#fivehargreaves

“Fine you guys can stay, but you have to help out around here. At least until you find whatever you’re looking for.”

That was almost three months ago, Lori had agreed to let them stay after they told her what had happened. And she held them up to their deal, when they weren’t searching they were helping out. Normally Lila would help her in the green house and back garden, while Five did patch work in the fencing and most of the hunting.

Although after the first few weeks there Lila found ways of getting the two alone in the green house, whether it would be volunteering to hunt, or faking a head ache. The raven haired woman saw the chemistry between them and made it her mission to help the younger/eldest Hargreaves to find his happy ending. She had seen him sacrifice so much, put himself through so much, that she decided it was his turn to be happy. Even if she had to play match maker.

Just as she planned that morning, an hour before finishing their scavenging she started complaining about a headache. By the time they got close to what they considered home for the time being she was complaining about it being a migraine, boy was she a great actress too. When they got to the home and Five told the brunette about Lila’s migraine she made her go lay down with a glass of ice water and the promise of being woken for dinner, just as she planned.

Five watched through the door way of the greenhouse as the woman hummed to herself, picking the weeds out and caring gently for her plants. He still couldn’t explain the intense pull to her. He knew it could be a timeline thing, her being named Delores and all, but that didn’t explain why he felt so strong about her, especially when he already had his Delores. Was that what would eventually happen again? Was he always meant to leave her time after time? Could he put the woman who was so kind, so soft with him, through so much pain again? He saw the pain Max had put her through. The fact that she couldn’t even look at him for longer than three seconds when they first got here showed that. Hell, she still wore his ring.

The sight of her turning to pick up the watering can caught his attention, making him move to pick it up, “please, let me help.” The shorter woman jumped slightly at his sudden appearance, “Jesus, Five you scared me,” her laugh making his heart skip a beat. His lips curled slightly as he apologized, “I’m sorry, I just felt bad for letting you do all this without Lila.” Her green eyes met his and she smiled softly, “you really don’t have to.” Shrugging, he picked up the can and started going through the individual plants.

Lori moved to start pick in the ripe ones as she started humming again, finding comfort in his presence. She found Five to be a calming influence, something Max was not. Lila had told her stories of Five that seemed to be a bit different than how he had been, but she also knew he had been through a lot. The stories of their apocalypses and the Commission made her respect him, he had grown to live on his own despite being so young. He also fought hard to get back to his family, something Max did do as well. It made her scared sometimes, they were so different, but a few things made her remember they were technically the same person.

So why did she feel guilty? Her heart skipping around him, the lingering looks, the wanting to reach for him, to feel his skin on hers. Why did it all feel like she was wrong for it? Because she was technically still married, and loved a different man. The ring on her finger proof that Max was indeed still there in her mind. So why did she want Five to pull her close and promise her the future?

Her brows furrowed in thought as she paused her picking, was she falling for Five? No, no, he was just someone who reminded her of the man she actually does love. But how can you love someone who disappeared? Someone who walked out without a thought of trying to convince her to go with him? Her eyes searched the plants in front of her as she tried to concentrate but the thoughts in her head made it almost impossible. So impossible that she hadn’t realized she had stopped humming. Or that Five had noticed and made his way to her.

“Lori?” His voice being so close made her head snap up to the direction it came from. He stood next to her, his hand gently resting on her arm, concern evident in his light green eyes, “everything okay?” She hummed softly before nodding, “uh, yeah, yeah.” His eyes searched hers for an actual answer, unconvinced but not wanting to push, “are you sure?” Her dark green eyes dropped as she nodded again, “yeah, just spaced is all,” raising her head slightly she smiled, “want some lemonade?” The raven haired man nodded and watched her walk out of the glass house and into the main house, his mind also racing in thoughts that made the distance between them harder to maintain.

Trying to catch her breath and thoughts the curly haired woman began pulling out the glasses from the cabinet. Placing them down, her nails gripped the counter and she leaned forward on her hands, her heart beat racing fast than she’d ever felt. She couldn’t love another man, she couldn’t love him again. She had already been there and checked that box. Agreeing she wouldn’t do it again. So why did she want to so badly?

The door creaked open,the sound of footsteps approaching her fast before she was turned around and forced to face a determined Five. His breath hitting her face as the distance between them almost nonexistent. “Tell me you don’t want this either, tell me I haven’t been in your mind like you’re in mine,” his light eyes held her dark ones, showing he meant every words. She took a deep breath as she tried to steady herself, “Five, I- we- Max-“

An angry noise left his throat, “Fuck Max, he couldn’t even take care of the woman that cared for him so much that she left her own family for him. He couldn’t protect you,” his voice stayed leveled as he placed on of his hands on her reddened cheek, thumb caressing her skin softly, “please, let me prove to you I’m not him.” Her eyes closed for a second before she decided to break down her walls and let him in. Leaning into him, the freckle faced woman closed the distance between them. His soft lips met hers with anticipation, his other arm wrapping around her to pull her close as her hands moved to hold him close by his sweater. Fireworks exploded, butterflies erupted, and everything collided.

It was as if this was what every moment led up to, like their souls finally found their other half. The pull was so strong, the moment their lips connected it felt as if it had gone haywire. Their bodies lit up as the others touch held them close. It was like they knew the ends and outs of each other, without having to learn them.

Parting only to breathe before pulling the other in again, their lips met in a frenzy. Hands moving down her sides, Five moved to lift her onto the counter, getting closer to her by standing between her legs. Her hands moved to his hair, tugging and pulling him closer as she felt one of his hands moved along her sides, the other holding her waist close. A sound of content vibrated from her making him smile, his lips trailing down to her neck, quickly finding her sweet spot. Leaning to give him room, Lori moaned at the feeling before her eyes landed on Lila leaning against the doorframe, a knowing smirk on her face, causing the frazzled woman to let out a shriek. Five immediately stepped back to observe her in panic, noticing her gaze behind him his body turned to see the older/younger woman standing with a knowing look.

“I fucking knew it!”