them yet, which Five's disappearance didn't steal from them yet, which Ben's death didn't steal from them yet.

They still had time and hope to be saved and not ruined as they were in her future. Knowing what she knew was hard. Looking at her family like this and knowing how it could have ended was very hard, and as much as she loved her brother, she didn't think Klaus could handle it. Not now. Not this.

'I just know.'

He waved his hand at her face, 'Crazy talk again, Geisterfrau.'

She gritted her teeth before she stomped, 'It's not! I'm not crazy now! Ben is in danger and you're the only one who can keep him safe! Klaus, get off your ass and go tell him! Now!'

Sudden they heard a window nearby cracking and Klaus threw down the joint standing up, 'Alright, alright. Don't go all poltergeist on my ass. I will go look for him so you will see he's fine and happy. Jeez.'

They found Ben in the library, but no matter how much annoying ghost Vanya was Klaus didn't say anything to their brother who was confused by Klaus's behavior.

But ghost Vanya wouldn't let that discourage her. Soon there would be a mission in Astrotech, and she had one shot to save Ben through Klaus. She might not have been able to stop Five from time traveling or tell them about Vanya's powers, but she would fucking save Ben even if it would kill her, again.

'Jesus Christ, Geisterfrau, just leave me the hell alone!' shouted Klaus at her when he finally had enough before he kicked Vanya's door open.

He stormed in, 'Fuck, you guys see Ben?'

They shook their heads.

'What's wrong? Another ghost won't leave you alone?' asked Vanya worried.

'Meine Geisterfrau,' he sighed in German shooting ghost Vanya a look while she bit her lips. They didn't have time for this. Klaus needed to warn Ben.

'Ghost?' asked Vanya.

Klaus nodded, 'A female ghost really keeps on stalking me like some madman telling me something bad is going to happen to Ben. She fucking won't shut up about it.'

Well, that was a bit harsh. She had been helping him for a long time with ghosts too, and they were friends.

Five and Vanya shared a quick worried look, 'Why would she say that?'

'No idea. Ghosts usually just want to tell me about their deaths or shit, but this woman just walks around and watches usually. But now she's like possessed or something. Ben is in danger. Ben is in danger. Don't let him go to Astrotech. The hell is Astrotech?' he asked turning to her, but before she could answer, Five cut in, 'It's a technical facility downtown. They create equipment for NASA.'

She blinked before she realized it was his magazine so he must have read about it.

'There will be a mission there soon,' she told Klaus who was purposely now looking away.

'You will go, and something, I don't know what will go terribly wrong and Ben…Ben is going to get hurt badly.'

She said at the same time as Five who was explaining the company to Klaus and Vanya.

'The Company is rather small only seventy employees but they landed a huge contract last year and earned a good name in the business industry.'

'This isn't important! BEN-!'

Klaus glared at the woman, 'Geisterfrau, I swear to god shut the fuck up!'

'Can't you tell her to leave?' asked Five raising an eyebrow and ghost Vanya tried not to feel a bit hurt that he said that, 'I know you managed to make ghost leave you alone a few times over the last practices.'

Klaus got worried a bit. Truth was, he couldn't. It was all Vanya who in secret scared away every other ghost who was bothering him, but they couldn't say that.

He looked back at her. She thought he would be angry again or annoyed that he couldn't actually send her away, but instead he looked a bit softer as he said, 'Right...well this one is a bit more annoying today. Anyway, it's fine. I will just find Ben so she knows he's cool, and she'll settle down like always.'

Ghost Vanya gave him a pleading look, 'I'm just looking out for you guys, you know that.'

'Oh, so she's here a lot then?' asked Vanya interested.

Klaus shrugged his shoulders before he offered them both his cattish smile, 'Well, I won't hold you two any longer. Enjoy whatever it is that you were doing before.'

He nodded at the door and ghost Vanya quickly followed him out ignoring the embarrassing looks Klaus caused the other two to have.

Once in the hallway, she said, 'Didn't you notice Ben is acting weird?'

'Hard to notice anyone with you shouting in my ear like a lunatic, Geisterfrau,' he said offering a frustrated look.

It caused her to feel a bit bad. She never liked when people screamed either, 'I'm sorry, but it's really important. He's a bit down lately, isn't he?'

Klaus rolled his eyes, 'Ben is fine, alright? He looks a tiny bit tired, but that's fine. He's probably jerking off for too long at night.'

Ghost Vanya made a disgusted noise before she rushed with Klaus to Ben. He wasn't interested in talking too much today though.

'Hey, what'cha doing? Is it porn?' asked Klaus as he sat down next to him on the bed while Ben was reading.

'Reading and no,' said Ben sounding a bit different today.

Ghost Vanya moved closer, 'Ask him how he feels.'

Klaus let out a dramatic sigh but he put his hand over Ben's shoulder, 'How do you feel Benny boy? All good on your end?'

Ben blinked before he looked over at him, 'I'm fine.'

Klaus turned to ghost Vanya with an I told you so look, but she wasn't convinced. Could he know what was coming? Or was it a coincidence? She never did find out what happened that day in Astrotech. Anything could have gotten wrong.

Sometimes she heard something here and there, but never the whole story, and she was never brave enough to ask them. She knew Diego blamed Luther for pushing him too hard at one point, and Klaus's drug problems got worse after that.

Klaus walked passed her out of the room, while ghost Vanya continued to watch Ben read. She couldn't help but feel that something was different with her brother.

She sighed. If Klaus was no help, maybe there was someone else she could try.

She didn't approve it, but in fact, she realized whether she liked it or not Vanya was having dreams about her life, her future, the one which was now changed because Five stayed, she found out about her powers, the commission, and apocalypse. Yet, she had dreams about it all. Ghost Vanya's memories experiencing all she went through.

The first time she thought it was an accident based on the fact that ghost Vanya touched her. Maybe people and their dead version (if that even ever happened) weren't meant to touch when the alive one was asleep. She never did it again, but with time she realized the dreams continued regardless of if she did or not. Maybe it was her presence. The fact that she was in the same timeline as and alive and breathing Vanya caused her to have dreams. Either way, ghost Vanya wasn't too happy about the other Vanya having to suffer through them. Right now, however, she needed to cause another dream. If Klaus couldn't help, Vanya maybe could. Just like ghost Vanya in the future, this Vanya could be the hero.

She walked to her room at night. Luckily Five was there. It was rare that he wouldn't be, and ghost Vanya felt better seeing him and knowing it was the right thing to do now, as well as knowing he would be able to comfort Vanya after the dream. She was sure it wouldn't be a pleasant experience for her.

Ghost Vanya swallowed a bit before she let her fingers touch her hand. Almost immediately she stepped back as Vanya jerked. She had to watch as the girl had to go through the shock and pain of what she saw knocking the books of the shelf with her powers in the process.

She watched as Five took care of her being all supportive and gentle with her as he knew exactly how to handle it.

Once she told him all that happened according to ghost Vanya's memories, she left the room and went to Ben's knowing they would follow soon.

As she got inside, she found her brother lying on his bed, the bedroom window was opened.

She watched him listening to his breathing. It was a bit different like he was gasping for air a bit, but not panting.

She listened to it carefully before she heard Vanya and Five behind the door calling out to him and talking. He must have heard them as well.

By now she knew he wasn't asleep. His eyes were wide open and unfocused. He looked almost possessed.

She waited.

When Five teleported into the room, she wondered if he would come closer he would see the possessed look in Ben's face, but then Vanya caught the slightest of moments under his blanket.

Was that a tentacle?

She turned to Five now worried he would try to go closer and check, but luckily the boy just went to the window and closed the door before he teleported outside again. She heard both of them returning to her room.

Ben must have heard them as well because he stood up from the bed which caused Vanya to freeze. Even after being a ghost for thirteen years she froze at the sight of all Ben's tentacles out just moving around him as he walked to his window and opened it again.

Ghost Vanya didn't feel anything, but it wasn't hard to tell it was very cold in the room.

Ben returned to the bed and lied down the tentacles still moving around him with no intention of returning to his stomach.

She tried to walk closer and touch his hand, but she didn't feel anything and neither did he.

Once ghost Vanya was outside it was morning again. At first, she thought she was too late again, but then the door opened and Ben walked out of his room looking tired and very much like he wasn't fully there.

She rushed to Klaus's room.

'Good morning,' said the boy as he was working on his tie, 'Do you think dad could let me try another color?'

'Klaus, you need to tell dad something is wrong with Ben,' she said without greeting him back.

'Dad? What? No, no, no, dear,' he shook his head, 'I'm not doing that anymore. Ben is fine. You need to chill already.'

'Klaus, Ben is very much not fine. I think he's losing control over his powers and they are possessing him. He's in danger. Something very bad will happen in Astrotech and you're the only person to stop it, so please, please, tell dad about it. He can help. In fact, I think he's the only one who can help, right now.'

'Esther, that's enough,' he said and she was confused because it was almost a decade since she told him her fake name.

'Ben is fine. Nothing bad will happen because we're not going to Astrotech or whatever. It's all just crazy thought in your head from being here too long! You probably passed Five's room when he was reading it and it all mixed in your ghost airbag head.'

She watched him for a moment knowing he didn't believe her anymore, so she had no other choice but to say what she said next, 'Klaus, if you don't tell dad, Ben will die in Astrotech.'

He looked at her, and she could see the venom in his eyes knowing at that moment he probably hated her for saying it. For bullying him into deciding if he would believe her and maybe look like an idiot in front of dad or not believe her and risk even the tiniest chance that something was wrong with Ben and what she said was true. He stood up and started to walk to the hallway.

She followed him close behind. He didn't say anything, but based on his direction she knew he went to dad's office. She could only hope dad would have enough sense to stop it, to stop Ben. Then again, that would most likely be too much to ask when she thought about it in retrospective.

Ghost Vanya stood behind Klaus nodding her head as he gave her a brief look before he knocked on dad's door, 'Come on.'

She could tell Klaus did not want to go to dad's office. No one ever wanted to talk with dad if they didn't have to, but she could also tell if Klaus even for a second thought she could be right. He couldn't just let it happen.'

'Number Four, do you need something?' asked dad sitting behind his desk as usual probably writing or working on something while Klaus slowly walked closer.

'I think there is something wrong with Ben,' started Klaus, 'He hasn't been acting like himself and maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea if you maybe check him out?'

Dad continued to write whatever he was writing without looking up, 'I think Number Six is completely fine, Number Four. You have nothing to worry about. Dismissed.'

Klaus turned toward her all panicked. She bit her lip knowing it wouldn't give her any sensation before she spoke, 'Tell him about me.'

His eyes widened for a moment. She knew he didn't want to.

'Is there anything else, Number Four?'

'I…yeah,' he turned back to dad, 'There is this…uh, a ghost lady, and she's pretty convinced Ben will die in a mission today. She's very sure about it,' he turned back to her, and she feverishly nodded, 'Yes. Go on.'

Dad continued to write, 'As you know, Number Four, the dead souls are often confused by their new state. They often do not make sense or what they say can be interpreted poorly if they die in a very traumatizing way.'

Klaus looked a bit away, 'There is not much to misinterpret with her saying Ben will die in a mission in Astrotech, Sir.'

Finally, dad stopped writing and looked up at him, 'Number Four, ghosts cannot predict the future.'

'I know,' said Klaus.

'And they cannot see who will die and when.'

'I know, but this one is so sure-'

'Number Four,' cut in their father and Vanya swallowed recognizing the cold voice immediately. If she still had a body she would have chills now, she was sure Klaus already had them,

'I suggest you stop listening to the ghost and better yet sent her away. She is only clouding your mind with unnecessary ideas and delusions. Number Six is perfectly fine. Better than ever actually,' he said, 'He finally got to his fullest potential. Something you should be doing as well-'

'Wait,' said Vanya frowning, 'Why would he say that? Did he experiment on him again?'

Klaus blinked and said, 'What do you mean the fullest potential? I thought he was pretty full of the tentacles in his stomach already.'

His father narrowed his eyes at him but didn't comment on it only nodded, 'Dismissed Number Four.'

Klaus frowned now, 'You did something, didn't you? Like before? Something's wrong with Ben and it's because you did something, right? Another test or experiment went too far?'

'Number Four,' said their father as cold as ever, 'I suggest you mind your own business. It wouldn't hurt you to work a bit harder on your powers not just slacking off.'

'What did you do, dad?'

The man watched him for a moment.

'Number Four, you're my greatest disappointment,' said dad and ghost Vanya shook her head immediately. 'Don't listen to him, please, Klaus. Listen to me, alright? He's just trying to tear you don't because you're on something. Please, Klaus.'

'Your brothers and sister all understand the possibilities of their powers and what it means to have a power at all. They all at least try to become better, but all you do is giving away every single opportunity your way. I shouldn't be surprised.'

'Klaus, don't listen to him, please!' said Vanya as she rushed in front of him trying to block Klaus's view. His face was unreadable now.

'Since an early age, I could see that you were destined for failure both in the Academy and in life. I thought so then and I believe now as well, you will not achieve anything at all. You lack the discipline and because of that you will always be a failure.'

'Don't listen to him!'

Finally, dad stopped talking, and Klaus was left sitting on the chair without a single movement. If Vanya didn't know better she would think he was barely breathing.

'Again, dismissed,' said dad, and Klaus stood up without a word walking away. He went back to his room with ghost Vanya hot on his heels without saying a single word.

'Please, don't make him get into your head. He just said it to mess with you because you were right,' she said as she sat down on his bed where he lied down.

'Klaus?'

'Please shut up for a moment,' he told her and for once ghost Vanya listened and stayed quiet. She never used to be this persuasive when she was alive. When she was alive she would just try once and if he didn't believe her, she would lock herself inside, and let it go. Maybe it was being dead. You lost all sorts of worries and anxieties. The things which hold you back. Maybe there was peace after death after all.

Mom came to announce breakfast was ready and ghost Vanya still stayed quiet until she noticed Ben looking absently at the breakfast table and Vanya and Five actually looking at him worried.

She nodded to herself, 'Tell Five and Vanya. They will listen to you and maybe they can do something. Please, Klaus, I really mean it.'

Klaus didn't say anything just continued to chew. It was the first time he full-on ignored her.

Ghost Vanya closed her eyes, 'Klaus, please, I really need you to tell Five and Vanya or Ben will die. Do you really want it to be your fault?'

She knew she crossed the line with that, and it was confirmed when Klaus all of the sudden punched the table startling everyone, 'God, damn it, just leave me alone already!'

'The hell man?' asked Diego annoyed as Klaus pointed at her, 'I fucking wish for you to leave me alone already!'

She swallowed hard even if she didn't have what to swallow as Klaus stood up and rushed away from the table. She didn't follow him. She just stood there watching him go before she looked at Ben who was the only one not shaken by their brother's outburst.

Luckily Vanya did stand up from her seat no doubt to go check on him so at least someone would be there for him.

Ghost Vanya got closer to Ben who now blinked confused and turned to Klaus's seat maybe only now noticing his absence.

She looked over to Five. He looked like he wanted to talk with him, she could see it in his eyes, but before he could the alarm for a mission went off signaling them to go.

'Number Five have you forgotten the goal of your mission? To free the hostages and stop the robbers? Or do you need me to draw you a full-on picture in sequences to know what to do?' asked Hargreeves through an open window while Vanya was holding onto Klaus who was clearly high out of his mind while ghost Vanya was trying to talk to him. She knew it was no use, once Klaus was high or too drunk was the only time his powers were messed up enough that he couldn't see them still as she realized what was written on the building in big letters she didn't stop trying.

'Tell Five, Klaus. Tell him about what I said, please,' she urged him as Five left them now.

'Shit!' she cursed knowing she couldn't stop him, 'Klaus, please, maybe you can hear me. You have to tell them. Please, Klaus.'

She leaned closer to him right next to his ear, 'Klaus?'

'Y-yeah?' he asked his voice was weak.

Vanya looked over him, and ghost Vanya continued, 'Tell Vanya what I told you before, remember?'

'Remember, what?' asked Klaus slowly like he was coming from a dream and ghost Vanya continued, 'tell her that Ben will lose control over his powers.'

'Powers,' repeated Klaus his head falling to the side.

'Don't fall asleep yet!' she shouted causing him to jerk a bit, 'Ben, will…'

'Ben… will…,' repeated Klaus and Vanya who was sitting next to him leaned closer to hear him better.

'Lose control…,' continued ghost Vanya and Klaus repeated.

'Over his powers.'

Vanya next to them gasped, 'God.'

She turned to dad, but his eyes stayed fixed on the building, 'Do not listen to his nonsense, Number Seven. Number Four's madness doesn't need to spread.'

Ghost Vanya would have punched him if she could, 'Tell her to go!'

'Go,' said Klaus and it was all the encouragement Vanya needed as she got out of the car ignoring their father's shouts for her.

'You did good, Klaus. You did great,' she told her brother trying to brush his hair even if she couldn't.

'Okay, thanks,' mumbled the boy and she quickly got out following her other-self.

Once she finally got there all she found was chaos as Ben's tentacles were flying all around him damaging the lab with Ben kneeling on the ground without any sign he was present in his mind. The others were trying to get to him but with little luck.

She saw Vanya on the ground and Five slowly getting up no doubt debating what to do next. All was happening so fast and yet ghost Vanya felt like she was inside a slow-motion movie before all of the sudden Five finally teleported and punched Ben knocking him out.

In the next moment, the large explosion blew up the roof causing all of it to fall down them blocking even ghost Vanya's view.

She slowly started to walk around the ruins, she could see Luther helping Vanya up, Diego and Allison getting to Ben and Five, but her eyes caught something else, someone else.

She saw Five standing there looking at his hands, and she knew. She knew as she remembered how she felt the first time she woke up like that.

Five was dead.

'Five, what did you do?' she asked.

As his head snapped toward her, she realized she was right, and he heard her. She felt like crying even though she knew ghosts didn't cry. In was years since she felt as heartbroken as she did at that moment knowing Five was there too, Five died as well. The last time was when she realized he saw her die, and time-traveled to save her.

This wasn't how she wanted it. This was never how she wanted it. She wanted him to be happy, living a life with a new version of her. She wanted them both to be alive and together. Not like this! Never like this! Even in her most lonely and selfish moments did she want him dead like her feeling numb all over and losing himself in the madness of being a ghost.

This! Was not what she wanted!

There were traces of blood coming from his mouth. What happened? Did the roof crush him?

She was tempted to leave. She didn't want to see him like this, and she didn't want him to see her and recognize her.

'Vanya…,' he said her name with so many emotions Vanya knew in that moment he remembered all of it. He finally got his memories back, and their weight crushed him. She could see it in his eyes. She wished she could make him forget. She wished he wouldn't remember anything and stay happy and oblivious to the pain they went through.

He closed his eyes before he fell down to his knees.

'What have we done?' he asked her. And she couldn't help but gave him a painful look before she was on her knees in front of him her hand on his face. They couldn't feel each other. Did she think by some miracle they would? Because he was Five and she was Vanya? Because they were destined? Because they were meant to be? Meant to always be together and then apart until one of them would die?

No, why should they have an exception? Ghosts couldn't touch anything or anyone.

'A tragedy, Five. Just like we always do.'

Maybe in another universe, we could be happy.

But not in this one.

No, not in this one.

Vanya looked at him smiling a little bit, 'You're such an idiot. You should have teleported away.'

He snapped his head up giving her a sharp look the sadness was still there but now she could recognize anger too, 'You're calling me an idiot. You?'

Five growled at her, 'You shot yourself! In the head!'

His fingers went to touch her wound, 'Who does that? Who says they would fucking leave with someone and live in a cabin and then off themselves?'

She bit her lips, but there was no pain to cover up for the one he just caused by saying that. Did he really think he had a right to be angry at her?

'I did what was right. You know we wouldn't have stopped it any other way-'

'We don't know that!' he snapped and stood up, 'You took that chance from the both of us-'

'It was my choice-'

'Maybe it wasn't yours to make,' he said and turned his back to her, 'You fucking killed yourself and let me found you on the ground. Do you even realize what I felt?'

She knew what he felt. She watched him. She saw him and she regretted it instantly, but she had to do it, or it would never stop.

Ghost Vanya stood up as well, 'I'm sorry but it was what I thought was right at the time. The Handler…she said it would always end with me causing the apocalypse, and you saw how reckless my powers were. Those people did not come in peace. It was a suicide mission for them as well to cause me to lose control and I don't know end the world!'

Five turned around, 'Maybe I would have stopped it, stopped you, stopped the Commission and the Handler and everything. Maybe I could have, but we will never know because you ran like a freaking coward. You ran from everything including me when you took that shot.'

Ghost Vanya was left standing there without anything to say for a while before she said, 'It's okay if you're angry with me-'

'Oh, it's okay? Really?' asked Five sarcastically before she continued, 'But I did what I thought I had to to save you all, to save the world. You're the one who time-traveled back-'

'Only to save you!'

'And you did,' she nodded and then turned toward the alive Vanya who rushed with Luther to where they uncovered Five and Ben.

'You saved me,' she said, but Five shook his head looking away from the image of Vanya and the others trying to wake him and Ben up.

If Ben wasn't there it meant he survived. It meant there was some good in all this.

'You're a ghost. Dead. How the fuck could I have saved you?' he snapped at her his voice revealing all the anger he must have felt.

She stepped closer, 'But I'm alive as well-'

Five looked at her his eyes softer now and Vanya continued, 'She's not a different version of me or someone else. She's me. She's all of me. The good stuff and bad. I see it. I see myself. I don't see her as someone else. As past Vanya or younger Vanya anymore. Just as Vanya. Just like me.'

Five watched her, his eyes in a storm of emotions before he shook his head and turned to her fully, 'It's not the same.'

'Why?'

'You're dead and she's not. She's living the life you never had-'

'But that's doesn't make her someone else. She's still me. You love me,' she said, but Five didn't seem the get it the way she did.

She sighed a bit and got closer to him, 'Five, but I'm me. She's me. We're Vanya.'

'But she's not the woman who I fell in love in those eight days,' he argued and Vanya put her hand against his cheek even if there was no feeling somewhere in her memory she still remembered how soft his skin was when she was waking up next to him.

'She is. Even those memories aren't there, well not all of them. She's still Vanya. She's still me. You didn't feel in love with an eight-day woman. You fell in love with a twenty-nine-year-old woman, and those seventeen years are all inside her just as they are in me. We're the same. You fell in love with who I am, and I'm her, and she's me. I see it. The things she does, those are exactly the things I would have done. The way she talks and what she says it's exactly what I say out loud too. She's every bit of me and I'm of her.'

He kept on looking into her eyes. It was different as he was so tall now. She never got to look into his eyes like that.

'I love you,' he said and she smiled brightly before she said, 'I love you too.' She remembered how much she wished for a second to be able to say it to his face, for him to hear her.

Her smile fell a bit, 'I never wanted for you to be here with me. Not like this.'

He nodded, 'I know. I know you,' he pressed their foreheads somewhat together, 'How are you here? How are you in 2006? You should...you shouldn't even exist if I changed it, or did I not?'

She shrugged her shoulders, 'I don't know. You time traveled and I was with you in '93 I think. Dates a bit hard for ghosts. Then you left and I just stayed behind. I can't explain it really. Maybe the afterlife works a bit different than science. I should have gone further a long time ago, but I wanted to stay, to see you all, to help, but I'm getting lost and confused the way all ghosts are.'

'Come on, Five, please,' they both heard and turned to look at a crying Vanya who was holding onto Five's hand as Diego was giving him CPR.

'It's too late,' mumbled Five close to her.

Ghost Vanya looked at herself. She was crying. Tears running down her eyes as she was holding onto Five's hand.

Dying was easy. Not the process of staying a ghost, but the process of dying was easy. For you, it was a moment, but for the people you left behind, it was a lifetime. She remembered Ben and she could tell how much she hurt Five. Now Vanya would feel the same? She would feel the agony of losing someone she loved? Of losing Five.

'At least you won't be alone now,' said Five, but it brought a little comfort to ghost Vanya.

'I never want this for you. I wanted you to be happy with me.'

'I was, and I will be,' he told her, but she couldn't take her eyes out of Vanya and Five's body on the ground.

'But I won't,' she said and watched as Vanya let out a choked sound and in the next moment she pressed her hand against Five's chest when Diego stopped.

'Vanya, what-'

And then there was something of a cracking sound and Five's body jerked.

Ghost Vanya looked next to her, but ghost Five was gone.

She blinked and rushed toward the scene in front of her only to find Five violently trashing as he was coughing while the others cried and laughed in relief.

'You're back,' said Vanya and leaned down kissing his forehead as Five opened his eyes.

He watched her in silence his face unreadable before his eyes shifted to the place he probably thought ghost Vanya stood.

Her tiny smile fell, and she shook her head knowing Five couldn't hear her, 'Don't.'

He kept on staring at the spot with pain in his eyes, and she knew it wasn't just from the wounds.

'Don't,' she repeated again.

'Five,' said Vanya, 'How do you feel?'

'Don't!' snapped ghost Vanya again as if somehow that would make Five looked away back at Vanya and not look so devastated like he wasn't happy he was alive. Like he wanted nothing more than to be dead again.

'Like I would rather be dead,' he said, and ghost Vanya let out a hysterical chuckle before she shook her head.

She could tell. She could tell from the way he spoke and his eyes. He didn't see it the way she did. He didn't see it like that at all. He didn't see that he was with Vanya, that she was Vanya, that they were both Vanya. He didn't understand it.

As Vanya pressed her head against his shoulder and his eyes stayed fixed on the spot he knew ghost Vanya was standing, she knew that the tragedy of their love was only beginning.

If she still had her powers working how they should she would feel a massive bubble gathering inside her before it would explode from all those emotions she was feeling right then as she screamed lout enough that Klaus outside could hear her, 'Don't!'

A.N: Sorry it took so long, but this chapter was very long already and I didn't want to cut it in half so here it is. Hope it wasn't boring. Thank you very much for your constant support and reading the story. Thank you for telling me about the pain I inflicted upon you with my work. It's always good to know you have an impact even if you're ruining people's lives.

Just things which I did not have time to add or didn't know how to add because ghost Vanya didn't know about them. The reason why she felt Five and managed to time travel was because of Klaus's powers the same way he could use them on Ben. Also, ghost Vanya did not know that dad tried to lock Vanya up again because the Fixer brought Five and Vanya back in time but not ghost Vanya.

If you want to leave some feedback if not it's fine. Have a nice day and until next time.