chapter fifty-three: the final party

After Viktor got up from their table Nova dragged Five over to sit with Diego, Lila, and Klaus at their table. The boy had complained but Nova insisted they spend some of the little time they had left with their family. As soon as the two sat down Sir Reginald Hargreeves was lightly tapping his butter knife against his champagne glass.

"I know it is customary, for the father of the bride, to make a toast..." Hargreeves began once he had everyone's full attention. Well, at least part of most of their attention.

"What is he doing?" Nova asked the table quietly.

"I think he's giving a toast," Lila shrugged in her sarcastic manner.

"Well, no shit Sherlock," Nova muttered as she rolled her eyes. When she turned her attention back to the floor Hargreeves was now talking about Sloane.

"...Ever since you were a little girl. I've always known you were exceptionally bright. And though I can't say I know Luther all that well, from the few moments we have shared, it seems you found yourself an adequate partner..." Hargreaves continued his speech.

"He just called Luther adequate," Five snickered before he took another drink from his glass of wine.

"Keep laughing, Portal Boy. How about we get married and see how Reginald really feels about you," Nova joked with a smirk on her face. Five only rolled his eyes at his girlfriend. Clearly, he was not amused by her antics.

"You know what, it's probably the nicest thing Dad's ever said to him," Diego replied. "Nicer, than what he said to you back in sixty-three."

"Ooh, what did he say to her in sixty-three?" Lila asked eagerly for the drama.

"None of your business, Lila," Nova snapped under her breath before turning her attention back to Diego and saying, "If my memory serves me right, Hargreeves only said those things to me because I was defending you."

"I mean you did say that he radiated pure little dick energy," Five pointed out and Nova glared at her boyfriend quickly.

"No way you really said that!" Lila cackled as she wiped a tear from her eye, "That's bloody brilliant. I'm going to use that from now on."

"Guys, shhh, Dad's still giving his speech," Klaus shushed the group.

"Jesus Christ, why is he still talking?" Nova muttered under her breath. Although her comment wasn't aimed at anyone in particular.

"...I acknowledge that, as a father, I was not without my faults. I hope these shortcomings will be seen as only a rough patch on an otherwise verdant lawn..." Hargreeves continued with his speech, "...Even those whom I raised in a revenant version of myself. I hope that tonight we can create a few special memories in whatever precious little time we have left. I would now like to recite a poem that has been on my mind recently..."

"He's reciting poetry now?" Diego scoffed as he gave the group one of his signature get-a-load-of-this-guy looks. As Hargreeves began to recite his poem the group couldn't help but notice Allison making a swift exit.

"The sun rises over a lily's field.

A mother veiled, her lips concealed.

The mourners come in droves of black

to bury what their hearts unpack.

With shallow breath and time eclipsed,

I pray you miss death's gentle kiss,"

Hargreeves finished reciting. Once he was done he raised his glass in a toast. Hesitantly the others in the room did the same. That is until Klaus rose to his feet and dramatically began to applaud.

"Beautiful! Bravo, Dad! Bravo!" Klaus encouraged.

"But it makes no sense," Ben protested loudly to the room and Manuela could only sigh as she patted her brother's shoulder.

"I didn't think the old man had it in him," Five mumbled quietly in Nova's ear.

"Had what in him? That poem seemed pretty ominous to me," Nova responded and Five only shrugged in response.

"All right! All right! Time to turn those frowns upside down! This one is for all the party people in the place!" Chet cheered into the microphone as he pressed some buttons on the sound system. Upbeat dance music filled the air.

"Oh my god, I love this song!" Nova exclaimed when the funky beats from The B-52's song Love Shack filled the ballroom.

The girl stood so quickly out of her seat that she nearly knocked her chair over. Without even warning her boyfriend she yanked him onto the dance floor. A laugh escaped his lips as he stumbled after her. Her positive energy was so infectious he didn't even have time to think about what his family would say if they saw him like this. If they saw him in a way that only Nova ever got to see because she was the only one who could make him act like this.

Not long after others joined them. First, it was Diego and Lila, followed closely by Sloane and Luther. Klaus had dragged Manuela and Viktor onto the dance floor once again after encountering them at the bar. They all danced wildly like nobody was watching. They danced like there was no tomorrow. Honestly, there might not be.

"Where are you going, darling?" Five asked breathlessly when the song they were dancing to began to fade and Nova moved away from the dance floor.

"It doesn't feel right that Ben is just sitting there," Nova pointed out as she nodded toward the table where Ben was sulking alone. "I'm going to see if he wants to join everyone."

"Alright, just come back quickly. I want to spend every second I can with you before this whole universe goes to shit," Five whispered before he place a tender kiss on Nova's lips. She couldn't help but grin as her arms wrapped around his neck and she returned his kiss with just as much passion.

"Of course, mi amor, I will be back before you know it," Nova whispered after she pulled away from her boyfriend's comforting hold. Before she walked away Nova pressed one more short and soft kiss on Five's lips.

"Your outfit is nice," Ben commented when Nova sat down next to him. "Although, it reminds me of the carpet you would find in a nursing home."

"Thank you?" Nova said in a questioning tone. She wasn't entirely sure if that was a compliment or not. Eventually, she decided it was probably the closest thing to a compliment this version of Ben could muster. "Ben, why don't you join everyone? I promise it is more fun out there than it is at this table all alone with your...shrimp?"

"The shrimp are the only ones who want me around. I don't understand why you got invited to the bachelor party and I didn't," Ben mumbled. "I can be fun."

"Then show them," Nova shrugged and Ben looked up at her as he squinted his eyes. Through his drunken state, he was beginning to confuse her with Manuela. Their tones and facial expressions were the same. "Forget about everything that's already happened. Focus on the short time we have left. Life is literally too short to be sulking around and feeling sorry for yourself."

"I don't know how to show them," Ben whispered in a small voice.

"Well, first things first. We need more liquid courage," Nova said as she dragged Ben to the bar. She pushed him into one of the stools as she went behind the counter. "Chug this."

"What is this?" Ben asked when Nova slid a green bottle across the counter.

"You're kidding me right?" Nova asked as she opened her own bottle with a bottle opener. When Ben gave her a blank look Nova rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you're Korean and you've never had soju."

"But there's a peach on the bottle," Ben said slowly.

"That's because it's peach-flavored soju," Nova explained. "Just drink."

"Oh shit, that's good," Ben said surprised after he took a hesitant sip. Nova sent him a thumbs up as she tilted her bottle back and continued to chug her own drink. After his initial shock wore off Ben quickly caught up to her by finishing his own. "So, what do we do now?"

"Now, you just shut up and have a good time," Nova grinned as she came back around the bar and pulled him onto the dance floor.

"But I can't dance," Ben protested.

"Bullshit, did Hargreeves not make you Sparrows take ballroom dance classes, or was that just us Umbrellas?" Nova asked with a light chuckle.

"But that's different," Ben argued.

"Who cares? Dance like there's no tomorrow. Because there might not be!" Nova exclaimed.

"OMG! How did you convince him to come out here?" Manuela asked when she noticed her brother awkwardly shuffling from side to side.

"Lots of alcohol," Nova laughed as she patted Manuela's shoulder. "It looks like my boyfriend is trying to get my attention so I must leave you. But, Manu, try and get your brother to loosen up. This is a party for Pete's sake!"

Sometime later Nova had gotten tired. She was sitting at one of the empty tables when Viktor came and sat next to her. He had also brought them fresh beers. Manuela, Ben, and Klaus had congregated at the bar while Diego and Lila sat cuddled up together near the foot of the stage. Recently, they switched from upbeat dancing music to slower songs. Now, Sloane and Luther were the only ones left on the dance floor.

"Did you know he could sing?" Viktor asked the girl as they listened to Five who was on stage singing along to Come In Mr.Lonely by Jerry Dyke.

"No clue," Nova responded as she took a drink from the bottle in front of her. "Must've been something he picked up during his time in the apocalypse."

"He's seriously wasted," Viktor chuckled softly.

"Yeah, but if he wasn't we wouldn't know about his hidden talent," Nova sighed.

The girl really wanted to be present for this conversation with Viktor but honestly, she was enraptured by Five's voice. She wished that she had known about this hidden talent of his before now. If Nova had known sooner she would have made Five sing to her every night.

"You're seriously whipped," Viktor chuckled once again as he nudged the girl sitting next to him. Nova distractedly grunted in response as she glanced up with doe eyes.

"What was that?" Nova asked truly distracted that she hadn't actually heard her friend's comment.

"You really are in love with my brother," Viktor repeated.

"Oh, yeah, I really am," Nova sighed her eyes finding their way back to Five.

"You two are really lucky that you have each other," Viktor said with a said twinge in his voice. Nova felt an ache in her chest for the man sitting next to her. She knew how much he missed Sissy. "Just, don't take it for granted."

"I won't. I promise I won't," Nova said as she tore her eyes away from Five to look at her friend who was now rising to his feet.

"Good," Viktor nodded before leaving Nova alone at the table.

Eventually, the singing and dancing had come to an end. Now Nova rested in between Five's legs with her back pressed against his chest. They were sitting outside in the garden area where the ceremony had been held. The girl was cradling a half-drunk bottle of Pink Whitney as she gazed up at the swirling orange sky above them. A few feet away from them Diego sat with Lila who was resting her head in his lap. Viktor was also out there with them.

"Hey, guys," Luther greeted as he and Sloane joined the group against the short rock wall.

"Oh no, no, no, no!" Diego moaned when Klaus and Manuela walked up to the group with a very intoxicated Ben in between them.

"Klaus, why are you bringing Ben here?" Five complained. Nova rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's rudeness and she jabbed her elbow back into his ribs. He let out a surprised groan as he glared down at the girl in his lap, "What the hell was that for?"

"Be nice, mi amor," Nova responded sternly meeting his glare. With a scoff, Five rolled his eyes but didn't continue the argument any further.

"Come on!" Ben whined.

"Guys, just hear me out before..." Klaus slurred drunkenly before trailing off when he noticed that Manuela had stumbled over to the group. "Wh-where are you going?"

"Yeah, hear him out!" Ben interjected in an equally drunk voice.

"Standing is too much work," Manuela responded at the same time as she waved her own bottle of liquor before plopping down in front of Viktor.

"Okay, alright. But anyway, the brother that you all knew as Ben is gone. And not...I don't mean our Ben, the nice Ben. I mean this Ben," Klaus exclaimed as he wrapped his arm around the other man and patted his chest proudly, "The asshole, he's gone now."

"Gone," Ben agreed with a quick nod.

"Klaus, what are you talking about?" Luther asked.

"And the Ben that stands in front of you is the new new Ben and he's one of us, and he's a member of the team," Klaus explained while Ben continued to nod with a drunken determination.

"Team Zero!" Manuela whooped and cheered before bursting into a fit of drunken giggles.

"Hold on, who told her about that?" Diego asked offended. His eyes sought answers and when they passed over Klaus and Nova the two were too intoxicated to even try and hide their guilt.

"Anyways, he's...he's..." Klaus began before glancing at Ben who nodded again.

"...part of the family!" Klaus and Ben attempted to exclaim in unison.

"And as a welcome gift, I suggest we throw him off the roof," Five responded.

"Yeah, I'll help," Diego added.

"While I love the teamwork, boys. Might I suggest putting that energy elsewhere that doesn't involve first-degree murder?" Nova asked.

"You know what? You know what? He can stay. He can stay," Luther interrupted as he gestured for the two men to join the group.

"Why?" Diego asked with confusion written all over his face.

"'Cause it's my wedding day, man," Luther argued, "Come on. He can stay."

"Yes!" Klaus and Ben gasped at the same time. As the duo stumbled over to the group they mumbled incoherent things before settling on the ground next to Manuela, who was barely still conscious. The woman didn't normally drink this much and she was starting to feel sleepy.

"Holy smokes," Klaus gasped when he looked up and caught sight of the unique sky for the first time.

"It's beautiful and terrifying, isn't it?" Nova asked and the two nodded slowly as the group fell back into silence.

"You know something?" Luther spoke up rhetorically breaking the silence, "Tonight is all I've ever wanted."

"To get hitched?" Diego asked and Luther let out a small chuckle as he shook his head.

"Just...just everybody coming together when it really matters," Luther explained, "One big real family."

"Yeah, we do only see each other at weddings and funerals," Nova said thoughtfully before taking a long drink of her lemonade-flavored vodka.

"And don't forget apocalypses," Five added, "Apocalypses? Apocalypi? What's the plural of apocalypse?"

"I don't know but I think I want more food," Nova responded as she pushed herself to her feet. Unfortunately, the girl had pushed herself up too fast and the world spun around her making bile rise in her throat. "Shit, I think I'm gonna hurl."

"Do it over there," Lila pointed to a plant unhelpfully. Nova straightened up when she felt Five's comforting hand on her lower back.

"Nope, I'm good now," Nova said before smiling up at her boyfriend, "But I'm still hungry."

"We can fix that," Five nodded before turning back to the group and giving them a short wave, "See ya, guys. We're gonna hit the buffet."

"Are they going to be ok?" Viktor asked.

"It's Five and Nova, what do you think?" Diego chuckled before Lila got his attention.

"Maybe we should call it a night?" Lila suggested before moving to her feet with Diego in tow.

"Come on, it's early," Luther argued.

"Good night, guys," Lila waved.

"Where are we going? To bed?" Ben asked when they gestured for him to join. He moved to get up before he realized that Manuela had fallen asleep on his shoulder, "Shit, guys wait."

"Huh?" Diego asked as he paused midstep next to Klaus and Lila.

"What about Manu?" Ben asked as he gestured to his sleeping sister, "We can't leave her out here and I'm way too drunk to carry her."

"I got it!" Klaus suddenly exclaimed, "Give me one minute. I think I know where Chet keeps those luggage carts!"

"Good idea!" Ben nodded as he stuck his thumb up in approval with a nod. Without another word, Klaus hurried away.

Nova's Spotify Playlist: Nova Perez's Epic Time Travel Jams

Manu's Spotify Playlist: Manuela Hargreeves' Post-Mission Jams

First Published: 01/17/2023

Edited: 10/08/2023

Aesthetic Change: 07/07/2024

Chapter Word Count: 2,835

Book Word Count: 131,597