Dysfunctional ~ F.Hargreeves

44} The World's Biggest Ball Of Twine

Jenna sat in between Five and Klaus in the car as Klaus drove through the countryside. As soon as she'd gotten in the car, she claimed the radio like normal and played Home as she leaned her head on Five's shoulder.
"You know," He wrapped his arm around Jenna, "This actually isn't so terrible."
"See?" Klaus smiled, "Told you."
"Come to think of it, my whole life I've been under the gun. Missions for Dad, working for the Commission, having my son die, trying to survive the apocalypse with my pregnant wife. I was always looking around every corner, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's nice to just breathe."
"Agreed," Jenna snuggled into his side, "I've been dealing with being experimented on, saving my home town from interdimensional beings, trying to survive the Upside Down, dealing with a super strong being living in my head, living through the apocalypse while pregnant, and getting through the Commission days while losing my son. I finally feel relaxed for once."
This is nice.

"Good for you two, man," Klaus patted Jenna on the shoulder, "Retirement looks good on you guys."
"Get the maps, Five," Jenna pointed to his feet.
"Oh, right," He reached down, "So, I've circled all the roadside attractions along the way."
"Oh, I'm not sure we're gonna have time for all that..." Klaus groaned.
"We have the Brownsville Big Nickel," Five continued, "Oh, Ricky's Bakery has award-winning pies."
"Yum," Jenna licked her lips.
"Well, if you just let me explain..." Klaus tried to stop him.
"Or there's this Cow Henge," Five went on, "That's it- don't-"
"Listen to me," Klaus snapped, "Just shut up for two seconds, okay? Just two seconds? All right?"
"We're all ears," Jenna gave him a fake smile that Five copied.

"We are going to Pennsylvania to find my birth mother. Yay!"
"Excuse me?" Five glared at him.
"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. I just needed somebody to come with me for emotional support."
"Oh, emotional support, like a Schnauzer?"
"Yeah, and I really wanted Jenna to come but I knew she wouldn't without you and I knew you wouldn't come if I told you the truth, so what else was I supposed to do?"
"You're goddamn right I wouldn't have come, Klaus. And I wouldn't have let Jenna come either. You know why? Because we're supposed to be retired!"
"I know!"
"This was supposed to be a carefree road trip."
"Well it still can be, babe."

"Ball of Twine," Jenna started poking Five to look at the sign.
"Ball of Twine?" His eyes lit up, "Klaus, turn!"
"It's the Ball of Twine!" Jenna yelled at Klaus and yoinked the wheel to turn, "This is one of the best ones, I'm fucking going!"
"Turn you idiot!" Five smacked Klaus' arm.
"Jenna, we're gonna die! Whoo!" Klaus screamed as they almost hit another car head-on.
"I always drive like I'm gonna die, I don't care!" She yelled in his face, "Let's go!"
"You know what?" Five had had enough, "No twine, no birth mother!"
"Tell him, Pocket Watch!" Jenna leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Jenna finally let go of the steering wheel once they were on the correct road. Jenna and Five sat glaring at Klaus as he drove scared out of his mind. Without too long of a drive further down the road, they made it to the Ball of Twine. Jenna pushed Five out of the car and dragged him over to it. They stood there, staring.
"Yeah, you know," Klaus put his sunglasses on, "I don't know why, but I thought it'd be a lot bigger."
"Seems pretty big to me," Five shrugged.
"That's what she said," Jenna whispered in his ear and smirked.
"More like what you said," he smirked right back, causing her face to fall, "Here's the real question, Klaus. How do you know your birth mother is in Pennsylvania?"

"Well," he started to explain, "because I was on the ass end of a two-week bender, and I can't tell you the exact date because we were boofing Xanax and the whole business, but Amy Winehouse was at the top of the charts. So that puts us somewhere, where? In the mid to late aughts? I helped myself into Dad's office, looking for the key to his safe 'cause he had Pogo lock up all the stealables. But instead, I found the treasure trove of our family history told in expired check stubs. I was too messed up to, uh, do anything about it, too scared to look her up. But always in the back of my mind, I wondered why she sold me off for three grand. I mean, come on, she couldn't have held out for five? Six?"
"I'm sorry, Klaus," Jenna gave him a sad smile.
"You see anything about my mother?" Five asked him.
"No, sorry," He replied.
"Why now?"
"Well, duh. Dad disowns us. Grace isn't Grace. Ben's... gone. Now just felt like a good a time as any to find out who I could've been if I didn't grow up in this stupid family."