Acorns and Butterflies

Part 1

That day began like any other day. It was just... it was just a day. Thinking back on it, years later, the only thing Ben could be certain of was this:

It was March.

He couldn't even remember if it was the beginning of March or the end. Or maybe it was smack dab in the middle.

But anyway, it was March.

It had been over three years since Five had disappeared.

But one day, in March, he was just... he was back.

Ben walked into the dinning room and Five was just sitting at the table, alone with Dad.

Five wasn't wearing the Umbrella Academy uniform, but he looked EXACTLY the same as he had the day he disappeared!

He's still thirteen years old, Ben realized.

Five had really done it! He'd time traveled over three years into the future and now he was sitting at the dinning room table as if he'd never left.

And he was rolling his eyes while Dad lectured him about responsibility and patience.

Ben hovered in the doorway, staring at them.

Waiting for Five to say something. Or to look up. Or just... anything.

But Five was just sitting there, looking bored, and Dad was carrying on with his whole, "I'm disappointed in you" speech.

It wasn't until Diego showed up that things got moving.

"What the fuck!" Diego shouted.

Five finally looked up and saw Ben and Diego in the doorway to the dining room.

Instead of looking happy to see them Five frowned and said, "Hey."

"Fuck you!" Diego said.

"Wait," Ben said. "Maybe we should-"

"Fuck you too," Five said, calmly. "I see you got taller. Congrats."

"F-fuck you!" Diego screamed. "Y-you, you, you-"

"That's enough," Dad said. "Seat yourself, Number Two. Lunch will begin momentarily."

Diego sat down, while glaring at Five.

"I missed you," Ben said, quickly, because he knew he wouldn't be able to get a word in once everyone else showed up. "I missed you, Five."

Five finally made eye contact with him. He finally smiled!

"I missed you too," Five said.

"Fuck you," Diego said. "What was there to miss? You skipped time!"

Shrugging, Five said, "You're not wrong."

"That's okay," Ben said. "Um, I still appreciate the sentiment?"

Five chuckled and said, "Thanks."

"Sit down, Number Six," Dad barked.

Ben quickly did.

Then Allison and Luther showed up.

Allison gasped, "Five! You're back!"

"Yup," Five said. "Miss me?"

"Fuck off!" Diego said.

"Control yourself, Number Two," Dad said. "Or I will ban you from lunch."

"Of course I missed you!" Allison said. "We all did. Right guys?"

"Um, yeah," Luther said.

"I didn't miss him at all!" Diego said.