Chapter Text
The last thing Five remembers is being surrounded by his family as they gave up on saving the world. A crude and sad ending, an ending nonetheless. A period on a run-on sentence. The final chapter to a story that should’ve ended long ago. A final symphony.
If Five was in the mood he would call his current predicament, the epilogue. The Happy Ending.
After decades of fighting to survive, cut Five some slack when he tries to find the answeres before the second shoe drops. Before the rug is ripped under him and all that’s left is the dirt shoved under it.
There’s nothing wrong, that’s the worst part. Five Hargreeves who had never been looking for happy, was forced into the perfect life.
In this timeline, he was one of four siblings, quadruplets. With parents who owned a store that was doing well, and he himself had good grades and an amazing relationship with his siblings.
It was a little ironic, here Five was, part of a family were there wasn’t even five siblings.
He wasn’t the fifth anymore, he wasn’t a number anymore. He was Nicky Harper, son of Tom and Anne Harper, brother to Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn Harper.
The transition from ‘Nicky Harper’ to ‘Number Five’ was slow. One day, Nicky felt as if he, wasn’t in the right place. As if there was more to him, this feeling only grew. Until one day it blossomed.
It was an accident. Dicky was messing around, when he suddenly slipped on a toy car left on the stairs. Nicky had been across the room, watching from from the door to the kitchen, before he suddenly was in position to catch Dicky.
No one mentioned how there was no possible way Nicky could have done that, too relieved that Dicky was safe. From there it got worse.
Nicky Harper slowly became more and more Five Hargreeves. It did not go unnoticed.
On a random, normal day. Nicky Harper woke up first in that family of his. Showering and brushing his teeth in the early hours of morning, before walking down and making breakfast for the family.
It was a Saturday, Nicky knew his siblings would prefer to sleep in. Before long, Nicky was making pancakes and bacon. With a side of eggs.
A pot of coffee brewing and a table set, Nicky focused in on making breakfast. Even as the rest of his family filtered in. Slightly surprised at the fact Nicky was up and awake so early.
Dicky was the last to arrive to the calm breakfast table. His hair haven taken a while to blow dry.
“Whoa! Thanks for making breakfast Nicky.” Dicky said, as he sat down at the table where Nicky was plating everyone’s food. A chorus of thank you’s sounded out from the others around the table.
Three kids got orange juice, Anne and Tom had coffe in their mugs, and so did Nicky. Anne and Tom exchanged confused looks but decided not to comment at the fact that Nicky, who wasn’t a person that liked coffee in general, was drinking it black.
Dicky and Dawn started to dig into their breakfast, Ricky took note of the fact that Nicky was drinking coffee. No verbal comments were made but Five did notice Ricky’s glances to his drink of choice.
Five didn’t think there was anything wrong about him drinking coffee, nothing he could think of atleast. Breakfast was a surprisingly quiet affair, Anne and Tom were thankful for it though.
Having a kid was a noisy thing, having four all at the same age was louder than anything. As breakfast finished, Ricky offered to do the dishes. Anne and Tom gushed over their helpful children, and Dawn and Dicky exchanged glances before offering to clean something else.
This only caused Anne and Tom to gush more before making a quick exit. Dicky wiped down the table after Ricky took all of the dishes. Five, who had been nursing his cup of coffee, placed the mug on the counter next to the sink. Dawn swept the floors.
A nice moment shared between siblings. Something ached in Five’s core at that thought. Nicky leaned against the counter as his siblings cleaned.
“So… Coffee huh?” Ricky asked over the sound of the water running and the other two arguing about who was cleaning better.
“Yeah? What about it?” Nicky asked. One eyebrow lifting over the other.
“You drank it this morning, I didn’t… know you liked coffeee, especially one without any sugar or cream.” Ricky said.
“Oh. I-“ Nicky started, before pausing and a contemplating look made its way onto his face. “I wanted to try something… new.” Five finished.
“Oh, was it good?” Ricky asked.
“Not really, it seems to be more of an acquired taste.” Nicky said. Neither mentioned how Nicky finished the drink with no complaint, without adding sugar or anything.
Nicky walks over to the other side of Rocky, grabs a rag and starts drying the dishes, putting each of them away as he does. This allows the washing of dishes to pass by faster.
It’s peaceful, a monotonous task with the added noise of his beloved siblings arguing over something silly.
Nothing bad has happened, nothing bad will happen. Five is able to relax, and Nicky able to smile. The day continues. With meaningless arguments over TV, and homework, and who the dog loves most. Who should take said dog out.
Through it all, Five smiles at the simpleness of it all. The way their homework is child’s play. The way they can watch funny TV shows and simply relax.
Nicky wants to bake, so he does. And Five enjoys the calming task of measuring and mixing. When Nicky calls his family to enjoy the sweet treat of blueberry muffins there’s a joyous feeling in the air.
Lunch, dinner, it goes by so quickly. So happily. Nicky kicks his feet under his seat. Slouches the slightest bit.
It’s when Nickh starts getting ready for bed that Five pulls out his phone. Daring to make those google searches.
Nothing shows up for Luther Hargreeves. Nothing related to Five’s Luther atleast. It’s the same for Diego, Klaus, Ben, and Viktor. However he does learn Allison is a small time actress, with a daughter named Claire. Same age as she was when they…
Looking through their social media, it turns out Claire goes to Nicky’s school. They’ve been so close. Though Five wont be meeting her as an uncle this time around, there’s a chance he can meet her still.
Those thoughts can be thought later though, because Nicky and rest of his siblings are tired and they have a bed time to adhere to.
A quiet slumber overtakes him, and all is well.