a mannequin and a boy • the umbrella academy ON HOLD

volume two, issue 16

Vanya managed to finally calm down Harlan in an indescribable display of power, and confusion replaced the small boy's scared expression. 

Vanya looked back at her siblings with a smile, and the tension in the room was finally lifted as they all shared the same comfort and relief. Even Five had a smile on his face, even if he knew he still had to find a way to get home.

Five and Diego walked out to meet Herb and Dot where the Handler and Lila once stood just a little while ago. There was peace in the air as the sun peeked through the clouds, shining hope down on the family. 

"Now that the Handler's gone, what happens at Commission?" Five asked, the cut on his forehead stinging a bit from the cold but he ignored it.

"We need to elect a new board of directors but until then, I've been voted in as acting chairperson," Herb excitedly mentioned, a big grin on his face. Five and Diego shared in his excitement, smiling back at the man. He really did deserve this, after all his hard work. 

"Herb, we need a favor."

"Oh, sure, anything."

"A briefcase. Get back home, where we belong." Herb nodded, turning around, gesturing to the many briefcases around them that formerly belonged to the unconscious agents. 

"Take your pick," Herb said.

Later that day, when night had fallen again and everyone said their goodbyes to this timeline, they met at Sissy's old home, ready with a briefcase and everything. 

"Everyone ready?" Five asked, fastening his grip on the case.

"Let's do it, yeah," Luther replied, sounding a little unsure. 

"Wait!" Klaus exclaimed. He looked very nervous, but he grabbed a hat from the porch, wearing it pridefully. Everyone rolled their eyes, even Dolores, who stood beside Five.

"Hey, Five... I just wanted to say, before we left... thank you," Dolores told him quietly as Diego scolded Klaus. The rest of the siblings stepped away for a moment, giving the two their privacy. 

"You're making this sound like a goodbye. It's just time travel... which, yeah, I've messed up in the past, but this is the Commission's. It's safe," Five assured, looking into her eyes with a deep sense of trust. 

"No, yeah, of course, I know. I'm not... saying it like that," Dolores replied, averting her eyes nervously to her feet. Five could tell she was nervous, of course, and maybe that was his fault, but he had too much hope to let her be worried now. 

He gently placed a hand under her chin, tilting it back up to look at him. He held her gaze with intense eyes, eyes full of admiration, trust, and love. The two shared a smile, enjoying each's other presence. 

"Dolores, this is not goodbye. We'll finally be together. We will see each other again," he told her, tracing her cheek. She melted in his embrace, nodding slowly. 

"I'm looking forward to it." They stayed like that for a few moments, slowly leaning in, but were interrupted by Klaus clearing his throat.

"Yeah, I know, I know, I interrupted a touching moment! But the window of opportunity is closing, Five," he mentioned, his hand adjusting his hat. Five groaned, his hand going down and grabbing Dolores's as the two joined the group again.

"Okay. Everyone ready? Good, I know you are," Five told them, clasping Diego's hand as they all stood close in a huddle. A blue light came over them as they were suddenly hurled back to their time period of 2019, finally back home. 

Everyone except Five held their head or their stomach, suddenly sick from the jump. "What... what day is it?" Someone asked. 

Five grabbed a newspaper, reading it quickly. "April 2, 2019. Day after the apocalypse." 

"Wait, so we stopped it!" 

"That's incredible!" Everyone grinned, laughing, but Five glanced behind him, his smile fading. 

"Dolores? Dolores??" He frantically called, his eyes wide. He slowly, cautiously, more like it, entered the foyer, his siblings ignoring his evident panic. 

The house looked relatively normal, except for one, very apparent detail. A large portrait of Ben, older than he was when he died, hung on the wall. 

"Why is there a painting of Ben over the mantelpiece?" Diego asked, pointing it out. Five's jaw ticked, his eyes going from the portrait to the man in the armchair that suddenly stood up from his seat. 

'This is not goodbye' he told her. Five promised Dolores that they would see each other again, that they would be together, but she was gone, and Reginald was here. A wave of anger overcame him, but he stayed quiet, watching his father carefully. 

"I knew you'd show up eventually," Reginald finally said, his hair purely white now. 

"You're alive."

"Why shouldn't I be?" Reginald asked, genuinely confused. 

"Yeah... yeah you're right. I'm just glad that we're home and... together again," Luther covered, though he was obviously bluffing.

"'Home'? This isn't your home."

"What are you talking about? This is the Umbrella Academy," Allison cut in. 

"Wrong again. This is the Sparrow Academy," Reginald corrected, standing tall and with immense pride. Five's shoulders tensed as he heard footsteps, seven pairs of them, behind them.

Five silhouettes stood at the top of the stairs, but that wasnt the biggest surprise. 

Ben came out first, a long scar on his face and his hair messily long, but he was definitely alive. 

'We will see each other again', Five had said to Dolores. But he didn't mean in this way. 

Dolores came out after Ben, a few years older, and not the same Dolores Five was just holding in his arms. She had a hardened expression, obviously more physically mature, and was even a little taller. 

But the worst part? She looked straight at Five with a glare. Not an ounce of love in her narrowed eyes. 

"Dad, who are these people?" She asked, standing tall with her brother, and the rest of the Sparrow Academy. 

author's note 

.... surprise! I had this plot twist planned for aaaages and im so glad I could finally write it. I hope y'all are as shocked as I hoped people would be! 

that's a wrap on volume two!! stick around for volume three. it'll be great, but it'll have to wait until season three comes out. 

older Dolores is portrayed by Kim Lip, who we saw a gif of in the volume two teaser, loll 

question of the chapter: are you excited for season three?

my answer: uh, of course!! 

thanks for reading!