A flash overtook Allison's vision as soon as she pressed, what she assumed to be, the reset button. Next thing she knew she had left Oblivion and was outside her home. No, not the Umbrella academy but her home in Los Angeles. She didn't care how she looked or what just happened. All she wanted was the same as when she arrived in that timeline.
"Claire?" It was all worth it. The lying, sketchy deals, and near death experience, all of it was worth it the moment her baby girl woke up to face her.
"What's wrong momma?" Allison couldn't hold back all her emotions. Claire was living and breathing. Her warmth was held in her arms and she was never going to let it go. Screw the world, she would do it all again if it meant that the small child in her arms never disappeared.
"Nothing baby. I'm just so happy to be home."
"It's where you always were meant to be." She slowly turned around to the voice that was almost too beautiful to think was real. But it was him. Raymond Chestnut, her husband, in 2019. She had Raymond and Claire together. "Hey baby."
This is how she knew that the reset was real. They were both here. Together. With her. Her family was here. Not one forced by a billionaire buying random children. Not one bonded by their traumatic past. This was a real family made out of love.
She reached a hand out to Raymond to come closer. But that's when she felt Claire flinch. Looking back at her daughter, she was shocked to find her afraid of Raymond. "Momma? Who is that?"
Looking at Raymond, he was just as confused as she was. "What do you mean Claire? I'm your... dad?"
The small inflection in his tone making it sound more like a question than a statement. His confusion increasing as he looked at his wife. What he just said, didn't feel real. It didn't feel right. This whole room, seeing Allison and Claire together, him being here, none of it felt right.
As he looked to Allison for some answers, she quickly stood up. "Ray, sweetie, why don't you wait outside for a bit? I think Claire was having a nightmare. I'll handle it and meet you later."
"Y-yeah. Okay then." He took another moment to really look around his daughter's room. Then silently left to process what just happened.
Once the door closed, Claire grabbed hold of her mom's hand. The two of them experiencing the same level of fear but for completely different reasons. Allison hiding it a lot better than her daughter.
Claire tried her best to drag Allison away from the door so that they could escape or try to find a safe place to cover. "Momma, that wasn't daddy! We have to call the police!"
This couldn't be happening. The reset should have made it so that Claire would be the blood born daughter of both Raymond and Allison. She had already gotten a lot of her looks from her that it wouldn't change too much if Patrick wasn't in the picture anymore. She had no doubt that Raymond would have been an equally, if not more, amazing father too.
So how was it possible that she couldn't recognize him? And what's more was that Raymond couldn't even say properly that she was his daughter. A normal parent would have easily brushed that aside. Instead he hesitated. He knew something was wrong with this situation, same with Claire. Her's just coming a lot faster and not as easily to able to settle. Her realization somehow triggering him to recognize how confusing this situation was.
Holding Claire in her spot, she crouched down to her level. "It's okay, it's okay. Nothing is wrong. We don't have to call the police. This is all just a bad dream. Why don't I make some hot chocolate to help calm you down? With the little marshmallows too?"
"No! I'm not dreaming! A villain is tricking you right now! We need to call Spaceboy and find daddy!" Raised with many stories of the Umbrella Academy and from her acting career, Claire grew to have a dramatic imagination. One that mainly revolved grand battles of good people versus the worst. It made it nearly impossible to settle her down when she became fussy.
Luckily, Allison had a good trick that many people longed for. Taking a deep breath, she forced Claire to look at her. "I heard a rumor that you accepted that Raymond was your real dad."
Her grip slowly loosened. All the panic draining from her face to replace with a smile. There was her baby. If her powers could calm down a terrified child, how could they considered awful to use on someone? With a relaxed sigh, she rubbed the top of her hair to snap her out of her mini trance. "Hey, why are you up so late?"
Claire blinked a few times. Then looked at her bed and that she was no longer in it. She giggled with no sign of the stress that was there just a few moments ago. "You forgot to tuck me in so I escaped."
"Oh really now? Then this time I'll wrap you up so tightly you'll become a human burrito." Swiftly picking up her, the two spun around in circles while laughing.
This was only a slight hiccup. The reset had just started so it wouldn't be crazy to think that it had some difficulty with creating this universe. With time Claire would see Raymond as her real dad that this moment would all be just a dream. She would forget all about Patrick and it'll be perfect. Soon after even Allison would forget all about her past too.
Once Claire was fully tucked in and started to doze off, Allison slipped out of her room. It's been years since she last did this. Who knew that such a simple act would have a soothing effect on her? It was all going to be okay though. Everything was going to be just fine. At this point she should make this her new motto.
Making her way through the hallway, she walked past the bathroom with the door opened enough for her to see herself in the mirror. Oblivion really had roughened her up. She briefly wondered if the others were okay. They were the ones that actually were used for the reset. They fought against the guardians. She then remembered what she had done. It was because of her that Luther, Cielo, and Klaus had died.
She had killed Harlan. That one she couldn't really blame on anyone but herself.
Cielo's words really were starting to make sense now that she had gotten what she had gotten. When they found Luther's body, she had instantly knew that it was their dad's work. She should have told them the truth. The guilt that filled her seeing him lay there with his blood soaking the white fur carpet should have been enough to stop her crazy plans. She used to think that nothing could hurt her brother. Apocalypses were one thing. Their dad killing him was another. With how she rewrote the universe, would he be alive right now?
If she had told Raymond everything that she had to do to get here, would he understand? Her other family already didn't. But then again, Viktor didn't stop her from pressing the button. Even after she killed Harlan. Even after all the fighting and harsh comments. When she asked him to trust her, in that last second, he did. What did that mean about their relationship when Allison no longer had the anger of losing Claire?
Going into the bathroom, she took a moment to wash her face of all the grim and sweat. She wanted nothing more than to take a long hot shower and a well deserved sleep. But there was one more thing that she had to do for the night.
"How is she?" Raymond first asked when she walked into the kitchen. See, he already had a fatherly instinct. Her little girl was in good hands.
"She's fine. Like I said, it was only a nightmare. She's back to sleep now."
"Good. That's good." He nervously rubbed his hands together. The entire time that it took for Allison to settle Claire down, he couldn't shake the feeling of misplacement he experienced with his daughter's simple question.
He knew that he was Claire's father. He had raised her alongside his beautiful, actress wife that he met in the hair salon as a fellow customer. He was a English professor at the local university. Occasionally he hosted a neighbourhood potluck and book club where everyone got along. It was clear as day what he had known. It was a simple yet perfect life he lived. Too perfect.
"Listen, about what happened back there, I didn't mean to upset Claire."
"I know. It wasn't anyone's fault. Just a little night fears."
"Was it though? The way she looked at me... she didn't recognize me."
"It was dark too with only her night stand lamp on. Maybe we should look into getting her glasses?" He kept shaking his head. His daughter was scared of him. That genuine fear couldn't be simply be because she needed glasses.
"Maybe. But- I- how about we sit for a bit?" He pulled out a chair for her.
Refusing to show any concern, she nodded and took the seat. "You feeling okay?"
He shook his head. "Putting what happened with Claire aside... I can't help but feel like something is not right here. I can't put my finger on what but this, any if this, shouldn't be possible. Does that make sense?"
Should she agree? That would probably soothe some of his nerves being heard. But that would also feed into any possible theories that he truly didn't belong here. Not that he would be able to conjure up the horrible truth that actually took place. On the other hand, denying it will not ease that lost feeling he was currently displaying. It would make Cielo right that Allison couldn't properly tell him the truth.
"I think that everyone can experience that kind of lost feeling every once in a while. But I promise you that you are not crazy."
"Then what am I?" Raymond could remember facts, not memories. He remembered stuff he needed. Not things he went through. It was like the more he was reading a book about himself. That someone was feeding him information.
"You're Raymond Chestnut. An amazing husband and father. A professor praised for his incredible wits and kindness. A well-known, welcoming face of the community. You are all these things and so much more." The problem was that he didn't know what the more was.
"And you would tell me if anything was wrong?"
"You know I would trust you with anything. You have seen me at my darkest points that I fear nothing with you. If you feel lost I will hold your hand through it all as if you were blind. I love you Raymond Chestnut and would let the world burn before I let anything hurt you or Claire. That I promise you two." He looked her up and down. Was this look for a role? When did she cut her hair so short? He couldn't remember the last time she appeared before him. Only that she and him were here now.
"I know you would. Your kind, strong, beautiful heart is why I fell so deeply in love with you in the first place. I love you, Allison Chestnut." Though her words didn't fully calm him down, he trusted Allison to be right. In whatever mess he was in now, she was the one thing that was familiar. He would follow anything she said.
She held onto his hand. Giving it a small squeeze while looking at their wedding bands. She hated to see him so conflicted. Not only was this a new time era for him, it was a new universe for all of them. Of course he would be a bit confused. She had to be here for him. Support him in the best way that she could. The way that only she could do.
"I heard a rumor that everything was fine." This was the first time that she's ever rumored Raymond. What was a normal sight for her, felt unsettling seeing it on her husband. The one that she knew loved her regardless of her rumors. To use her powers on him wasn't a good feeling.
But it was the same with Claire. When they lived in ignorant bliss to all her actions, it was easier. They were calmer this way. What she did, what she was doing, it was for their sakes. They didn't need to know anything. By the morning, this would have passed away like nightmare. For all of them.
"I heard a rumor you didn't question my injuries." Those would heal anyways.
"I heard a rumor you stopped mentioning my family." Why was he even bringing them up? Its only been 2 days since she last saw them. She needed them out of her head more than he did.
The past 4 days have completely taken all of Allison's energy to readjust. In the past because of her actress lifestyle, Patrick was usually the one to take Claire to and from school. As well as be her main caretaker. Raymond, however, had to university professor hours that were either really early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The two of them were equally raising their daughter that she wasn't used to with Patrick.
Meaning that Claire typically went by school bus and they had to juggle who made meals for everyone. Minus when she had dance club after school that meant that they had a tradition of going out to a restaurant. She didn't even know Claire liked dancing that she couldn't tell if this was an interest she developed because of the reset.
Not only this matter but when she had reset the universe, it slipped her mind that she should have given herself a secure role to play. A leading role in a television series that developed a long lasting fan base would have been nice. These past few days between juggling the sudden changes to her life and going for multiple auditions with only a portfolio was draining.
Honestly with Raymond's salary, it would have been easy to become a stay at home mom if they just moved states. Or just have her settle for a more average job. She was still poly-lingual, highly trained physically and mentally and was overall very charismatic. If she wanted to, even without her powers, it wouldn't be impossible to get a job. There was a part of Allison that wondered why she liked acting in the first place. Putting up an act in her own household should have been more than enough.
Today she had an in person audition and she was still packing everything into Claire's bag. Mentally checking that she had made sure that everything was inside this time. Unlike the past few times. Her daughter taking her time eating her breakfast. "Sweetie, I don't mean to rush you but you need to leave now or you'll miss the bus."
She pushed her food side to side with her fork. "I don't want to go to school today."
"What? Why not?"
"I'm really tired. My body feels heavy. I want to sleep more." Allison leaned down to check Claire's temperature. No signs of fever, redness, coughing, she only looked tired. Which was strange given that she had went to sleep at the set bedtime.
"You're fine just still waking up. You can have a nap after school if you still feel tired then." She set the book bag by her feet.
"But Momma, I'm serious. I don't feel good."
"I heard a rumor you wanted to go to school." Raymond stopped drinking his coffee. Was it a such a second nature to use her powers that she didn't glance back at her target when she used them? She looked so relived at being able to use them too.
He watched as Claire was filled with energy. The flip in her attitude was ominous. To anyone else it would have looked so natural. A kid that smiled ear to ear was a good thing. Seeing how it came to be, knowing that it was forced rather than her actual emotions, he knew that this was wrong.
"You use your powers on Claire?" He asked the moment she closed the door behind her skips.
"Of course. Doesn't it make things so much easier?"
"W-well yes but she's still a kid. Isn't this restricting her a lot? Do you know if there are any long term effects of using your powers on her? Or if they'll wear off suddenly?" She thought of Viktor.
"I'm only using them for small things that she will benefit from. If she didn't go to school when I tell her then what will become of her future? Besides, you didn't have these concerns when I used them to get you all those fancy suits. That should be considered more criminal than me being a good parent."
He paused for a moment. "What are you talking about? When did you use your powers to get me suits?"
In 1963. The time era that he was from that she erased to have him not question the time travelling. Whether or not he could remember it with just her word, she couldn't tell. But it was the simple fact that she had said something that he couldn't remember that was enough for him to tell that something was off.
"There- there was just that one time that I used my powers to- come on you remember that one time that your suit was going to be late before one of my red carpets? I just used my powers to get them to expedite it a little. O-only by a day. Did I not tell you? I just thought- maybe I forgot to tell you that." He knew somewhere inside him that this never happened. Not even a single red carpet event came to mind. He knew nothing of her career. Besides that she was in movies he doesn't remember watching. Was were even the titles?
"Did you ever use it on me? Have you ever rumored me?"
Yes. Multiple times. "No, never. I would never betray your trust like that."
"It's not that I think you would betray my trust. It's just- never mind. You're right. How could I even think that way? I must have just forgotten." There was doubt in his eyes. He didn't believe in her. She was a well spoken woman. She said suits. Plural. This was a more than one time thing. How could she even prove herself when she was indeed lying? For a fact, he knew that arguing with her wouldn't work. "I'm heading to work now. Want me to pick up anything at the store later?"
"No thank you."
He quickly placed a kiss on her on the head before going to grab his work bag. He looked into the mirror to fix up his appearance as he did every morning for work. Only taking a glance back at Allison appearing in the reflection behind him.
"I heard a rumor you forgot I had powers."
His reflection showed the usual paled irises. Quickly fading as fast as they appeared. He smiled seeing his lovely wife watching him get ready. "How do I look?"
She readjusted his tie a bit tighter. It had been so long since she wore a tie. Though with how many times she did it for her own uniform, it was burned into her memory. "Perfect. As usual."
"I heard a rumor you loved to spend time with me and father." She did everything for them all to be together. Not to have one of them run off with her friends that she didn't know.
"I heard a rumor you cleaned up yourself without being told to." This kind of direction should have already been known rather than forced upon. Herself at this age was more disciplined than this.
Claire kept her head down as her parents paced around the table. Sensing that his wife was more upset than he was, Raymond placed a hand on Claire's shoulder to relax her. "Why don't you tell us everything from the start? We only want to hear your side of the story to make sure we understand everything."
"I... I didn't mean to hurt them... we got into a fight and- and they kept saying stuff that was making me mad... I promise it was just a small push! I didn't think they would hit their head..." she shrunk herself more hearing her mom loudly sigh. Both of her parents were dragged away from work to handle the matter. Luckily the other parents understood that it was a kids fight. Also taking down their contact information just in case when they got kid checked out.
It all worked out on everyone's end. Except for Allison. This was not how she raised her daughter. To resort to violence was an extreme measure. Since this reset started, she had been becoming more and more of an issue. She couldn't be watching and rumoring her 24/7 to be well-behaved. Her acts of rebellion were getting too much.
"We understand. We just need to find a healthy outlet for when you feel this way again. Tomorrow we'll apologize together. Okay?" She nodded, understanding the severity of the situation.
"Healthy outlet? This is more than that Ray. That kid hit their head. Do you realize what that could have done? What were thinking young lady? You could have seriously hurt the kid!"
Claire couldn't say anything. She truly meant it when she said that it wasn't on purpose. It was a stir in the moment. Looking back, she didn't even remember what had caused the argument in the first place. It all happened so fast. All she knew was that she was angry like nothing she remembers experiencing before. She couldn't handle the strong emotion. Then the kid was on the ground holding their head.
"I'm sorry..."
"Allison that's a bit harsh isn't it?" Raymond whispered to her ear. She was starting to really hate that word. That she was considered to be harsh when all she was doing was what's necessary.
Then there was the problem with her husband. He was supposed to be the one to take charge but at every chance she had to be the one to tell him what to do. Claire was always off doing who knows what. While Raymond was like a lost adult, thinking that the world was kind and helpful. He should have known better than that. Peaceful ways don't always work. Sometimes force had to be taken and his pacifistic ways did not work.
"You can't keep doting on her like this. You have to be stricter. You're supposed to be on my side."
"I'm not taking sides. We're a team together. I just think that Claire has learned her lesson already. She's still young too. Mistakes happen. We should be glad that everyone is okay and that it doesn't happen again."
"And what would you know about raising a child?" Claire shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Well I may have not birthed her but I'm still a father." Because of Allison's handiwork! If it wasn't for her then he wouldn't even be here. He should be thanking her for making him a father as he always wanted. She gave him a family and a time where he was hardly segregated by his skin colour. If anyone should be beside her, no matter the decision, it had to be Raymond.
"But you're not her father!" Immediately she covered her mouth. She could see the shock change to realization. Almost like her rumors were unravelling in his mind.
He took a step back. An arm raising to put a barrier between them and Allison. "W-what-"
"I heard a rumor you two forgot what I just said!"
She started to hyperventilating. All her rumors were pilling up. It was becoming too much. This whole week, nothing went as she planned. She had been using her powers left and right and it was only making things worse.
"Allison that's a bit harsh, isn't it?" He repeated from his last memory. He reached out to her once again. A small jut of the head to signal her that he would want to talk about this more in private later. Both signals that she wanted to ignore. Of course it had to be that word again.
"Yes! I get it! I'm a harsh person! You want to say that it was uncalled for as well?! Go ahead! I've already seen how this will turn out! But it won't result in anything but me rumoring you two again! Is that what you want to hear Cielo?!" She shouted to the sky as if the woman was listening. She didn't know how this was possible but it was always according to her script. No matter how she tried to escape her fate, everything mocked her.
What rumor could she say this time to fix everything? How long would it last? Why couldn't they stop questioning her? Why couldn't they just listen to her?!
"Everything okay momma?" Claire tried to stand up from her seat when Raymond held onto her hand. Slightly pulling her away from her mother.
"Allison? Baby?"
"STOP!" She covered her ears to block them out.
Allison couldn't handle it anymore. They were looking at her with concern and fear. Why were they looking at her that way? She lied for their sakes. It was all so that they could be one big happy family. They should be showering her with praise and just behave!
Raising her head, she gasped at their frozen selves. She had forgotten all about Harlan's boost in powers. Without saying her magic words, her powers had activated with her rise of emotions. The two people she loved the most had listened to her command as they have done this whole week. They had stopped.
"R-ray?" She carefully brushed her hand on his cheek, getting no reaction.
"Claire? Sweetie? My sweet daughter?" Same as her husband, there was nothing to show that she was listening. Or even capable of listening in this state.
"No no no no... I didn't mean to- you have to believe me- I was just- I heard a rumor that you both moved!"
Nothing.
"I heard a rumor that you both were u-unfrozen!"
She fell to the floor. Fully crying that she couldn't think of what to say. All her rumors looping in her mind that she couldn't think straight. This is what she wished for. This is the tragedy that came with getting exactly what she wanted. A complete and utter control over those she loved without backtalk.
"I- I heard a rumor- that- a rumor- please please return to normal..."
Her whispers went deaf to their still bodies.
There was nothing that she could do. Without them, she was alone in this world. Even if she tried to explain this to people, they wouldn't be able to help. They wouldn't understand. She would finally be treated like a freak of nature that she was born as. There was only a small amount of people that could possibly help.
She had to make a choice in order to save Raymond and Claire. Either risk it with her dad again. The one she technically betrayed and murdered last minute. Or try to reconcile with her siblings that she did betray and assisted in their murders. If she was either one of them, she wouldn't help herself. But maybe, just maybe, they would do it for the two innocent people she trapped into this. More than anything, she didn't care if her siblings completely ripped her apart. All Allison wanted right now was to help Raymond and Claire.