Fixes to the Timeline

Chapter 7

The Hargreeves have never been particularly good at pleasantries, so it was really thanks to Vanya that the conversation didn't immediately fizzle out once they all got seated and started digging in.

"So," she said, looking like she'd thought a long time about what she was going to say. Klaus couldn't help but wonder how many questions she'd prepared ahead of time. "How did you two meet?"

"Oh, you know," Dave said with that goofy grin of his that Klaus loved so much. "I like to think it was fate, or something. I mean, out of all of space and time, he got dropped literally right in front of me."

It was a ridiculously sweet sentiment and Klaus had to bite his tongue to stop himself from making a joke about them both being half naked at the time. Not that either of them had really had time to think about anything like that. While Klaus' inclination was always to ruin the moment, especially around his siblings, he knew this couldn't be easy for Dave, talking frankly about their relationship when he'd had to keep that part of himself quiet for so long. He didn't want to make it any harder for him and instead just took his hand under the table, squeezing it gently. He did roll his eyes a little though to keep up appearances.

"That's sweet," Vanya said, smiling at them.

"And what is it that you do?" Luther asked. Apparently he also had a list of questions.

"I mean, I got drafted," Dave said a bit evasively. "Fought in a war, that sort of thing."

"Right, Vietnam," Luther said uncertainly. It was obvious he'd been asking for a bit more than that but didn't exactly know how to prompt him along. Unfortunately Diego was much more blunt.

"And before that?" he said.

"Oh, you know, odd jobs," Dave said. "I worked at a few restaurants, a couple bars, construction yards. Pretty much wherever I could find."

He and Klaus both knew they were trying to figure out if he was going to be dead weight like Klaus, or if he was actually going to make himself useful. Their intentions were good, Klaus supposed, and understandable given the kinds of people he used to associate with. But it still wasn't fair, he was trying so hard to be different now. And Dave deserved a chance to prove how amazing he was without the interrogation.

"And now?" Diego continued to push. "What are your plans here?"

"Come on, Diego," Klaus groaned. "What does it even matter? Give him time to settle in at least. Time travel's a bitch."

"I know," Diego said pointedly because of course they'd all done it by now.

"Fifty years is a big change," Vanya said, voice still soft but at least they were listening now. "It isn't fair to expect him to know what he's supposed to do immediately. And he just came back from fighting in a war."

"Exactly," Klaus exclaimed, grateful to her for stepping in.

"Man, you guys are such buzzkills," Ben groaned.

"You aren't even drinking," Luther pointed out.

"I'm gonna need to if you guys don't stop bumming me out. Come on, we're supposed to be celebrating here. Unless, of course, you want to ruin the meal Mom worked so hard making for us."

That shut Diego up at least.

Klaus grinned. They were all still a little weird about talking back to Ben. But Ben had no qualms about taking full advantage of that. Maybe Klaus had been a bad influence on him all these years. At least it meant tonight might actually go okay, especially with Ben and Vanya looking out for them.

-

From what Dave knew of Vanya, she had often been separated from the family, made to feel like she wasn't one of them. So when he saw her sitting slightly apart from the rest after dinner, he decided to join her. Besides, the conversation was rapidly descending into roughhousing, and Dave's injury wouldn't let him join in, so he dropped down into the seat next to her.